Our goal is to help people involved in family law disputes resolve their differences with courage, respect and integrity. We aim to resolve family law problems fairly, quickly and at the lowest possible cost, while reducing the impact of the disagreement on children, minimizing conflict and promoting parents’ ability to work together into the future. John-Paul E. Boyd, KC has provided mediation services since 2005 and arbitration services since 2011; he is an accredited family law mediator and an accredited family law arbitrator.

As a mediator, John-Paul works with the parties and their counsel to reach agreements on the issues in dispute that are practical, fair, responsive to the children’s changing needs, and give the parties the best possible chance of being able to cooperate and revolve future disputes on their own.

As an arbitrator, John-Paul collaborates with the parties and their counsel to design a process that is fast and efficient, appropriate to the circumstances of the parties and their children and, most importantly, proportionate to the complexity, importance and value of the issues in dispute. John-Paul has created a set of procedural options designed specifically for the arbitration of family law disputes that are flexible, allow the voices of the children to be heard, are capable of accommodating opinion evidence from financial, mental health and other experts, and can be adapted to suit the specific needs of the parties and their dispute.

Download our current mediation, arbitration and med-arb agreements from the Participation Agreements page. Learn more about mediation and arbitration in the How it Works page, and about our rates in the Fees & Disbursements page.

intake process

Before we can take on a new case, we will ask that each party complete an intake sheet. People who are not represented by a lawyer will also need to provide us with a photograph of their driver’s licence, passport or some other form of photo identification.

meetings & hearings

Meetings, conferences and hearings in mediations and arbitrations conducted by John-Paul Boyd Arbitration Chambers can be held by teleconference or by videoconference. In-person meetings and hearings, when they are necessary, can be held anywhere in Alberta or British Columbia.

agreements & awards

Immediately following the end of mediation, John-Paul will usually prepare a memorandum of agreement outlining the terms on which the parties have agreed to settle their legal dispute and identifying any issues on which agreement has not been reached. This memorandum will form the basis of a separation agreement or consent order to be prepared by the parties’ lawyers.

At the end of an arbitration, John-Paul will, depending on the process selected, prepare a written award that summarizes his conclusions about the facts of the dispute, the law that applies to the dispute and his decisions about how each issue in the dispute will be resolved. This award may be filed in court and enforced as it if were an order of the court.

people without lawyers

John-Paul provides mediation, arbitration and med-arb services for people who do not have lawyers. Download our special mediation and arbitration agreements for people without lawyers from the Participation Agreements page

For people resolving disputes through arbitration, John-Paul has designed a streamlined inquisitorial process in which he helps the parties identify the issues and identify the documents and information that must be exchanged, and leads the examination of all witnesses.

Rate & retainer

John-Paul’s general rate for mediation, arbitration and med-arb services is $450 per hour, plus GST. Retainers — a sum of money provided up front as security for a lawyer’s future fees — are not usually required for people represented by lawyers as our retainer agreement makes the lawyers responsible for paying our fees. (The lawyers then charge our fees to their clients as a disbursement.)

Retainers are required for people without lawyers. The amount we will ask for depends on the dispute resolution process and the number of days the meeting or hearing is expected to take.

When John-Paul is required to travel outside Calgary, we charge a flat per diem rate of $500; clients are not otherwise responsible for John-Paul’s travel costs or travel time, and will not be asked to pay for common disbursements such as accommodation, airfare or mileage.

remote arbitration hearing guidelines for lawyers

While arbitration hearings conducted remotely are run in much the same way as hearings conducted in person, there are a few extra steps that must be taken to ensure the reliability of the internet connection, ease of access to documents and exhibits, and the integrity of any oral evidence that is given. If you are a lawyer and your hearing will be held by videoconference, download our guidelines for remote arbitration hearings.