COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE WATERLOO REGION - Key Persons
Anamaria is a family lawyer with Lerners LLP, and was called to the Ontario bar in 2014. Anamaria regularly assists her clients in reaching favourable out-of-court resolutions following martial breakdowns or difficult life transitions, and she strongly endorses Collaborative Law as an effective Alternative Dispute Resolution Process.
Job Titles:
- RSW - Director of Child Centred Divorce Services, by Peaceful Waters, Inc
As a family professional, Annette works with the collaborative family law team to achieve respectful, timely, and cost effective resolutions.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Sherman Law LLP
Aubrey is a partner at Sherman Law LLP, a certified collaborative lawyer, and an accredited family mediator with over 17 years of experience in helping families resolve conflict through interest-based and insight discussions. He is an online dispute resolution specialist. Aubrey is a resourceful negotiator, a strong communicator, and an empathetic lawyer who is quick to spot creative opportunities to resolve disputes.
Job Titles:
- CA, CFDS - FairFifty Divorce Financial Solutions
Since 2020, Dan has been assisting individuals, couples, collaborative teams, mediators, and lawyers with financial and tax issues related to separation and divorce.
For over 20 years, David has practised law with empathy, compassion and integrity, helping families through challenging circumstances with considerable care. He applies innovation and creativity in assisting clients in determining what they need to overcome the obstacles they are facing, empowering them to do so with dignity, honour and a focus on the future and communication, ensuring that they have all information and advice to make informed decisions.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of HD Collaborative Law
Debbie is the founding partner of HD Collaborative Law, a Waterloo-based law firm specializing in Collaborative Law and Mediation.
Born in Renfrew, Ontario, Debbie is of Algonquin descent, a Woodland Metis of the Pikwakanagan First Nation. Debbie went to high school in Red Deer, Alberta and moved to Whitehorse, Yukon in 1994. She was called to the bar in the Yukon and British Columbia in 1995. Debbie lived in the Yukon for 22 years, specializing in family law and general civil litigation.
Diane has a passion for family law and helping clients through difficult family transitions in an emotionally safe way. She is one of the first Collaborative Professionals in Ontario to achieve the Advanced Collaborative Professional (ACP) designation and is also an Accredited Family Mediator through OAFM.
Dr. Kris Pryke is a clinical psychologist, registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. After several years working in mental health and education, she now provides assessment, consultation, and therapy services on a private basis.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner of Colizza & Carroll LLP
Emily Carroll is a Founding Partner of Colizza & Carroll LLP. She graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Legal Studies and went on to receive a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law in London, Ontario.
Since being called to the bar by the Law Society of Ontario in 2015, Emily has focused her practice on family law in the Kitchener-Waterloo region. Emily brings compassion and approachability to her work and understands that family law clients experience unique circumstances that require unique resolutions.
Heather Caron (B.A. (Hon.), L.L.B.) practices primarily in the area of matrimonial law and is the principal behind Caron Family Law.
Jacqueline S. Mulvey has been practising family law in the Kitchener - Waterloo area for over 25 years. Jacqueline has completed her Level 1 and Level 2 training to become a qualified Collaborative Family Lawyer.
Jennifer is an experienced Lawyer, Collaborative Law Professional and Mediator.
Joe has practised family law in Waterloo Region for over twenty years and has extensive experience helping clients resolve a wide range of family law issues, including decision-making responsibility, access, support and property division.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Family Law Practitioner, Notary Public
Karen has been practicing family law almost exclusively since 2003. Karen has also been privileged to serve on the Office of the Children's Lawyer panel since 2018 and work with families by bringing the children's perspective to the issues facing families. Karen has experienced first-hand how the court system can leave families mentally, emotionally, and financially exhausted. Seeking a better alternative to the court system, Karen is pleased to be a part of the Collaborative Family Law model that truly serves families and works respectfully with them as they redefine their family structure and relationships in a healthy and forward-focusing manner.
Kimberley is a life-long resident of Cambridge. She attended Cornell University and the University of Western Ontario and was one of the top 25 students in the Ontario Bar Admission Course in 2002.
Kirsty is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the Bar in 2002. Prior to law school, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and her Master of Arts from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.
Laura is a family law lawyer at Cohen Highley LLP, where she assists clients with all matters related to family law, including divorce, decision-making responsibility, access, child support, spousal support, and property division.
Laura has focused her practice exclusively on family law since her call to the Bar in 2013. Laura is resolution-focused and works toward the best outcome for her clients and their children within the unique context and dynamics of each family.
A lifelong resident of Kitchener, I attended the University of Waterloo to receive my Honours Bachelor's degree in Legal Studies. I went on to graduate law school from Queen Mary University of London in the United Kingdom in June 2012.
Lawrence has been practicing primarily family law since 1988 at the firm Oldfield, Greaves, D'Agostino in the historical Erb-Kumpf century old farm house in Uptown Waterloo.
Leanne has been practicing in all areas of family law since 1998. Leanne believes that Collaborative Family Law is the best way for families to achieve mutual resolutions without the need for court. She enjoys serving on the panel for the Office of the Children's Lawyer for over 14 years, and brings child focused experience to developing creative solutions to help spouses resolve their differences.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant
Louise Poole is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Chartered Business Valuator,
and is certified in Financial Forensics. Louise graduated from the Ivey Business School at Western
Maggie has been a licensed Realtor® in the Waterloo Region since 2006.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Law Society of Ontario
Matthew grew up in Burlington, Ontario, and attended school in Halifax, Nova Scotia, obtaining an undergraduate degree from the University of King's College and a law degree from Dalhousie University in 2010 before being called to the bar in Ontario in 2011.
Matthew is an active member of the Law Society of Ontario, the Waterloo Region Law Association (including FLOWR - Family Lawyers of Waterloo Region), and Best4All. Matthew lives in Kitchener with his wife and their two children.
Melissa graduated from the University of Concordia with an Honours degree in Psychology and attended law school at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. She was raised in the Cambridge area and returned after law school in 2019 to article in a mid-sized law firm in downtown Kitchener.
Patricia Bidgood is a registered Individual and Family Therapist, and accredited Family Mediator with more than 25 years of experience.
Sheena opened her practice in 2011 and has spent the last 10 years of her career litigating, negotiating and resolving family law matters in the Waterloo Region. Recognizing the challenges of an adversarial Court system and shortcomings of traditionally aggressive negotiations, Sheena is now focusing on alternatives as better means to help clients and their families through the turmoil of separation. These alternative processes are described under the umbrella term ‘Family Dispute Resolution' in the Divorce Act, the most fundamentally unique and promising of which is Collaborative Family Practice. Regardless of the process, Sheena always welcomes the opportunity to engage in creative problem solving while supporting clients with reliable legal advice as they work to resolve their issues.
Shelley is a Registered Social Worker and Canadian Certified Vocational Evaluator with over 20 years of experience.
Wendy is a registered Mental Health Counsellor and Psychotherapist. Wendy identifies as Metis and Settler and has extensive specialized Anti-racism, Trauma Informed and Suicide Risk Assessment training.