Hi everyone,



I want to wish you all peace and wellness during this Holiday season. As events have reminded us, we need as many people seeking peace in this world as possible.

I wrapped up my fall tour of Collaborative community gatherings with a visit to the Collaborative Law Institute of Minnesota for their Annual Forum on December 4. I shared IACP’s Strategic vision and plan for 2025–2028, including the Ten Pillars of Collaborative Practice. We had rich conversations about the value of IACP membership and the importance of local practice groups. And I had the pleasure of meeting Stu Webb in person for the second time!

If we met and didn’t get to finish our conversation—or if we missed each other entirely—please reach out. I’d love to continue connecting over Zoom. I’ll resume visits to practice groups and Global Partners in the new year, and I hope to see many of you in person soon.

As part of my Presidential year, I’ve been dedicating space in each letter to the Ten Pillars of Collaborative Practice. Last month, we reflected on Ethical Integrity. This month, I turn to the seventh Pillar: Interdisciplinary Teamwork.

Each of the Ten Pillars is a value statement—not listed in order of importance. The last six describe values we live through our community. Here’s the full statement:

In line with the IACP mission, we are committed to creating a community that uses interdisciplinary teams to empower and support individuals to reach their own agreements with a focus on their short and long-term well-being.

This may be the most familiar of the Pillars. Interdisciplinary teamwork is central to every basic training and is often featured in Collaborative marketing. But it’s more than a concept—it’s a community commitment.

As Collaborative Practice matures, interdisciplinary teams are sometimes treated as optional. Cost concerns are real, and clients often hesitate. But we can innovate.

An interdisciplinary process does not need to look like a series of 6-way meetings, with everyone present and combined billables over $2,000 per hour. Smart, creative use of modern group communication and collaboration tools can allow larger teams to work together more effectively and efficiently. We can make interdisciplinary processes more attractive and cost-effective for clients.

I would like to challenge us to use creative structures and smart tools to make interdisciplinary teamwork more accessible, affordable, and effective—for everyone.

Next month: Persistence.