Mediation with Liz

Guiding You Toward Resolutions with Expertise and Care

I believe in the mediation process. In a perfect world, I would like to see all people experiencing a separation try to work through the process by way of mediation.

If you are new to the idea of mediation, please take a moment to read through this page to learn more about the process from my perspective. If you have already researched mediation or read through other professionals’ websites regarding the topic, then please feel free to skip down to learn more about me and my specific process as a mediator. I am not going to pretend that I have something earth-shattering to add to the mediation discussion and resources. Once you have decided if you would like to participate in mediation, I believe the most important thing you can do next is to pick the mediator that is right for you and the other parties involved.

In its most basic form, mediation is a dispute resolution process where individual parties work with a neutral facilitator to settle conflicts in a way that is mutually agreeable for the parties involved.



Mediation offers several advantages:

  • Tailored Solutions

    Customize your separation process to your specific needs, including practical details like how to share parenting responsibilities, divide expenses, and plan for everyday life after separation, such as organizing holidays or managing school activities for your children.

  • Cost Efficiency

    Mediation is typically less expensive than the court process in the long run, both financially and emotionally, while also helping you avoid unnecessary conflict and focus on practical solutions for issues like budgeting, asset division, and shared family expenses.

  • Emotional Space

    It addresses the emotional aspects of separation, allowing room to discuss co-parenting, communication, and other “softer” issues that courts often overlook, such as communication, how to be co-parents, and everyday considerations for you and your children (e.g., who pays for Netflix or how you are going to deal with teenagers and their tricky hormonal brains).

Common issues resolved through mediation:

  • Parenting after separation

  • Division of property

  • Child support

  • Spousal support

Mediation can be as deep and comprehensive or as time efficient and high level as you and your mediator make it. There is room to explore complex issues, but if that is not what you need, then the process can be focused and efficient. It all comes down to the needs and action of the parties.  

Mediation is not the best option for everyone. Sometimes, the history of a relationship can make mediation more difficult, and in some cases, inadvisable.

Additionally, it is not the “easy” option. Mediation takes a lot of hard work and cooperation. The parties have to put in the work to make it a successful process. Mediators have a special skill set that can even help people in high conflict situations, but they are not magical, they need the parties to be committed for the best results.

About Me as a Mediator

I have always focused my law practice on out of court processes. I believe that every family is unique, and as such, each case requires a unique process to find the right solution. This is what underpins my commitment to mediation and what fuelled me to expand my practice to include being a mediator. Meditation very quickly became one of my favourite areas of practice, so I am always happy to discuss mediation with potential clients, but before we get too far into the process, I think it is important to lay out a few things about me as mediator before you decide to work with me.

What Sets Me Apart:

  • Centring Kindness: I centre my practice around the concept of kindness. I do not mean just being “nice” or “agreeable,” as being kind does not mean that I will always agree with you, and sometimes being kind means being pointed and focused, in an effort to find an agreeable solution.

  • Hate-free Space: There is no room for hateful, bigoted, or malicious behaviour when you are working with me.

  • Making Room for Feelings: Feelings matter. It is okay to show big emotions, and it is also okay to be neutral and to focus on problem solving. So long as we find room for both ends of the spectrum, then we can create an environment that makes everyone comfortable.

  • A Focus on Solutions: I try to focus on what can be done, instead of on what cannot be done.

  • A Touch of Humour: I like to think I’m pretty funny. Some people agree, and other people are wrong…Of course, I’m kidding, but I do try to bring humour into my practice when it is appropriate to do so. I know that my clients are often in very difficult and highly emotional situations, and I am never trying to trivialize or detract from the seriousness of the circumstances, but if there is room for a smile during our meetings, I will try to find it.

Difference Between a Mediator and a Lawyer

  • Mediators

    Neutral professionals who facilitate conversations and help resolve conflicts.

    Committed to both parties, ensuring a fair and balanced approach.

    Think of us as referees—no whistles, just results.

     

  • Lawyers

    Advocates for their client’s best interests.

    Aligned with only one party/

    Their job is to support you in your matter, not take a middle ground.

  • Me as Both

    I wear two hats: family lawyer and mediator.

    When I’m acting as a mediator, I leave my “lawyer hat” at the door.

    My role isn’t to take sides—it’s to help both parties find a way forward.

A Quick Clarification on “Neutrality”

Neutral doesn’t mean passive. As a mediator, I might:

  • Gently challenge unworkable ideas.

  • Remind those involved of the legal frameworks to be considered.

  • Encourage ideas that could lead to solutions.

 Sometimes this may feel like I’m not perfectly “neutral,” but it’s all about steering the process toward a fair, workable agreement.

Choosing a Mediator: a task that should not be taken lightly…

Picking the right mediator is a bit like picking the right pair of shoes for a marathon. You need someone who’s comfortable, reliable, and capable of going the distance with you. I have never run a marathon, but I think I got the analogy right.

Here Are My Thoughts:

  • Talk to at least two other professionals before deciding on me. (Yes, I’m encouraging you to shop around. It’s that important!)

  • Separations are personal, and every situation is unique. It’s critical that you trust—and maybe even like—the mediator you choose.

Why?

If we work together, I’ll be right there in the trenches with you. It’s going to get personal, emotional, and maybe even a little awkward. You need to feel  comfortable to open up to me and confident in my ability to guide you through the process, even during tough moments.

My Services and Process

(aka what you really want to know)

  • Step 1: Intake Meeting and Financial Disclosure Process

    I meet with both of you individually for 45 mins. We take time to discuss the background of your situation, your goals, and the process.

    At the end of this meeting, I provide you with a comprehensive list of financial documentation that I will need you to gather on your own and provide to me. I then use the info you provide to create a draft joint financial statement that we will use during our mediation sessions.

    I will not continue with the mediation without first doing an intake meeting with both of you.

     

    Standard Cost for Step 1 - $1200.00 + HST

    (cost may vary depending on amount of/status of financial disclosure)

  • Step 2: Mediation Sessions

    This is where we all meet to work on the substantive issues together. Our goal is to develop an agreement together.

    It is likely that we will need to schedule more than one session in order to reach a complete and comprehensive agreement.

    You may choose to attend with your lawyer if you have one, or you may choose to meet with just me.

    Often people require more than one joint session to deal with all major issues. Often a follow up meeting will be required in order to gather the information needed to make final decisions.

     

    Cost for Step 2

    Each half day session (3hr or less) - $950.00 + HST

    Each full day session - $2,000.00 + HST

  • Step 3: Drafting Separation Agreement

    Based on the work done in our mediation sessions I draft a separation agreement that captures the agreement(s) that you have reached.

    You then take this agreement and get Independent Legal Advice from a lawyer of your choosing.

    This step includes one round of requested changes to the draft.

    Cost for Step 3 - $1400.00 + HST

Other Cost Considerations

The costs listed above are the total costs for each step. They may be shared or split between the two of you. If possible, I encourage you to work out how you will share the cost before we start the process.

The cost for each step is due in full 5 business days before that step is scheduled to begin.

Any joint sessions less than 1hr and all phone/video calls with your lawyer(s) will be charged at my hourly rate- $275.00/hr +HST.