Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.

- Saul Alinsky

Mediation & Conflict Coaching

Mediation is is a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties outside litigation. A neutral third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement. The process is voluntary, private, and confidential.
Mediators use various techniques to improve communication between disputants, aiming to help the parties reach an agreement on the disputed matter. 

Phinney Estate Law partner Jamie Clausen has experience mediating in probate, trust, guardianship, family law, landlord/tenant, personal injury and other disputes.  Jamie uses a interest based style of mediation where she works to help the parties identify for themselves what is most important in a resolution of the conflict, communicate effectively, and be creative about solutions that will best meet the needs of all parties. 

Because a mediator must be neutral, Jamie cannot mediate any dispute where Phinney Estate Law has represented a party.  As a mediator she is jointly retained and her fees are typically split among the parties.  As a mediator, Jamie represents none of the parties and will not provide a legal decision on disputes.  (Note: If you feel that you need an attorney to advise you in the mediation process, we recommend that you consider whether a collaborative law approach may be a better match to your needs.  Phinney Estate Law provides collaborative representation for probate and trust disputes, elder law, and family law.)

For client wishing to resolve conflict in a process less formal then mediation, collaborative law, or litigation, Phinney Estate Law partner Jamie Clausen provides behind the scenes consultation and assistance with resolving conflicts through conflict coaching.  Services include evaluation of approaches to resolution, ghost writing of letters, practice negotiations, and referral to resources.  In her coaching services, Jamie draws upon her experiences as a litigation advocate and mediator to assist client in identifying their key interests and goals, empathetically identifying what those might be for others in the conflict, improving communication, and thinking creatively about solutions.  Our conflict coaching services are focused on the areas of probate and trust disputes, elder law, and family law.