Michael A. Maddalena, B.A., M.A., LL.B., LL.M.

Michael A. Maddalena

• married for 26 years
• two beautiful daughters
• I sing with my wife in Chorus Niagara
• I play guitar, tend my garden, and love to read

My Education and Training

• B.A. in Political Science (Brock University)
• M.A. in Judicial Administration (Brock University)
• LL.B. (University of Western Ontario)
• LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution (York University – Osgoode)
• advanced training in family mediation (Barbara Landau)
• advanced training in collaborative practise (Rick Shields, Marion Korn)
• qualified collaborative trainer (Rick Shields)
• barrister and solicitor licensed to practise in Ontario
• member of the Lincoln Law Association Family Practise Group, the Niagara Collaborative Practise Group, the OCLF, and the IACP.

My Work

• primarily family law practise since 1991 with the CAW Legal Services Plan in St. Catharines, Ontario
• collaborative training coach (Rick Shields)
• collaborative trainer
• mediation coach in the Certificate of Dispute Resolution program at York University
• presenter in the Mandatory Information Program, Family Law Information Centre, St. Catharines.

What I Can Do For You

I can provide your group with Basic and Advanced training in collaborative practise.  Often I work with my training colleague, Margaret Opatovsky.  Training programs are a mix of short lectures, experiential learning activities in small and large groups, and plenty of opportunity for discussion, feedback, and reflection.  We can also offer “refresher” courses on specific aspects of collaborative practise.

• Level One (Basic) training includes:

• The nature of collaboration
• Collaboration compared with litigation
• First contact between lawyers
• Preparing the parties for collaboration
• Conducting the first settlement meeting
• Collaboration as a new paradigm

• Level Two (Advanced) training includes:

• Self awareness
• Interest based negotiation
• Communication skills development
• Difficult conversations
• Strategies for dealing with impasse
• Working within a professional team