Summary of Meetings: Family Law – Vancouver Island
Number of Meetings Held:9
September 15, 2022
Registration Count: 29
Guest Speakers: Elise Schopper-Brigel and Karen Henry
Meeting Title/Topic: Mediation Tips and Traps
Synopsis: How to be effective in a mediation from a managing your client, advancing their case, and negotiating with opposing counsel. This session is of particular interest to lawyers in their first years of practice.
September 20, 2022
Registration Count: 10
Guest Speakers: All attendees
Meeting Title/Topic: Proposed Changes to Property Division and Spousal Support under the Family Law Act
Synopsis: BC has been reviewing the FLA and CBABC’s Family Law Working Group is preparing a submission about proposed changes. At this meeting, these changes were discussed.
October 10, 2022
Registration Count: 69
Guest Speakers: Emma Neary
Meeting Title/Topic: Grey Divorce
Synopsis: Emma discussed issues specific to people separating after long relationships such as retirement, pensions and benefits. She also discussed issues related to re-partnering, blended families and estate planning and cohabitation agreements in this context.
November 10, 2022
Registration Count: 40
Guest Speakers: Christine Murray and Elizabeth Stewart
Meeting Title/Topic: Child Support: Shared and Split Custody
Synopsis: This session provided an overview of Section 8 (split parenting time) and Section 9 (shared parenting time) of the Federal Child Support Guidelines, along with a review of the legislative provisions of Sections 8 and 9 and a summary of case law in British Columbia.
November 24, 2022
Registration Count: 8
Meeting Title/Topic: Nanaimo Holiday Social
Synopsis: A holiday social in downtown Nanaimo that connected colleages and opened discussion for practice matters. This was a joint social with Women Lawyers Forum – Vancouver Island.
December 8, 2022
Registration Count: 14
Guest Speakers: Patricia Blair
Meeting Title/Topic: Ethics in Family Law
Synopsis: Patricia Blair, CBABC Nanaimo County Representative engaged participants in discussions of real-life ethical scenarios in Family Law.
January 25, 2023
Registration Count: 62
Guest Speakers: Audrey Jun
Meeting Title/Topic: Essential Personal Planning Documents: What Family Lawyers Need to Know
Synopsis: Audrey Jun, Director of Programs, Nidus Personal Planning Resource Centre, reviewed Representation Agreements and Enduring Powers of Attorney.
January 25, 2023
Registration Count: 136
Guest Speakers: Susanne Greisbach
Meeting Title/Topic: If Only We Had Planned For That! How Family Law Plays a Role in an Estate / Power of Attorney Administration
Synopsis: Susanne Greisbach, Executive Trust Officer at TD Wealth Private Trust, provided a short review of recent case law and shares practical anecdotes from her colleagues across Canada about the good, the bad, and the ugly when family law and estates law collide.
May 18, 2023
Registration Count: 44
Guest Speakers: Erin Brook and Michelle Kinney
Mediator: Christie Murray
Meeting Title/Topic: Choose Your Own Adventure and Live Your Best Life (While Practicing Family Law)!
Synopsis: This discussion features two inspiring lawyers who have created their family law practices in an intentional manner to live their best life both within the practice of law and beyond.