On the occasion of the Collaborative Review's special issue on Equity and Inclusion the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals IACP invited me to speak on its online panel. Three other contributors and I will share our experiences through a faciliated discussion about the gaps, challenges and best practices on equity and diversity which will better prepare and help transform Collaborative Practice for both professionals and clients. The presenters will reflect and share their individual views on issues of access, diversity, anti-racism and representation in Collaborative Practice. In the discussion they will be expand on their articles in the recent edition of the Collaborative Review and deepening IACP's dialogue about equity, inclusion, and accessibiilty, including suggestions for actions to expand the reach of Collaborative practice.
Date & Time: May 26, 2021 at 9:00 AM PDT (=18.00 Central European Time) Length: 60 minutes Presenters: Rahul Aggarwal, Rena Chen, Roman Kern and Zara Suleman
Cost: FREE
Rahul Aggarwal is a Lawyer who helps clients agreeably resolve their family disputes out of court, with focus on spousal support, child support, parenting time, guardianship, protection, divorce and property settlement disputes. His goal is to find a dispute resolution process that works for his clients and allows them to reduce on-going conflict during their separation. Rahul served as Director on the Board of Directors of Collaborative Divorce Vancouver Society. He holds informal presentations about the new Family Law Act and its effects on the rights and responsibilities of parents, children, and families. As a Volunteer at the C.H.I.L.D. Foundation, he spreads awareness to find a cure for Crohn’s disease.
Rena Chen graduated with a Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia in 2010 and was called to the bar in 2015. She went into law school believing family law to be her calling and there’s been no regrets thus far. She practices in the beautiful and diverse city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She finds fulfillment in supporting families and clients through the stages of separating and finding a new balance.
Roman Kern is a Collaborative Practice lawyer, mediator and public notary in St. Gallen, Switzerland. His practice focuses on family law, immigration law, criminal law and the representation of art collectors. He is a member of the board of the European Network for Collaborative Practice (ENCP) and of Collaborative Law and Practice Switzerland and serves on the IACP Equity and Inclusion Committee. He is also an active advocate for the LGBTQI+ community in Switzerland.
Zara Suleman is a family law mediator, collaborative law Practitioner, and founder of Suleman Family Law, where she practices family and fertility law in British Columbia, Canada. Zara is involved in presenting, training, researching, writing, and editing materials on family law issues, with focus on family violence. She is a Board of Governor for the Law Foundation of BC and Chair of the BC Law Institute Research Project on the Review of Legal Parentage under the Family Law Act. Zara is an Advisory member on the Department of Justice Family Violence Project, FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children, and the BC Society of Transition Houses Technology Safety Project.