Aubrey Sherman

2C-625 King Street East
Kitchener, Ontario N2G 4V4
Canada
Office Phone: 5198840034
Member since 2021
Membership Type: IACP

Profession(s)

Lawyer, Mediator

Aubrey (he/him) is a Partner at Sherman Law LLP, a Certified Collaborative Lawyer (OACP/IACP), an Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM, OAFM), and an Accredited Intergenerational (Elder) Mediator (AccIM, OAFM) with over 19 years of hands-on experience in helping families in transition to resolve conflict through interest-based and insight discussions. He is a resourceful negotiator, a strong communicator, and an empathetic lawyer who is quick to spot creative opportunities to resolve disputes. Aubrey practices wholistic lawyering with mindfulness and clear intention knowing that it allows for the opportunity to help others in a meaningful way. He works with clients towards sustainable collaboration instead of aggressive and self-serving positioning.

Aubrey completed advanced mediation and conflict management training through the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. He has completed Dispute Resolution Levels 1 & 2 at the University of Waterloo & ADR Institute of Ontario. He has advanced family mediation training through the Ontario Association of Family Mediation (OAFM) and the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies at Conrad Grebel University College, University of Waterloo that allows him to help couples get past impasse, where collaborative discussions often break down and prevent settlement. As a family mediator, Aubrey assists couples to creatively mediate disputes and resolve family law conflict with or without legal counsel towards durable agreements. He is proficient in LGBTQ2+ family law matters. Aubrey is also a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM), the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO), and the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO).

Aubrey welcomes all modern families in his practice including same-sex couples. He works with couples who participate in good faith, with honesty, respect, and cooperation. He helps couples design plans based on their interests and goals. He assists clients with parenting plans, separation/cohabitation agreements, and marriage contracts through a collaborative approach. Aubrey represents clients as counsel in Collaborative Divorce across Ontario including Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Hamilton, Halton, London, Middlesex and surrounding areas in-person and virtually by Zoom video conference. Consultations welcomed!

Area(s) of Practice: Family Law & Divorce, Collaborative Family Law, Collaborative Divorce, Family Law Mediation, Divorce Mediation, Intergenerational Mediation; Elder Mediation; Estate Planning, and Estate Administration
License(s): Law Society of Ontario, 2005 to Current; Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM) with Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) - License #659-22 Accredited Intergenerational (Elder) Mediator (AccIM) with Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM) - License #419-24

Professional Activities

Newsletter Committee, Collaborative Practice Hamilton Halton (CPHH), 2022-Current; Speaker: "Crossing the Cultural Divide: Practical Ways Lawyers and Mediators can Better Work Together for the Benefit of the Public", Ontario's Limited Scope Services Project, Ontario Association for Family Mediation, and Law Pro, 2022; Ad-hoc Committee Member, "Best Practices Guide - Independent Legal Advice in Family Mediation", Ontario's Family Law Limited Scope Services Project, Ontario Association for Family Mediation, and Law Pro, 2022; Speaker: "Regional Round-Up: Key Updates for Family Law Proceedings across Ontario", Ontario Bar Association - Family Law Section, Young Lawyers Division, 2022; Marketing Committee, Collaborative Divorce of Waterloo Region (Best4All), 2021-Current; Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Agency, Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region, 2016-Current;

Undergraduate Education

York University, Bachelor of Arts (B.A) – Sociology, 2001

Postgraduate Education

Harvard Law School - Program on Negotiation, Negotiation Essentials (Certificate, 2023)
Harvard Law School - Program on Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Management (Certificate, 2021)
University of Waterloo, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies - Conrad Grebel University College, Conflict Management and Mediation (Certificates, 2020-2022)
Osgoode Hall Law School - Professional Development, York University - The Osgoode Certificate in Family Law Skills and Practice (Four-month intensive program), Certificate, 2021
ADR Institute of Ontario – Dispute Resolution Levels 1 and 2, Certificate, 2020
University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), 2004

Professional Education

Navigating Onward/OAFM - Child-Inclusive Mediation (Certificate, 2023)
CJI; Conrad Grebel University College (University of Waterloo) - Transformative Mediation (mediation of interpersonal conflict), 28-hour workshop, Certificate, 2022
IACP Global Virtual Institute - Collaborative Mediation, Instructor: Stephen H. Sulmeyer, J.D., Ph.D., 6-hour workshop, Certificate, 2022
IACP Global Virtual Institute - Handling the Very Challenging Collaborative Case, Instructors: Pauline Tesler and Nancy J. Ross, 6-hour training, Certificate, 2022
IACP Global Virtual Institute - Understanding and Managing Resistance in Collaborative Divorce, Instructor: Dr. Deborah Gilman, Ph.D., 6-hour training, Certificate, 2022
The Conscious Contracts Process in Family Law - Introduction, Instructors: J. Kim Wright; N. Kopping-Pavars; J. Gallant, 15-hour training, 2022
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Advanced Issues for Family Law and Dispute Resolution Professionals, Certificate, 2022
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Affirming Family Courts for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth and Their Families, Certificate, 2022
Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Family Law Training and Skills Development (Formerly Levels 1 and 2), Certificate, 2021
Ontario Association of Family Mediation, Candidate for Accredited Family Mediator (AccFM), 2020
ADR Institute of Ontario, Candidate for Certified Family Mediator (Cert.F.Med.), 2020
University of Waterloo, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies – Conrad Grebel University College, Dispute Resolution Level 2 – Mediation, Certificate, 2020
University of Waterloo, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies – Conrad Grebel University College, Dispute Resolution Level 1 – Fundamentals, Certificate, 2020

Comments

Now working with clients by Zoom Video Conference. Aubrey practices almost exclusively in the areas of family law. As an Accredited Family Mediator and Certified Collaborative Divorce Practitioner, Aubrey believes that collaborative family law and mediation are two of the most effective ways to resolve family law disputes. Collaborative Divorce is an effective tool for conflict resolution because it allows couples to discuss their concerns and resolve conflict in a manner that is rare in litigation. Research shows that couples who choose to avoid the courts and use ADR processes are able to resolve their disputes quicker and with lower legal fees than the traditional litigation and court process. Aubrey's role as a trusted legal advisor is to not only ensure that his clients understand the law and options available to them, but also as a healing profession where his clients have the resources and tools they need to heal from the separation in a healthy and productive way. Aubrey envisions a world where lawyers can be conscious leaders, peacemakers, problem solvers, and healers of conflict while at the same time being strong advocates for their clients. We hope you will join Aubrey in his collective pursuit to transform the law.