Shelly Joan Harper

Shelly obtained her law degree at the University of Western Ontario in 1983 and was called to the Bar in 1985. Shelly has practiced law in Kitchener since that time. While Shelly has extensive courtroom experience including appearances before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, she now focuses her practice on alternative methods of dispute resolution including collaborative practice, mediation, arbitration, mediation/arbitration and neutral evaluations. These processes allow for a balance between legal rights and interests.

Shelly has completed level 1 and 2 advance training in Collaborative Practice as well as interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice training. She has completed mediation training in alternate dispute resolution and as well has completed programs for assessing domestic violence and power imbalances for family law arbitrations. Shelly has been an invited lecturer/speaker/panelist many times over the course of her career.

She has been the past president of the Best4all-Collaborative Practice of Waterloo Region and is current an executive member as well as being a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Waterloo Law Association, and a member of the Ontario Collaborative Law Federation.

Shelly assists her family law clients in negotiating cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts and separation agreements including parenting plans. She has extensive experience in dealing with complex property and support issues.

Shelly not only acts as an advocate for her clients in transition but also provides services as a mediator, arbitrator, mediator/arbitrator and neutral evaluator to families.

Given Shelly’s legal knowledge and experience she is able to provide effective advocacy and creative and innovative solutions.