Meet Mediation Services

Founder
Director of Mediation Services
Office Operations Coordinator
Mediation Interns and Team Leaders
Mediation Law Students in Work-Study Program

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Founder

Dr. Julie Macfarlane is a Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Windsor. Julie has researched and written extensively on dispute resolution and in particular the role of lawyers. Her bestselling 2008 book “The New Lawyer : How Settlement is Transforming the Practice of Law” (UBC Press) is based on hundreds of personal interviews with lawyers and their clients. Dr Macfarlane is the editor of Dispute Resolution : Readings and Case Studies  (Emond Montgomery) a student text used widely in ADR courses in Canadian law schools which has now been published in its 3rd edition. Julie has just completed a four year empirical research project examining the use of Islamic family law principles and values in divorce processes conducted by third parties in North American mosques. A book “Sustaining the Islamic Imagination : Islamic Marriage and Divorce in North America” will be published by Oxford University Press in 2011. Julie is an active mediator, and consults regularly on conflict resolution interventions, training, program evaluation and systems design for a range of public and private sector clients. In 2005 she was the first Canadian recipient of the International Academy of Mediators’ Award of Excellence, presented annually to an individual mediation practitioner. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Macfarlane has provided mediation training for legal practitioners, law students, civil servants, union and management groups, aboriginal council members, legal aid workers and health care professionals.

Director of Mediation Services

The director of the Faculty of Law’s Mediation Services, Lynne Pearlman, offers a wealth of skills and experience in alternative dispute resolution, legal clinical support and teaching. Lynne holds an LL.B. and LL.M. from Osgoode Hall Law School and has also completed certificates in Dispute Resolution and Advanced Dispute Resolution at York University.

Lynne is an experienced mediator who integrates her passion for human rights and social justice into her approach to conflict resolution. Prior to joining Mediation Services, Lynne’s alternative dispute resolution work in Toronto focused on workplace and employment issues, community conflicts and civil litigation disputes. Lynne also coached dispute resolution students in York University’s Dispute Resolution Certificate Program. Her volunteer work with Conflict Mediation Services Downsview included mentoring new volunteer mediators.

Lynne’s background includes experience as a staff lawyer at a Toronto legal aid clinic, a policy analyst for the provincial government and a counselor at a shelter for assaulted women.

Lynne has also taught as a sessional instructor in Sheridan College’s Paralegal Program, in Glendon College’s Women’s Studies program, and George Brown College’s Assaulted Women and Children Counseling and Advocacy Program.

Over the last two decades, Lynne has worked with a wide array of organizations including municipal and provincial governments, private corporations (unionized and non-unionized), as well as not-for-profit organizations. Her extensive links with community organizations have come from many different perspectives – as a liaison with community groups, as a volunteer working in community agencies, and as a Director serving on community boards.

Her demonstrated skills and enthusiasm in the fields of mediation and conflict resolution will support the educational goals of the Faculty of Law’s mediation program and the clinic’s service to the community.

Office Operations Coordinator

Angie Penev joined the Mediation Services team in December 2010 as the Office Operations Coordinator. Her previous employment includes Executive Assistant and Employment Counsellor positions in higher education and not-for-profit organizations, giving her a wealth of experience in working with office administration, students, and the community. Angie possesses a Masters Degree in Higher Education from U. of T./OISE in Toronto, a Computer Sciences Diploma from Mohawk College in Hamilton, and Project Management Certificates from Boston University. Angie considers herself a "lifelong learner", and is enthusiastic about adding dispute resolution learning to her long list of educational achievements. 

Mediation Interns and Team Leaders

Our mediation interns - upper-year law and social work students with the University of Windsor - are the primary client contacts and co-mediators at Mediation Services as well as facilitators of community training and outreach activities.

Farah Rohoman is in her third year of law school at the University of Windsor. She was a summer intern at Mediation Services and now a Team Leader. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen's University. Farah enjoys working in the communities she lives in and has been an active member of Pro Bono Students Canada through the University of Windsor and is currently a reading buddy with the Windsor Public Library. In her spare time, Farah enjoys cooking, baking, reading, aerobics and spending time with her friends and family.

Kyla Fair is in her second year of law at the University of Windsor. She was a summer intern at Mediation Services and now a Team Leader. She holds an Honours B.A. in Political Science, with a minor in Criminology from Brock University. Kyla has a long standing commitment to volunteering, and most recently was a volunteer for the Ontario Women’s Justice Network through Pro Bono Students Canada. During her time as an intern at Mediation Services, Kyla hopes to develop strategies aimed at promoting access to justice for individuals who have limited legal options, especially for those living in Social Housing communities in Windsor.

Richard MacGregor is in his second year of law at the University of Windsor. He was a summer intern at Mediation Services and now a Team Leader. Richard is very interested in addressing the needs of people within the Windsor/Essex community and with resolving disputes through a quick, low-cost and informal process.  Richard is primarily interested in small claims and consumer-merchant issues and has a great motivation to assist these individuals with reaching effective and well strategized settlements and agreements. Richard is also an active member of the Energy Bar Association has worked with renewable energy companies and is committed to a future career within energy law and resource management in Ontario.  Richard is highly active in the outdoors and enjoys fishing, and outdoor sports such as baseball.

Law Students in Work-Study Program

Joshua Knox (DJD 2) supported Mediation Services through the work-study program and as a volunteer for the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 academic years. Thank you Joshl! Josh Knox is in his second year law at the University of Windsor and University of Detroit Mercy Law Schools.  Josh has been a work-study and volunteer student at Mediation Services since January 2011.  He holds a Masters degree in Political Studies from Queen’s University, as well as an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science from the University of Toronto. Josh has worked with various Members of Parliament in Ottawa and is an executive member of the University of Windsor’s Charter Project. 

 Kathy Le supports Mediation Services through the Work-Study program for the 2011/2012 academic year. Kathy is in her first year at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law where she is also active as a first-year representative on the Faculty Council Discipline Committee and the Environmental Law Society. She holds a commerce degree from Ryerson University with a major in Law & Business and a minor in Marketing Management.

Marina Tran supports Mediation Services through the Work-Study program for the 2011/2012 academic year.  She is in her first year of Law at the University of Windsor.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from University of British Columbia with a double major in Microbiology and Math.

Kimberly Pavao supports Mediation Services through the Work-Study program for the 2011/2012 academic year. Kimberly is currently enrolled in her second year at the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law where she is also active as VP Operations of Women in the Law. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia with a double major in Political Sciences and Sociology.  Kimberly has also been involved in various community projects in Vancouver focusing on children's charities, youth mentorship and the advancement of women.