Necessary and Difficult Conversations:
“If Only My Client and My Team Had Understood This from the Start” - Conversations That Can Pave the Way Forward

Presented by: Jen Bradley, Esq., Lisa Herrick, PhD, and Steve Weisbaum, Esq.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Google | Outlook | Office365 | Yahoo

Maggiano's - Chevy Chase

In any Collaborative process, we navigate through notably challenging moments when we wish we had done more preparation with our clients and our team at the outset that might have eased our way through this particular difficulty.

• “Why is my client surprised that Collaborative doesn’t mean warm and fuzzy? Did we say it would all be easy?”
• “Why doesn’t my client realize that arguing about the protocols makes everything slower and more costly?”
• “How is it that my client is angry that compromises are required- by BOTH sides- not just the OTHER side? Wasn’t that obvious?”
• “Why does my collaborative counsel champion their client’s narrative or positions, or substitute their own judgment for that of their client?”
• “Why does my collaborative counsel default to the law as the primary/ultimate reference point?”
• "How can the team address these problems as a group when they arise, and how can professionals identify and address these issues in ourselves?”
• “How do I give my client and my colleagues this difficult feedback, and how do I receive this difficult feedback, while ensuring they still feel I am on their side, our team still feels like a team, and our collaborative container still feels like a safe place? I wish I had gotten their permission to give them feedback as needed!”

These are just some examples of the kinds of moments when we might wish we had had certain conversations with our clients and our team early on. This program will focus on what sorts of necessary conversations might facilitate our work when we hit snags later - whether we are attorneys, coaches or financial neutrals. We will also discuss how, when and with whom we can have these necessary conversations, and how teammates of different disciplines can support one another in helping our shared clients feel as well prepared for the process as possible.