Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation is a settlement firm focusing on family law and offering a supportive environment for families in transition or conflict. Using a holistic approach, the team at Panko Collaborative Law and Mediation walks with their clients through whatever legal issue they are involved in, empowering them to problem solve out of court. Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation is a Trusted Saskatoon Law Firm Specializing in Family Law!
A Fresh Perspective On Dispute Resolution from The Trusted Team at Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation
It is safe to say that not many lawyers specialize in alternative dispute resolution and mediation when it comes to resolving client disputes. What the team at Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation offers is certainly different, and we are eager to share what they do, why they get the thumbs up from Trusted Saskatoon and what makes them stand apart from the crowd!
The first thing to note is that the goal at Panko is NOT to go to court!
This is a rather surprising goal for a law firm, so to understand why it helps to learn how the company came to be in the first place. We sat down with Dominique Panko, a mediator at the company, to find out more about the history, the people and the philosophy of the firm.
Dominique's mother, Charmaine Panko is the founder and principal lawyer at the firm. To say Charmaine is a trailblazer is an understatement. She was invited to study law at the University Of Saskatchewan and eagerly commenced her studies in 2000. Charmaine was a mature student and she had already started her family. Understandably she found the workload combined with mothering nine children intense, so she petitioned the University to allow her ( and other mothers) to study part-time. They agreed, and in 2005 Charmaine graduated with a Batchelor of Law (with distinction). After law school, she joined Miller Thomson, where she was a collaborative lawyer, mediator, arbitrator, and trainer, before leaving to start her own company, Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation in 2015.
When Dominique was sharing her mother's story, it became clear that Charmaine has a talent for problem-solving, and that she actively seeks out unique ways to overcome objections and tackle roadblocks encountered. Now a mother of 11, Charmaine is an entrepreneur overseeing a successful family-owned and operated Saskatoon law and meditation firm, where Dominique and 3 of her other children also work.
A Commitment To Doing Things Differently
"We will not go to court- there are ways to go your own way that aren't so hard and ways that don't have to be a road to misery. Our goal is to get former adversaries to work together" - Dominique Panko
When asked what being trusted means to the team at Panko, Dominique replied that confidentiality was paramount, clients have to be able to trust them and they must trust the process - to do that they need to feel safe. The process is very different from what people are used to when struggling with disputes in the emotional areas they deal with. They specialize in mediating family law, divorce and separation, wills and estate disputes. They offer holistic support and their team is invested in finding a way to an amicable resolution for their clients. Hear what their peers have to say...
" As a fellow attorney, I'm scrupulous about who I send my friends and family to. Charmaine is a seasoned attorney who works to achieve the very best results without destroying families. Charmaine's training in mediation and collaborative divorce help her to guide families through the transitions of separation and divorce without the high cost (and emotional toll) of litigation." Carrie Luelling
Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation has several pathways to achieve a successful outcome, including:
Collaborative Law
In this process, each person involved has their own specially trained lawyer. Both lawyers commit to resolving all matters between the people involved without fighting in court. Sometimes in this process, the lawyers might suggest the inclusion of other collaborative team members such as separation coaches, child consultants, or divorce financial experts. The video below explains the process in detail.
" Collaborative Law was able to work around my busy schedule while guiding me on the proper sequence of everything involved in a separation. There were quick responses to any and all of my questions. When it came time to have a face-to-face meeting, I found it to be a comfortable experience. Which was nice, as I was nervous about mediation, to begin with. I found everyone in the office to be very professional." A Harrison
Mediation
A process using a neutral third party to facilitate negotiations and conversation for people in disagreement to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.
Kitchen Table
Working through the agreements that need to be made in an informal way, perhaps through conversations at your kitchen table.
Do It Yourself Separation / Divorce
They can teach you the steps to ensure your separation story is a successful one by taking the CommonSense Separation Course
" We refresh our mission statement every year to ensure it remains relevant. Our role is to empower people through difficult transitions - we go where ever there is conflict and we approach challenges with a fresh perspective. We give our clients tools that they can use for the rest of their lives" - Dominique Panko, Mediator
The team at Trusted Saskatoon is extremely proud to promote and support the wonderful team at Panko Collaborative Law & Mediation. It is clear that they are passionate about helping people find a better way. The situations they are involved with are amongst the most painful, emotional and challenging times in their clients' lives. Charmaine, Dominique and the Panko team authentically care, they are actively involved in offering new ways and they are passionate about petitioning for much-needed change in family law and the justice system so it works better for all involved, but especially for the children!
