| Karen Thompson-Harry practices family law
and equine law in the regions of Peel and Halton, Guelph and Orangeville in the Greater
Toronto Area and South Western Ontario. She helps her clients get through the emotional
challenges of these areas in as relaxing and stress-free a setting as possible –
mainly through arbitration, mediation, or collaborative law. Karen's assistant, Lori Windell, has been working in the family law field for
more than 20 years.
Almost 20 years'
experience
Karen completed her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree at
the University of Toronto in 1979. From 1980 to 1988, she worked as a community legal
worker for an Ontario legal clinic, specializing in social assistance, community
development, and law reform. In 1991, Karen graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was
called to the Ontario Bar the following year.
Effective communication
Today, Karen assists her clients with establishing
common, important principles such as integrity, good faith, and communication and finding
solutions that will help both parties come up with a mutually acceptable resolution. If
necessary, she will refer parties to a third-party professional to assist them in
developing more effective communication skills.
Focus on mediation and
collaborative law
The primary way Karen helps
parties improve communication with each other is through alternative dispute resolution.
Mediation (in which both sides negotiate their own agreement with the assistance of a
neutral third party) and collaborative law (in which both sides' professionals agree to
work together towards a settlement) reduce the adversarial quality of legal disputes by
helping clients resolve their cases out of court. Karen is proud that the vast majority of
her practice is in alternative dispute resolution: while many lawyers merely dabble in
mediation and collaborative law, these processes are second nature to her.
A casual office
environment
A unique aspect of Karen's practice is the country
setting of her office, a relaxing and soothing place perfect for negotiation meetings.
Clients often tell her that the office has a peaceful aura, unlike a suite in a cold,
intimidating office tower in which the lawyer sits across from you behind a desk. Karen's
office offers an inviting and supportive environment that's more casual and relaxing: this
helps reduce the added emotions of the client.
A balanced agreement
Whether your legal dispute involves family law (divorce,
child custody and access, child or spousal support, property division, paternity, etc.) or
equine law (bill of sale, agreements of purchase and sale, leases, syndication, boarding
agreements, indemnification agreements, etc.), Karen Thompson-Harry is your ideal choice
in southwestern Ontario for your representation. |
