MEDIATION & FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES 
BRISBANE & GOLD COAST

The Mediator's Philosphy

Randal Binnie is an experienced family mediator and lawyer and above all else is committed to providing our clients with effective representation by way of alternative dispute resolution (known as "ADR") methods as opposed to litigation.

The Federal Goverment has legislated to prevent application being made to court in relation to childrens issues (with some exceptions such as family violence and abuse of children) unless the parties have first attempted to resolve their differences through family dispute resolution (mediation). 

Over the last 18 years Randal has experienced the outcomes of litigation in the Family law jurisdiction, more than enough to have appreciated the fruitless, destructive outcomes that litigation brings.  It is one thing to commence court proceedings in relation to commercial disputes (debts and contractual disputes) but is entirely another to expect to "win" in any family related litigation, particularly in relation to children.  It simply is not the answer!

Randal will receive instructions in relation to family law matters and will use his best endeavours to resolve those disputes through:

• Negotiation;
• Discussion;
• Collaborative Law; and
• Mediation.

The reasons to aspire to Dispute Resolution through these methods are many but include:

• ADR outcomes are the product of input of the parties themselves.  This assists with compliance and long lasting agreements as the outcomes are the property of the parties, not a third party decision maker such as a judge;
• ADR processes preserve relationships, they do not destroy them;
• Participants in ADR learn to negotiate and understand the issues and this understanding can extend into the future, building bridges rather than destroying them.

Please consider ADR methods prior to commencing any court proceedings.  Your family will thank you for it.  We are available at our Springwood office and by appointment at our Helensvale office where we also have mediation facilities for the convenience of mediation participants and their solicitors from the Gold Coast.

Queensland Law Society Announcement 24/6/2009

"QLS mediators among the best in Australia - As of November 2007, the QLS adopted the Australian National Accreditation Standards for mediators, thereby requiring mediator practitioners to comply with the national standards in order to be accepted onto the QLS panel. Since that time, a highly qualified group of Queensland lawyer mediators have attained national accreditation and continue to meet the ongoing requirements. " 

Our Partner Randal Binnie is a Nationally accredited mediator and complies with the QLS standards.  Obtain a copy of the National Practice Standards by clicking here.

Mediation does give positive results and outcomes to our clients - a recent comment by a client (contained in an email from the client) was

" One can say that thanks to your help I have achieved what I wanted: a successful divorce. Thank you.

"Thank you" is often heard after successful mediations.