The Family Dispute Resolution Handbook, 7th Edition

Barbara Landau, C.M., Ph.D., LL.M., FDRP-Med., CCFM, FDRP-Arb, President, Separation Pathways: Psychologist, Lawyer, Certified Comprehensive Family Mediator and Certified Family Arbitrator. In 2021 Barbara received the Order of Canada for her contributions to Family Law, mediation, and other family dispute resolution options, and introducing mandatory screening for intimate partner violence. She received the FDRIO Crowe Soberman Award in 2024, the OAFM President’s Award of Excellence in 2017, the McGowan Award, ADR Institute of Canada in 2012, Long Term Achievement Award (FAMMA), Family Mediation Canada, 2004, the Distinguished Mediator Award, the Association for Conflict Resolution, 2003; and the Award for Excellence in Dispute Resolution, the Ontario Bar Association, ADR Section, 2002.

Barbara is a former Chair, Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (“FDRIO”), and a former President of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (“OAFM)”, and an Executive Board member of the ADR Institute, the ADR Section of the Ontario Bar Association and the Academy of Family Mediators (“AFM”). She Chaired the Committee on Domestic Violence that developed a DV policy for Mediators in Canada and the United States. She worked to build cooperation between inter-cultural and interfaith communities and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Dr. Vara P. Singh Award in 2012 for exceptional community service.

Barbara was the senior author of the previous editions of the Family Dispute Resolution Handbook (1987-2018) and Ontario’s Home Court Advantage Report on Family Law Process Reform in 2010. Her family mediation and arbitration training programs were offered through The Peace and Conflict Studies Program, Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo and her Family Law programs through Cooperative Solutions.

Lorne H. Wolfson, LL.B, LL.M., Osgoode Hall Law School, 1974. LL.M., University of British Columbia, 1976. Called to the Ontario Bar in 1977. Senior Partner in the Family Law Department in the Toronto law firm of Torkin Manes LLP. Certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Family Law. Chair, Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (“FDRIO”), Past Chair of the Family Law Specialty Committee of the Law Society of Ontario. Former Dispute Resolution Officer of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and member of the Family Rules Committee. Member of the Professional Advisory Committee of Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto. Author of The New Family Law (Random House, 1987) and Setting Family Law Cases: Practical Techniques for Advocates and Neutrals (Thompson Reuters-2017). Founding co-editor of Money & Family Law (Carswell, 1986-2018), The Best of Money & Family Law (Carswell, 1998), Family Mediation, Arbitration and Collaborative Practice Handbook, 5th ed. (LexisNexis Canada, 2009) and The Controlling Mind (Carswell, 2012). Cited in the Canadian Lexpert Directory 2000-2018 as a consistently recommended leading family law practitioner. Included in the 2006-2018 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada. FDRP-Med., FDRP-Arb. and Acc.FM. Recipient of 2015 OBA Award for Excellence in Family Law.

Nicholas Bala, L.S.M., B.A., J.D., LL.M., has been a Professor of Law at Queen’s University since 1980. Nick is a leading Canadian expert on legal issues related to children, youth and families in the justice system. Much of his research work has involved collaborative interdisciplinary projects with social science researchers, mental health professionals, and family justice professionals. A number of his research projects have provided an impetus for significant reforms to the way in which Canada’s justice system deals with children, adolescents and families. He has published or co-authored 24 books and over 230 book chapters and articles in journals of law, criminology, psychology, social work and medicine. His work has been cited by all levels of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court, and has also been cited by courts in the USA, England, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. Nick is frequently invited to present at programs for judges, lawyers and mental health professionals. His contributions to family law research and professional education were recognized in awards from Ontario’s Law Society and the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2013. He chaired the Task Force that prepared the Parenting Plan Guide which has been adopted for use by AFCC chapters in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Barbara Fidler, Ph.D., C.Psych., Acc.FM., FDRP P.C., is a clinical developmental psychologist, accredited mediator (OAFM) and certified parenting coordination (FDRIO) in independent practice, in Toronto, Canada. She has worked separating and divorcing families for over 38 years providing parenting plan assessments, mediation, arbitration, parenting coordination, clinical consultations, legal-litigation expert services and therapy with adults, children, couples, and families. Dr. Fidler is a trainer and author of many articles and chapters. She has authored four books (two on child custody evaluations and two on parent-child contact problems) and is the guest co-editor of two special issues of the Family Court Review (FCR) on parent-child contact problems (January 2010 and April 2020). She serves on the FCR editorial board. Dr. Fidler was on the College of Psychologists of Ontario task force that developed guidance for those engaged in custody/access and child protection work and on the AFCC task force that developed Guidelines for Parenting Coordinators (2019). Dr. Fidler is Past President of AFCC Ontario (2011-2012). She received the AFCC-O Distinguished Service President’s Award in October 2015, the FDRIO, Crowe Soberman Award of Excellence in 2017, the AFCC-O 10 in 10 Award of Excellence in Family Justice in 2018), the AFCC John E. VanDuzer Distinguished Service Award in 2019, and the AFCC Tim Salius President’s Award in 2020.

Jim Fitch, M.A., LL.B., is the Principal of Thrive Mediation in Oakville, Ontario, where he provides mediation, parenting coordination and divorce coaching services. Jim is an Accredited Family Mediator (“Acc.FM”) and Accredited Elder Mediator (“Acc.EM.”) through the auspices of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (“OAFM”). Jim is a graduate of the School of Graduate Studies and Research at McMaster University (M.A.) and the Faculty of Law at Western University (LL.B.). He has taught Evidence at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, Ontario and in the Police Foundations program at Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ontario. Jim is presently the Chair of the Complaints, Discipline and Professional Conduct Committee of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (“FDRIO”). Jim lives in Burlington, Ontario, with his wife Clare Mauro and sons Dominic and Kevin.

Matthew Krofchick, CPA, CMA, CBV, CMC, CFF, FDRP-Val, ABV, is a principal at Krofchick Valuations in Toronto where he specializes in forensic accounting, damage quantification, business valuations including income determinations, and business valuations for matrimonial purposes. Matthew provides expert witness testimony and his reports have been used in multiple provinces. Matthew is the chair of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (“FDRIO”) and sits on numerous other non-profit boards. Matthew has been active in the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators (“CICBV”) in organizing webinars, seminars, and the annual congress. Matthew also spearheaded the joint retainer project and family law small groups for the CICBV. Matthew has previously presented to many organizations on topics including business valuations in the context of marital breakdowns, emerging issues and methodologies in pension valuations, damage quantification, cryptocurrency, and income determination for the purpose of determining spousal support. Matthew has also authored and co-authored a number of articles dealing with the financial issues surrounding matrimonial breakdowns.

Hilary Linton, J.D., LL.M. President, Riverdale Mediation Ltd. & mediate393 inc., is a Toronto family lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, parenting coordinator and child interviewer. She litigated civil, defamation and family cases for 14 years. In 2001 she established Riverdale Mediation, which has grown into a national and international centre of excellence in family dispute resolution and training, training professionals across Canada, the Caribbean, South Africa, Europe and the U.S.A. Riverdale works with agencies, communities, governments and organizations to custom-design specialized training. Hilary was invited to the Advisory Group for Justice Canada’s HELP Toolkit: Identifying and Responding to Family Violence for Family Law Legal Advisors, and is the author of the Ontario Judges’ and Lawyers’ Guide to Safety Planning in the Ontario Family Law Practice (LexisNexis). Hilary was honoured to be awarded the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (2014) and the Crowe Soberman Award of Excellence in Family Dispute Resolution (FDRIO, 2020).

Mary-Anne Popescu, AccFM., AccIM., CPMed, is the Executive Director of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation, and a dedicated Family Mediator based in Toronto, Ontario. As an Accredited Family Mediator, Accredited Intergenerational Mediator, and Child Protection Mediator, Mary-Anne brings a wealth of expertise to her role. Guided by a heart-led approach, Mary-Anne is deeply attuned to how families operate beyond mediation, valuing both their self-determination and the need to understand legal rights and obligations. In response to the global pandemic, Mary-Anne led training for family mediators in Online Dispute Resolution, adapting to the evolving needs of the field. She also serves as an Instructor at York University in the Family Mediation Certificate Program and designs curriculum to enhance effective learning and professional development. Mary-Anne has contributed to the book series “Living Together, Separating, Divorcing: Surviving During a Pandemic” edited by Michael Lang and Peter Nicholson, which provides guidance to families navigating contemporary challenges. She is a committed ally for diversity and equality, having volunteered for Toronto PFLAG from 2012 to 2018. Her passion for mediation drives her to empower families, foster positive change, and advocate for policies that enhance community well-being and effective dispute resolution strategies.

Nicola Savin, B.A., LL.B., Acc. ACP., is a senior family law lawyer with over 35 years of experience. She has been a partner at the Toronto law firm of Birenbaum Steinberg Landau Savin & Colraine since 1994. She is able to offer her clients a variety of approaches to resolve their disputes since she is an experienced litigator, collaborative lawyer and is skilled at resolving cases through the mediation process. Nicola is accredited by the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals (“OACP”) as an Advanced Collaborative Professional. She is a former President and Board member of the OACP and a former Chair and Board member of Collaborative Divorce Toronto. In 2019 she was awarded the James C. McDonald Award by the OACP for her contribution to Collaborative Practice in the Province of Ontario. She is a contributing author to Contracts for the Family Law Client and is a regular speaker and educator at legal education programs. She believes that many legal disputes involve not only legal but financial and emotional components and therefore are best resolved using an interdisciplinary and interest-based approach. She is a compassionate and resourceful advocate who cares about the families she is privileged to work with.