Attorney Maureen McBrien is now trained as a family law arbitrator, having attended the 2023 Arbitration Training Institute hosted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers on June 1-2, 2023 in Chicago. This significant event brought together a group of thirty-five Fellows, along with additional participants.
The esteemed faculty included Carolyn Moran Zack, author of Family Law Arbitration: Practice, Procedures and Forms (ABA 2020), Rochelle Grossman, an experienced arbitrator and former master from Pennsylvania, and retired Judge Robert Childers, Circuit Court judge, mediator, and AAA-trained arbitrator, all of whom contributed their valuable insights and expertise.
A key theme that emerged was the importance of uniformity in family law arbitration and the widespread adoption of the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act (UFLAA) across the country. Taking a leading role, Maureen McBrien, along with Jennifer Bingham from Massachusetts, is supporting legislative efforts to promote the adoption of the UFLAA. They are seeking Fellows from each state to serve on the subcommittee. If you are interested, please reach out to Jennifer at jbingham@binghamdisputeresolution.com and Maureen at mmcbrien@brickjones.com.
The training institute was also an opportunity to bring to light the demand for more certified arbitrators trained by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). With more states adopting the UFLAA, there is a growing need for highly trained and certified family law arbitrators who adhere to the highest standards encouraged by the AAML’s training discipline. Several states have recently adopted the UFLAA or have introduced bills, and court decisions in other states have revealed the necessity for family law arbitration procedures that protect families where the Uniform Arbitration Act or the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act lack adequate guardrails.
Participants were fortunate to receive Carolyn Moran Zack’s arbitration treatise as preparation for the training seminar, and viewed a webinar on the evolution of family law arbitration presented by Fellows Nowlin and Pinkus, as well as introductory zoom with their advisors, Fellows Stacy Warren, Noel Tonneman, Paul Smollar, Kimberly Bryan, and Barbara Runge. Participants will also receive a post-training review of their draft documents by their advisory Fellows.
Attorney McBrien is enthusiastic about incorporating family law arbitration into her practice.