Nanette A. McCarthy WWW.LAWYER-MONTHLY.COM 19 heads. Fortunately, about 10 years into my career, the collaborative law process was emerging in Chicago. I took the training to become a Fellow and learned how much more private, respectful and creative solutions could be for individuals. What is your particular approach to collaborative divorce and mediation and are there a set of principles or guidelines you adhere to for collaborative divorce and mediation settings to achieve a positive outcome for all parties? I approach collaborative and mediation cases in much the same way I approach litigated cases because regardless of the divorce process, there are four main components. These are (1) determining or isolating the critical issues, (2) information gathering, (3) negotiating and (4) finalizing all the paperwork. These are all very important steps and how long each step takes, various from case to case. How long have you been working with clients in Chicago in alternative dispute resolution - specifically collaborative divorce, and mediation? While my entire 29-year career has been focused on the practice of family law, it was not until after about 10 years of practicing that I more adamantly focused on resolving issues outside of court. I would frame myself in those first 10 years as a young attorney trying to prove herself in a predominantly tough and masculine field where being called a pit bull was a compliment. It was not until I had plenty of courtroom experiences that I realized how unhappy I was with myself as a person and how debilitating the process could be for people caught in a system geared toward destroying the other party. At this point now in my career, I don’t enjoy being called a pit bull. That name points to someone who approaches disputes with overt anger and aggression which to me, is more theatrics than problem-solving. I have never felt I made the best choices when fuelled with anger and aggression. I have far more satisfaction in results when problems are solved with cooler An Interview with... Understanding the Benefits of Collaborative Divorce and Mediation in Illinois Nanette A. Mccarthy Principal Partner GMR Family Law LLP 161 N Clark Street, Suite 3500, Chicago, IL 60601 Direct: 312.376.4433 Office: 312.782.4244 Fax: 312.782.4247 www.gmrfamilylaw.com
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