Collaborative practice is an out of court process for resolving disputes respectfully. A non-adversarial approach, collaborative practice uses specially trained lawyers, and sometimes other professionals, to help negotiate mutually agreeable settlements without asking the court to decide any issues.

Located in Dupont Circle, the Collaborative Practice Center is home to a number of collaborative professionals and provides meeting space, offices, a training center, and an environment designed to support the spirit and work of Collaborative Practice in the Washington area.

Collaborative Practice is a way to resolve disputes respectfully, without going to court. In Collaborative Practice, you work with specially trained Collaborative Professionals who help parties negotiate mutually acceptable settlements.

Collaborative Practice is used in collaborative divorce, non-marital relationship break-ups, child custody and other parenting concerns, pre-nuptial agreements, domestic partnership agreements, domestic partnership dissolutions, property disputes, financial support, probate matters, neighbor conflict and business disputes.

Collaborative Professionals often work in teams, involving attorneys, collaborative coaches, a financial professional and, if children are involved, a child specialist. The team communicates regularly and works together in an interdisciplinary environment, using all team resources to proactively identify issues and help the parties generate mutually acceptable settlements.

Collaborative Attorneys help parties identify and understand the issues to be resolved and develop settlements that address the needs and concerns of all parties.

Collaborative Coaches facilitate communication, provide support and guide parties through the emotional aspects of the conflict resolution process.

Child Specialists are engaged by both parties to advocate for the child in family disputes such as divorce and aid in developing an appropriate parenting plan by providing information to the parties, coaches, and attorneys about the child's needs.

Financial Specialists are engaged by both parties to aid parties in gathering documentation; in sharing information about financial assets, liabilities, income, and expenses; and in developing and evaluating financial options.

Other Collaborative Specialists include appraisers, vocational specialists, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and related service providers.

Each professional listed above is a separate professional entity, unless otherwise designated.

In addition to their collaborative work, Attorneys offer traditional legal representation, such as providing advice and consultation to clients, engaging in round-table negotiation, representing clients in mediation and other dispute resolution processes, and advocating for clients in court.

Collaborative Coaches and Child Specialists also have traditional mental health practices and provide individual, couple and family therapy, co-parent consultation and parent coordination as well as counseling in addressing divorce or parenting concerns.

Financial Professionals provide divorce as well as other financial advice and planning services.

Many Center professionals also serve as mediators in all types of disputes.

If you are interested in using collaborative practice to help you resolve a conflict or if you are a collaborative professional interested in the Center, please contact us at

1630 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 400, Washington DC 20009

Phone: (202) 480-2160 | Fax: (202) 480-2169

Email: info@collaborativepracticecenterDC.com