Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council

MCLC/MCFM Member Drop-In Meeting
2026-05-07 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-02 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-01-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
You are invited to the Dispute Resolution Drop-In Meetings for Collaborative Practitioners to meet for informal discussions about cases and practice related topics and networking.

All experience levels are welcome.
No registration is required, but all attendees must be members of MCLC or MCFM.

Zoom Details:

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86230609210?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 862 3060 9210
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Spring MCLC/MCFM Social Networking Event
2026-05-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Lake Williams Trail, Marlborough, MA 01752, Lake Williams Trail, Marlborough, MA, 01752, United States
Join the Joint MCLC/MCFM Committee for a spring networking and social gathering that includes an outdoor walk and lunch with colleagues.
Event: Leisurely 1.5-mile walk around Lake Williams Trail in Marlborough, followed by lunch.
Location: Meet at the Lizotte Drive parking lot (see trail map below). Please do not park at the courthouse.
Details: Walk will start promptly at 11:00 am. Lunch afterwards will be at 12:30 pm at Chill Kitchen & Bar (416 Boston Post Road East in Marlborough.) While no RSVP is required for the walk, if anyone wants to be included in the lunch reservation to guarantee a seat, please email Beth to RSVP for the lunch at beth@aaronslaw.net

Calling All Coaches
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Please join us for an informal conversation about Collaborative Divorce Coaching. Bring your coaching questions, comments, and concerns and let’s talk!
Check your email for the weekly member newsletter which includes the Zoom link to join.

MCLC Tri-River Practice Group Meeting
2026-04-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom
YOU’RE INVITED! Please join us – MCLC Tri-River Practice Group Meeting!
Date and Time: Thursday, April 16, 2026: 4:00 – 5:30 P.M.
Location: VIA ZOOM

BEST PRACTICES FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Renee Senes, CDFA will guide us in an interactive discussion on the best practices and tips for completing a financial statement. What story does your client’s financial statement tell?
Zoom Link: Please check your MCLC Member Newsletter for the Zoom link or reach out to info@massclc.org for assistance.

MCLC Book Club
2026-04-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Our April book selection is Unhitched: The Essential Divorce Guide for Women by Oona Metz—and we’re thrilled to share that Oona will be joining us live for the conversation!
Join us on Zoom from 4:00 – 5:00 pm for this special book club meeting, where we’ll explore the themes of Unhitched, including the unique challenges women face in divorce and how our work can better support clients with clarity, confidence, and informed decision-making. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear directly from the author and engage in discussion.
No need to finish the book by April 9 to participate—all are welcome.
Please check your member newsletter for the Zoom link.

MCLC's Collaborative Connections
2026-04-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join us on April 9, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, for casual networking with Collaborative Divorce Practitioners and related professionals.
Expand your professional network and gain valuable insights at our quarterly networking event! Join us for an hour of engaging conversations with Collaborative Divorce Practitioners and a diverse group of related professionals. This event is a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas, explore potential collaborations, and deepen your understanding of the Collaborative Divorce Process.
Who should attend:

Financial professionals
Real estate professionals
Professional/executive coaches
Mental health professionals
Insurance professionals
Anyone interested in networking with colleagues
Anyone interested in learning more about the Collaborative Divorce Process

Please click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/EOTkLmd7S-aCZQ4VZ2MIxA. Email with Zoom link will be sent to you immediately upon registering from Zoom.

Northern Essex Collaborative Law Group - April Meeting Canceled
2026-04-02 16:30 - 17:30
Please note the April meeting is canceled.

MCLC Annual Members' Meeting
2026-03-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
Please join us for MCLC’s Annual Meeting, held via Zoom. This is an opportunity to reflect on MCLC’s accomplishments in 2025, hear key updates from leadership, and learn more about priorities and initiatives planned for 2026. This annual gathering provides an opportunity to celebrate our growth, strengthen our professional community, and look ahead to the year to come.
Featured Program
Understanding AI in a Collaborative Law Setting
Presented by Todd C. Scott, VP Risk Management, Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
This program shows Collaborative Law attorneys how to use AI to refine neutral, non-adversarial language in client communications and separation agreements, with a practical writing demonstration. It also addresses confidentiality, data security, and ethical guardrails for responsibly using generative AI in sensitive family law matters.
Todd C. Scott is the Head of Risk Management at Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company and a nationally recognized CLE presenter on legal ethics, practice management, legal technology, and malpractice-risk prevention. He has extensive experience advising attorneys on the ethical use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Please RSVP below to receive the Zoom link and agenda during the week of the meeting.

Northern Essex Collaborative Law Group
2026-03-05 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-02-05 16:30 - 17:30, 2026-01-08 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-12-04 16:30 - 17:30, 2025-11-06 16:30 - 17:30 | Zoom
Are you looking to sharpen your skills and connect with fellow MCLC members? We invite you to join the Northern Essex Collaborative Law Group, meeting on Zoom every first Thursday of the month. This is a great opportunity to practice, collaborate, and learn in a supportive environment, no matter where you are.
The group is open to all MCLC members—whether you’re new or experienced, we’d love to have you join the conversation! Check your email for the weekly member newsletter which includes the Zoom link to join.
Please RSVP to Clint Dalton (cdalton@brigantine.law) if you plan to attend.

Tri-River Practice Group
2026-02-19 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom
Join us for the February Tri-River meeting where Holly Vietzke, Esq. will be presenting on The Intersection of Family and Special Education Laws.
Holly Vietzke, Esq., brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her practice at Holly Lynch Law LLC. A graduate of Boston University and Massachusetts School of Law (magna cum laude), Holly’s journey has been defined by a commitment to education.
Check your inbox for the MCLC newsletter which contains the Zoom link!

MCLC Book Club
2026-02-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Our February book pick is The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams.
Please join us via Zoom for a discussion on the importance of language and choosing words. No worries if you are unable to complete the book by 2/12!
Please check your MCLC member newsletter for the Zoom link.

Tri-River Practice Group
2026-01-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom
Developments in Law – 2025 in Review: Please join us via Zoom for a review of developments in Family Law during 2025.
Check your MCLC member newsletter for the Zoom link.

MCLC's Collaborative Connections
2026-01-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join us on January 8, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, for casual networking with Collaborative Divorce Practitioners and related professionals.
Expand your professional network and gain valuable insights at our quarterly networking event! Join us for an hour of engaging conversations with Collaborative Divorce Practitioners and a diverse group of related professionals. This event is a fantastic opportunity to exchange ideas, explore potential collaborations, and deepen your understanding of the Collaborative Divorce Process.
Who should attend:

Financial professionals
Real estate professionals
Professional/executive coaches
Mental health professionals
Insurance professionals
Anyone interested in networking with colleagues
Anyone interested in learning more about the Collaborative Divorce Process

Please click the RSVP button below to sign up. Email with Zoom link will be sent to you immediately upon registering.

Tri-River Practice Group
2025-12-18 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom
Holiday Annual Planning Meeting
Please join us for our annual planning meeting. Feel free to attend in person or by zoom. Bring your ideas for presentations and discussions for our 2026 Tri-River Meetings while enjoying some holiday goodies.
Check your MCLC member newsletter for the in-person address and Zoom link.

MCLC Book Club
2025-12-11 15:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
Our next pick is This is Me Letting You Go by Heidi Priebe. Please join for a discussion on the topic of finding ways to move past a broken relationship.
Please check your MCLC member newsletter for the Zoom link.

MCLC & MCFM Holiday Soiree (Members Only)
2025-12-04 16:30 - 20:00 | Zoom
Sonja Starins and Bob Jutras of SSJM Attorneys cordially invite all MCLC and MCFM members to a special holiday social event on Thursday, December 4 at the SSJM office in Woburn.
Come and enjoy delicious appetizers provided by Hostess Catering, amazing paired wines, holiday music by violinist, Yaeko Miranda, and great conversation with your ADR colleagues! Attendance is limited to 50 guests.
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Host: SSJM Attorneys
Location: 629 Main Street, Woburn, MA 01801
►► If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, November 19: Sonja Starins – sstarins@ssjmattorneys.com
Your timely RSVP to Sonja will be helpful to the SSJM Attorney Team in planning for the event with Hostess Catering.

Hot Off the Presses: 2025 Child Support Guidelines—Insights from Members of the Task Force
2025-11-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
MCLC and MCFM invite you to our jointly sponsored
Professional Development Workshop: Hot Off the Presses: 2025 Child Support Guidelines—Insights from Members of the Task Force
Friday November 21, 2025
2 PM – 4 PM
via Zoom
The newly reviewed Child Support Guidelines have recently been released for a December 1, 2025 effective date. Please join in a presentation about the new Guidelines with Holly Hinte and Jamie Sabino, both members of the Child Support Task Force, as they highlight and discuss what is different, what is the same and the nuances in between – as well as a discussion led by Michael Leshin on how mediators approach child support in light of Cavanagh (including Cavanagh II).
Meet Our Panelists:
Holly A. Hinte is a partner at Lee & Rivers LLP, focusing her practice exclusively on family law. Before joining Lee & Rivers LLP, Ms. Hinte served as a Judicial Fellow (2011-2012) and a Judicial Law Clerk (2012-2014) to the justices of the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court. Ms. Hinte has co-authored two Amicus Briefs involving issues of first impression in Massachusetts (Chin v. Merriott and DeMarco v. DeMarco) and has moderated numerous panels & has lectured on domestic relations topics for various organizations. Ms. Hinte has been included in Best Lawyers in America in Family Law since 2024; has been recognized as a Massachusetts “Rising Star” by Boston Magazine and the Super Lawyer publication since 2017; has received the highest Avvo rating possible (10.0 Superb) as a family law attorney; has been listed in Boston Magazine as a “Top Lawyer” in family law since 2022, and was recognized by Doyle’s Guide as a Recommended Boston Leading Family, Matrimonial and Divorce Lawyer for 2025.
Michael L. Leshin is of counsel with HealyFiske LLP in Waltham. From 1998 through June 2021, he was a partner with the law firm of Ginsburg & Leshin LLC in Wellesley and thereafter was of counsel with Goldman & Sidgwick, LLP in South Natick. He continues to focus his practice in the area of family law and mediation. He has served as chair of the Family Law Section of the Boston Bar Association and as president of the Massachusetts Council on Family Mediation, Inc. (MCFM). He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (family law, 2006–2026; family law mediation, 2007–2026). He is also certified as a divorce mediator by MCFM. In 2013, he received the John Adams Fiske Award for Excellence in Mediation from MCFM. He is the co-author of the chapter “Mediation and Other Dispute Resolution Alternatives” in Massachusetts Divorce Law Practice Manual (MCLE, Inc. 5th ed. 2023). For over twenty years, he authored the annual MCLE publication, Massachusetts Family Law Sourcebook. Mr. Leshin has chaired or co-chaired numerous MCLE programs and has lectured on tax, mediation, and family law issues for the Boston Bar Association; Mediation Works, Inc.; Community Dispute Settlement Center; and several Boston-area law schools. He is a graduate of Brandeis University, Boston University School of Law, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Following law school, he clerked for the Massachusetts Superior Court, serving as the deputy chief law clerk.
Jamie Ann Sabino, Deputy Director of Advocacy, Massachusetts Lw Reform Institute
Jamie Sabino joined MLRI in October 2014. She is the Deputy Director of Advocacy and the Managing Attorney of the Civil Legal Needs for Victims of Crime Initiative (CLAVC). The CLAVC Initiative is supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance through a Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. In addition she serves as lead advocate for the Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project (DVLAP) including facilitating the Family Law Task Force, a statewide group of legal services family law attorneys, attorneys in domestic violence service provider agencies and attorneys involved in family law pro bono programs and law school clinics.
Prior to this position Ms. Sabino served for over 13 years as the VAWA STOP Grant Coordinator for the Massachusetts Trial Court, were she worked at a policy level on how the Trial Court handled cases involving domestic violence and sexual assault. Ms. Sabino formerly practiced in the law firm of Klibaner & Sabino in Cambridge, MA concentrating in family law and criminal defense appellate law.
Ms. Sabino is a past president of the Women’s Bar Association and Women’s Bar Foundation of Massachusetts and has been honored by the Boston Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association, the National Lawyers Guild, Massachusetts Chapter and Northeastern University School of Law for her commitment to pro bono work. In addition to her legal work, Ms. Sabino has broad experience in the non-profit world and has sat on a number of non-profit boards. She is a graduate of Wellesley College with a B.A. in History and Political Science and Northeastern University School of Law.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
COST: No charge to attend the Workshop but you must be a member of either MCLC or MCFM
REGISTRATION REQUIRED:
Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/TeQK3nGoTQ6mdJnrwMY_ZQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting
RECORDING: This workshop WILL be recorded
QUESTIONS? Email Kacy Wiant, MCLC Administrator

MCLC & MCFM Member Drop-In Meeting
2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Zoom
You are invited to the Dispute Resolution Drop-In Meetings for Mediators and Collaborative Practitioners from MCFM and MCLC to meet for informal discussions about practice-related topics and networking. All experience levels are welcome.
November topic: Marketing Yourself and Your Practice to Make the Shift

What marketing tactics work?
Is it necessary to blog?
Is social media as important as everyone makes it out to be?

No registration is required, but all attendees must be members of MCLC or MCFM.
Check your email for the weekly member newsletter which includes the Zoom link to join.

MCLC Book Club
2025-10-30 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
📚 October Book: The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
How do we navigate life, love, and choice in a world of never-ending options? The Husbands delights in that question—perfect for a lively MCLC Book Club conversation about agency, regret, and the courage to choose.
Whether you’ve finished the book or are just getting started, all are welcome to join the conversation. Grab a drink, kick back, and connect with fellow MCLC members for an informal, engaging discussion.
Check your email for the weekly member newsletter which includes the Zoom link to join.

Tri-River Practice Group
2025-10-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom
Please join us via Zoom for our October Tri-River Practice Group.
Topic this month: Beyond Agreements: Safeguarding Childhoods by Maria Natapov
Maria Natapov is a Co-Parenting and Stepparenting Expert, Vice Chair of The Sparrow Collective, and trusted advisor to divorce professionals, financial advisors, and parenting coaches.
In this engaging session, Collaborative Law professionals will be invited to step into the shoes of a child caught in divorce conflict, experiencing firsthand the weight families carry when systems fail. Through reflection and discussion, we’ll explore how BeH2O® equips parents with research-based tools and mindset shifts that move them from repeated disputes to sustainable, child-centered systems of communication, accountability, and peace.
Drawing on her background as a Certified BeH2O® Coach and a Co-Parenting and Stepparenting expert, Maria will share how this approach not only protects children but also strengthens legal practice reducing re-filings, creating calmer transitions, and positioning attorneys as trusted guides who safeguard families beyond the agreement table.
Check your email for the weekly member newsletter which includes the Zoom link to join.

Northern Essex Collaborative Law Group
2025-10-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Are you looking to sharpen your skills and connect with fellow MCLC members? We invite you to join the Northern Essex Collaborative Law Group, meeting on Zoom every first Thursday of the month. This is a great opportunity to practice, collaborate, and learn in a supportive environment, no matter where you are. The group is open to all MCLC members—whether you’re new or experienced, we’d love to have you join the conversation!
October 9 Special Guest: Attorney Peter Jamieson will be presenting the first in a two-part series on the interplay between Child Support and Alimony per the Cavanaugh case.
Please RSVP to Clint Dalton (cdalton@brigantine.law) if you plan to attend.
Check your email for the weekly member newsletter which includes the Zoom link to join.
