MCLC 2025 Roundtable: Effective Communication – Art, Science, or Both?

Register Now for MCLC’s 2025 Roundtable

Effective Communication – Art, Science, or Both?

Join us this May for the MCLC Annual Roundtable, a two-day event focused on building skills and strategies to strengthen communication and collaboration in your practice. This year’s theme, “Effective Communication – Art, Science, or Both?”—offers a thought-provoking keynote and three dynamic workshops designed to elevate your work with clients and colleagues alike.

Roundtable Schedule

Day 1: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Welcome 1:00 – 1:05 PM

Keynote: 1:05 – 4:00 PM
Presented by Sharon Strand Ellison, MS., Author of Taking the War Out of Our Words: The Art of Powerful Non-Defensive Communication

SKILL SETS FOR DEFUSING DEFENSIVENESS
. . . OFTEN IN A MATTER OF SECONDS
. . . Small Changes —  BIG IMPACT

Sharon’s transformative approach has earned national recognition and has helped professionals across sectors communicate with clarity and empathy—even in high-stress moments. You won’t want to miss this!

Day 2: Friday, May 16, 2025

Welcome: 9:30 – 9:40 AM

Workshop 1: 9:40 – 10:40 AM: Fearless Feedback: Effective Debriefs in Collaborative Divorce

A presentation designed to help practitioners effectively debrief with team professionals following a Collaborative meeting.

In this presentation, four seasoned Collaborative Attorneys and Mediators share tools and frameworks developed as part of their workgroup in the IACP Leadership Academy (2022–2023). 

Featuring Presenters:

• Ivan Alter – New York and Westchester County, NY
• Anthony J. Diaz – Orlando, FL
• Katherine Morneau – Nashua, NH
• Karen Van Kooy – Southborough and Newton, MA

Workshop 2: 10:45 – 11:45 AM: Exploring Collaborative Approaches to Prenups and Postnups 

This moderated panel discussion featuring Laurie Israel, author of The Generous Prenup (2018), The Marriage-Friendly Prenup (2025), and Mediating Prenups (available May 1, 2025) will look at how Collaborative professionals can serve this growing practice area. Public perceptions around the use of pre- and post-nuptial agreements continue to shift. Increasingly, couples seek financial clarity before marrying. Supported, non-adversarial, approaches to these difficult conversations can help to avoid the pitfalls of traditional negotiation and lead to healthier, happier marriages. Join us to learn how to bring your Collaborative training to prenups, share your thoughts, and ask your questions.

Moderated by Patrice Brymner, Collaborative Attorney, Mediator, and Co-host of Mending Fences Podcast

Featuring Panelists:

• Laurie Israel, Collaborative Attorney, Mediator, and Nationally Recognized Author
• Beth L. Aarons, JD, MSW, Collaborative Attorney, Mediator, and Suffolk Law Faculty
• Beth M. Nussbaum, Collaborative Attorney, Mediator and Appellate Counsel

Workshop 3: 11:55 AM – 12:55 PM: Marketing the Collaborative Process to Clients

When it comes to talking with prospective clients, what is the ‘Secret Sauce’ for getting more Collaborative cases? What should we be certain to always say? What might potential clients ask us, and how do we best answer their questions?  

Join us for a lively panel of highly experienced Collaborative Professionals as they share their recipes for success in getting cases and tell their stories and best tips for talking about Collaborative practice. 

Moderated by Betsy Ross, Collaborative Coach Facilitator and Co-Chair of MCLC’s Professional Education Committee

Featuring Panelists:

• David Hoffman
• Karen Levitt
• Justin Kelsey
• Michelle Raymond
• Mary Sheridan

Registration Rates

MCLC or MCFM Members: $165 (both days) / $95 (one day) – Save $25 when you register for both days!

Non-Members: $195 (both days) / $110 (one day) – Save $25 when you register for both days!