The Peace Pact

Discovering Agreement

The Discovering Agreement approach calibrates alignment of the parties' intentions, values, and expectations - allowing them to gauge in advance whether the proposed relationship or transaction will be workable and worthwhile in the long-run;

Aligns content and language in legal contracts with the Vision-Mission-Values of the parties - so that contract terms and provisions harness the power of the conventional legal system to support the parties in conducting business and engaging crisis in accordance with their declared Vision/Mission/Values; and

Produces contracts that function as guidebooks for keeping the enterprise/transaction/relationship on track and productive - by orienting and re-orienting parties towards collaborative, creative responses to unexpected change or disagreement (as opposed to destructive adversarial posturing).

Love & Law

If we don't want the heart to take a subversive role in our lives, then we need to find a way to work with it, to harness its power for our own good, the good of those we love, for our clients, and for the world. How can we engage the power of the heart and still be effective professionals who are credible and successful (professionally, financially, and personally)?

Being & Doing

We are expected to partition our hearts from our work; but it is not possible. The truth is, the heart has power that will manifest even if we believe we've blocked its influence. Anxiety, depression, and burnout are signals of misalignment between the professional and their authentic self.

Conflict & Impact

Our mission is to help families & professionals transform the way "the law" impacts their lives and relationships. We have walked the path for two decades and want to help you align your work with your authentic self and change how conflict impacts you, your clients, and the world.

Authentic Self

Bringing something of value and meaning into the world is an act of love. Your work can be an expression of your true self. If you choose, it can be an expression of love.

THE PROCESS

In the event we find ourselves in the midst of addressing change and/or expressing disagreement we agree to use the ACED Process to return to Peace as quickly and respectfully as possible.

Step 1

Conversation.

To start, the person initiating the ACED Process will tell the other person(s) they want to have a conversation and provide a brief statement of the topic event, question, or concern they want to talk through and how they want to see it resolved ("Optimal Outcome"). This can be don by email, text or other written message.

Step 2

Facilitation.

If Step 1 does not lead to an outcome that is satisfactory for all of us, we agree to invite a facilitator to join our conversation within 7 days. The facilitators job will be to help us both hear and honor all sides and perspectives equally in order to support clarity of understanding and connection between us as we work towards achieving our Optimal Outcomes.

Step 3

Mediation.

If Step 2 does not lead to an outcome that is satisfactory for all of us, we agree to joint-session mediation. Any of us may commence the mediation/collaborative process by providing to the other written notice setting forth the subject of the dispute, claim or controversy and the relief requested. Within 10 days after receipt of the foregoing notice, each recipient shall deliver a written response to the sender. The initial mediation shall be held within 30 calendar days after the initial notice. The mediation costs will be shared equally, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon.

Step 4

Arbitration.

If, after completing Steps 1-3, we still do not have a plan that is satisfactory to both/all of us, we agree to submit the issues that remain unresolved to a third party arbitrator (our "Private Judge™). If we are unable to choose an arbitrator that is mutually acceptable to both of us within 14 days, the mediator from Step 3 may choose for us.

Step 5

Confirmation.

Once an arbitral award is confirmed, the judgment is docketed, which means that it has the same force and effect as any other civil judgment. In most cases, arbitration awards are confirmed and entered as judgments without adverse party opposition. We refer to collaborative lawyers who are trained in alternative dispute resolution and offer unbundled legal services.

Step 6

Begin Again.

Harvard Neuroscientist, Dr Jill Bolte Taylor reminds us that how we feel about something can really only last 90 seconds unless we choose to stay in that emotional loop. When we pause to name what’s stressing us out, and we inject a small dose of that behavior into our own life, we can harness stress as a design tool. Choosing peace is only to 90 seconds away