The Chair of Resolution, Liz Edwards, has spoken at the fourth European Collaborative Conference in Edinburgh.

Collaborative law is a dispute resolution mechanism that allows both partners to be represented by lawyers, while meeting to receive advice and discuss solutions in the interests of the family. The process involves two clients and their lawyers attending a series of face to face meetings. Other professionals are brought into negotiations where needed.

The process can be very effective, as it allows separating couples to talk through their difficulties with the support of their lawyers, but having agreed that they will not instruct the lawyers to go to court. It can allow disputes to be resolved outside of the court room, even when mediation is not suitable.

During her speech, Liz Edwards talked the effectiveness of this method of dispute resolution and highlighted it as one of the options available for separating couples wanting to resolve their issues outside of the courtroom.

She explained that Resolution is also exploring the use of other dispute resolution methods and techniques for family disputes, including early neutral evaluation; other mediation techniques such as directive mediation; and family arbitration.