About Jennifer

ABOUT JENNIFER 

An innovative strategist

A compassionate listener 

A step in the right direction


Having both lived and practiced law north of the Canadian border most of my working life, my experiences are unlike most West Coast conflict resolution professionals. Getting an infant into a one-piece snowsuit and off to daycare, in -30 degree weather and 3 feet of snow, to catch a train to the office at 7 a.m., and finding the car snowed in - in 3 inch heels and without a shovel - takes some serious problem-solving skills. 


Understanding that all things in life can't be fixed with a cardboard box, some duct tape, and an old grocery bag (but secretly hoping they could), I set out to Southern California where I trained and worked with some of the country's top mediators, earning my Masters of Laws (LL.M.) in Dispute Resolution from the highly acclaimed Straus Institute at Pepperdine University's School of Law. This set the stage for Winestone Mediation, where I work to help families out of their own seemingly impossible snow banks, arising from their separation, divorce, and child custody conflicts.

EDUCATION

  • LL.M. (Dispute Resolution), Straus Institute - Pepperdine University School of Law 2015

  • J.D. University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law 2005

  • B.A. (Hon.), University of Western Ontario 2002


CERTIFICATIONS:


  • Collaborative Family Law

  • New Ways for Families


BAR ADMISSIONS:


  • California State Bar - 2015

  • Law Society Of Upper Canada - 2006 (Ret. 2015)

Associations and Memberships

Member of Executive Committee and Immediate Past Co-Chair, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Mediation Section


Board Member, Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association (LACFLA)


Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association


Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, California Chapter


Member, LAWCDP (Los Angeles Westside Collaborative Divorce Professionals)


Member, MFLA (Mediating Family Law Attorneys)


Member, FLAMES (Family Law Attorneys and Mediators Engaged in Study)


Member, International Collaborative Law Association


Dispute Settlement Officer, Los Angeles Superior Court


Liaison and Consultant for High Conflict Institute (New Ways for Families)


Former Associations and Memberships: Instructor for Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) (2004-2009), Member Advocate's Society (2006-2013), Member Ontario Bar Association (2006-2013), Member Collaborative Practice Toronto and Peel/Halton Collaborative Law Associations


Awards and Recognitions

  • Recipient of Straus Institute Entrance Fellowship (Pepperdine University)

  • Wendy Landes Recognition Award for Excellence in Family Law Dispute Resolution Studies (California State Bar, Family Law Section)

  • CALI Award for Advanced Mediation Seminar (Pepperdine University)

Speaking Engagements

Spring Semester, 2024: Adjunct Professor, Divorce and Family Mediation, USC Gould Law School (UPCOMING CLASS)


Spring Semester, 2023: Adjunct Professor, Divorce and Family Mediation, USC Gould Law School


Spring Semester, 2022: Adjunct Professor, Divorce and Family Mediation, USC Gould Law School


Spring Semester, 2021: Adjunct Professor, Divorce and Family Mediation, USC Gould Law School


September 16, 2020: Presenting webinar on "Advanced Tools of Persuasion in the Collaborative Process", Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association


April 22, 2020: Presented webinar on "Overcoming Gender, Nationality and Youth in Building a Successful Mediation Practice", International Academy of Mediators


Spring Semester, 2020: Adjunct Professor, Divorce and Family Mediation, USC Gould Law School.


December 2014 to Present (bi-annual): Coaching Corporate Executives, Lawyers and Business Leaders, Women’s Negotiation Academy, Pepperdine University.


Spring Semester, 2019: Adjunct Professor, Divorce and Family Mediation, USC Gould Law School


March 2019: Presented Parent Workshop: “It’s Not Me; It’s You”, Franklin Elementary School.


April 2018: Panelist Presenter at USC Law School program "Non-Traditional and Unexplored Career Paths for Mediators" co-sponsored by SCMA, USC Gould Judge Judith O. Hollinger ADR Program and USC Gould Dispute Resolution Society


January 2018 and August 2016: Presented Seminar “Launching Your Mediation Practice”, USC Law School and Los Angeles County Bar Association, respectively.


2016 to 2018 (monthly): Lead Mediation Preparation Course at Levitt & Quinn for clients and community members preparing for mandatory custody mediation


November 2017 - Lead Parent Workshop: "Everything I Know About Co-Parenting and Divorce, I Learned In Kindergarten (...And a Few Things I Didn't, But Wish I Had)", Franklin Elementary School


October 2016: Lead Parent Workshop "The Kids Are Watching: How Parental Conflict Affects Children and How to Deal With It In Your Relationship", Franklin Elementary School


May 2016: Coached JD and LL.M. students, Mediation Clinic Course, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Law School.


March 2016: Presented seminar to JD Students on the “Top 5 Negotiation Mistakes of Junior Lawyers”, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine Law School.


March 2016: Presented seminar on “High Conflict Personalities”, Los Angeles County Bar Association.


February 2016: Co-moderated panel on proposed California law reform to Mediation Confidentiality, Beverly Hills Bar Association.

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