Trainers
Brian Galbraith
Brian is the owner of Galbraith Family Law which has 6 offices in Ontario and 16 collaborative lawyers. Brian is the president of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and has served on its Board for several years. Brian has helped train hundreds of collaborative professionals and conducted workshops on the international stage. Brian has served on the Board of the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals and was instrumental in its formation. Brian was chair of the Trainers Committee in Ontario for several years. He continues to serve as the president of his local practice group. Brian is also a mediator. Most importantly, Brian is the father of five children and grandfather to two, so far. He lives on Lake Simcoe between Barrie and Orillia with his wife Nicole and their two young children. You can reach him at Brian@GalbraithFamilyLaw.com
Jonathan Paynter
Born in Ottawa, but raised mostly in Europe and Asia, Jonathan had diplomat parents who travelled extensively throughout the world. Once he returned to Canada to complete his post-secondary education, Jonathan Paynter graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1997 and a Bachelor of Social Work (Summa Cum Laude) in 1999. He worked in the child welfare and youth justice systems for a few years with children and their families. He then returned to school to complete a Master of Education in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto (2006). He worked in the Ontario College system for a few years as a counsellor at Fleming College and then transitioned into working in the justice system in Ontario, completing custody and access assessments, parenting capacity assessments and youth court assessments. Jonathan has worked in the family law system ever since, completing Section 30 assessments, voice of the child reports, and providing family mediation, family arbitration, and collaborative family law to clients in his private practice. He has been qualified as an expert witness in family court on numerous occasions, both in relation to child welfare and family law cases. Jonathan now works in full-time private practice. In addition to the family law services, Jonathan also provides psychotherapy and counselling for couples, children, and families. Jonathan is an instructor with the York University Family Mediation program, and the Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association for Family Mediation. Jonathan is a Registered Social Worker and an Accredited Family Mediator (OAFM), and has completed professional certificates in parental capacity assessment, family arbitration, domestic violence risk assessment, New Ways for Families, and child protection mediation. In his free time, Jonathan continues to love traveling, and also enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, cycling and spending time with his four children and spouse. You can reach him at paynterj@hotmail.com
Russell Alexander
Russell is the founder and Senior Partner at Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers. With nearly twenty-five years of experience, he uses his knowledge and expertise to serve his clients in all aspects of family law and helps them in coping with the difficulties of separation and divorce, the division of assets such as homes and pensions, and the calculation and enforcement of child and spousal support. He uses his experience to create unique solutions for each client to enable them and their families to move forward and supports them through the transition of divorce and separation. You can reach him at ria@russellalexander.com
Carrie Heinzl
Carrie is the founder Fairmore Family Law Financial Solutions. Fairmore offers independent, fact-based financial analytics and settlement insights to individuals and couples working through separation and divorce.
Carrie is a graduate of the University of Toronto as a Psychology Specialist (BSc. Hon.), a master’s candidate in Forensic and Legal Psychology (University of Leicester, UK), holds a Graduate Certificate in Court and Tribunal, and Mediation Certification from York University.
Carrie is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), Certified Divorce Specialist (CDS) and has Level I and II Collaborative Family Law Certification, and is a certified Family Mediator in Financial Issues. Carrie is a member of the Law Society of Ontario holding a Paralegal License. Carrie serves on the Board of Directors of York Collaborative Practice (Vice-Chair), Durham Collaborative Practice, and the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals (Vice President).
Carrie is an active collaborative process trainer, co-teaching the introductory program for new collaborative professionals and advanced level trainings for the seasoned practitioner. Carrie has taught statistics, research methodologies and psychology at college and university levels. In addition, Carrie has presented at conferences for the Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals, Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario Annual Conference, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. You can reach her at carrieheinzl@fairmore.ca