Alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) refers to any method of resolving disputes without litigation. As a founding member of HKW law, Phyllis concentrates her practice on resolving matters for clients outside of the courtroom. She is a New Jersey Court approved family mediator, and serves as a mediator, parenting coordinator and discovery master for both court-ordered and private matters.
“Mediation allows me to be creative in finding solutions without litigation,” says Phyllis. “The benefits of mediation include providing a neutral and confidential setting in which the parties can openly discuss their views on the underlying dispute. Enhanced communication can lead to mutually satisfactory resolutions, even if the parties choose not to be in the same room and communicate through the mediator. Mediation saves time, money and minimizes conflict. I believe my success results from my tenacity and blunt and common-sense approach.”
Phyllis achieves settlement of unresolved issues at any point in the divorce process, regardless of the level of animus and the difficulty of the disputed issues. While a goal of mediation is to assist the parties in fostering an amicable relationship for the future, a common misconception is that you must be functioning amicably when the mediation commences in order for it to be successful. To the contrary, a competent divorce mediator will empower you to create an agreement that meets your unique needs, allowing each of you to get what you want, need and feel you deserve by skillfully guiding compromise. Phyllis uses a similar approach for parenting coordination, which is designed to assist parents who struggle to co-parent during the pendency or after their divorce.
The most important components of Phyllis’s technique include her unique ability to distill the facts, define the problems and communicate and sell realistic options. Phyllis addresses all divorce related issues, including custody, parenting time, alimony, child support and the division of assets and liabilities.
