Zanita A Zacks-Gabriel
Erie, Pennsylvania 16507
United States
Profession(s)
Lawyer, MediatorI am an experienced and compassionate attorney in Erie, Pennsylvania with over 40 years of experience under my belt. I am absolutely convinced that the collaborative process offers a far better solution for families in distress. I provide counsel and representation to individuals and families with regard to all aspects of divorce and family law.
I truly believe this process is the best way for any couple to end their marriage and/or resolve any issues of custody and support. This process allows the couple to have full control over how their property is divided, and more importantly how their child(ren) will be raised.
I am also developing a civil collaborative practice law to assist people that are having disputes with family members regarding their employment, their business dealings or resolution of difficult estates.
The collaborative process affords privacy, respect and dignity, and most importantly allows you, the parties, to help frame these very important solutions for you and your family. I deeply believe in this process and endorse it. Further, it is faster, less expensive and provides a far better durable lasting solution than any litigated proceeding.
I'd be pleased and honored to offer my services should you wish to schedule a consultation.
Professional Activities
* Drafter of the Pennsylvania Collaborative Law Act (PCLA), signed by Governor Tom Wolf on June 26, 2018 and effective August 27, 2018 * Certified as a Trainer by Forrest "Woody" Mosten * Approved Mediator through the Erie County Bar Association Mediation Program (www.eriebar.com) * Speaker and trainer at various seminars, conferences and Forums * Collaborative Professionals of Northwest PA (Founding Member & former President) * International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP): ~ Board of Directors, 2017-2020 ~ Fundraising Committee, 2017 to present ~ Institutional Affiliation Committee, 2018 ~ Membership & Outreach Committee, 2019 ~ UCLA Committee and Advisory Panel, 2014 to present * Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM) * American Association of Arbitrators * Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) * Business Networking International (BNI), Secretary/Treasurer, 2017 & 2019 * Global Collaborative Law Council (GCLC) * Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania * Pennsylvania Council of Mediators * Erie County Bar Association (ECBA): ~ Alternate Dispute Resolution Section ~ Estate and Trust Section ~ Family Law Committee ~ Fee Dispute Committee ~ Mediation Committee ~ Solo/Small Firm Section * Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA): ~ Editorial Committee, 2020 ~ House of Delegates, Zone 7, 2018 ~ Collaborative Law Committee, Chair 2012 to 2019, Vice Chair 2014 - Collaborative Law Committee. Regional Representative - Legislative subcommittee, Rules and Procedures, State Chairwoman 2010-2018 ~ Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee ~ Family Law Section ~ Labor & Employment Section ~ Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, 2016-2018 * American Bar Association: ~ American Association of Arbitrators (AAA) ~ American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) ~ Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (PTLA) ~ National College of Criminal DefenseUndergraduate Education
Brandeis University, 1972
Bachelor of Art Degree in Political Science
Magna-Cum Laude
Postgraduate Education
Temple University School of Law, 1975
Juris Doctor Degree awarded
Deans Honor List
Professional Education
* Certified as Trainer by Woody Mosten, 2016
* Developing a Profitable and Satisfying Peacemaking Practice with Woody Mosten and Ken Neumann, 2016
* 2-day Civil Collaborative Training with Marc O. Sheridan, 2016
* Collaborative Law Training, Basic Training Parts 1 and 2 and Advanced Training with Suzanne Brunsting, 2013
* 40-hour Basic Divorce Mediation Training with Woody Mosten, 2013
* 3-day training, A Master Class in Becoming a Successful Full-time Collaborative Professional with Pauline Tesler
and Woody Mosten, 2012
* 3-day basic training, Introduction to Collaborative Law, 2009
* 2-day Alternate Dispute Resolution Training, Parts I, II and III, 2005
Trainings offered to suit your event
Introductory and Advanced trainings
Hourly, half-day or full day available
Topics include, and can be tailored to your event:
"Building Your Collaborative Practice, How to be a Profitable Peacemaker"
"Navigating the Collaborative Roadmap"
"Building a Successful Practice Group"
"Marketing for a Successful Collaborative Practice Group"
"Hope – The Essence of Resolving Family Disputes"
"Building your Mediation Practice"
"Building Your Peacemaking Practice"
• "Team Dysfunction, Peacemaking and Hope", Central Illinois Association of Collaborative Professionals, Indianapolis, IN, March 5, 2018
• “Hope – The Essence of Resolving Family Disputes,” IACP 18th Annual Networking & Educational Forum, Loews Philadelphia Hotel,
Philadelphia, PA, October 14, 2017
• “Hope – The Essence of Resolving Family Disputes,” 25th Annual Conference, Florida Dispute Resolution Center, Orlando, FL, August 11,
2017
• “Collaborative Law: Resolution with Dignity, Changing the World One Case at a Time”, PBA Webinar, May 2, 2017
• “Building A Profitable Peacemaking Practice,” APFM 2017 Conference, Memphis, TN, March 31, 2017
• “Hot Tips in Labor and Employment Law”, PBA Labor & Employment Law Section 2017 Retreat, Hershey, PA, March 10, 2017
• “Growing Your Collaborative Practice: Management, Ethics and Image,” PBA Collaborative Law Retreat, Bedford, PA, Sep 18, 2016
• “Using Your Collaborative Training to Offer a Consumer Friendly Approach to Your Practice”, Chicago, IL, July 23, 2016
• “Collaborative Law: Settle Your Disputes Respectfully”, Mercer County Bar Association and Mercer County Collaborative Professionals,
May 24, 2016
• “Developing Functional Collaborative Teams: Avoiding the Five Dysfunctions”, Bucks County Collaborative Law Group & Collaborative
Law, Professionals of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Practice Group Retreat, Cedarbrook County Club, Blue Bell, PA, Apr 16, 2016
• “Uniform Collaborative Law Act / Rules”, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, 18th Annual Spring Conference, New York, NY, Apr 7, 2016
• “Collaborative Groups on Interdisciplinary Teams”, Mercer County Collaborative Group, Hermitage, PA, Mar 21, 2016
• Coach and presenter, Mosten Mediation Training, Los Angeles, CA, Jan 26, 2016
• “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team II”, PBA CLASP and Collaborative Retreat, Bedford Springs, Nov 1, 2015
• “Add Collaborative Practice to Your Toolbox”, for PA Council of Mediators via conference call, July 21, 2015
• “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, for Collaborative Professionals of NW PA Annual Retreat, Erie Yacht Club, Erie, PA, May 29, 2015
• PBA Collaborative Law Committee Retreat, Bedford Springs, PA, Nov 3, 2014
• "What Every Advisor Should Know About Collaborative Divorce - Preserving Client Assets and Relationships", Estate Planning Council,
Bel-Aire, Clarion Hotel, Erie, PA
• “Creating Cohesive Teams” Collaborative Professionals of NW PA Annual Retreat at Yacht Club, live seminars, Erie, PA, Jun 5, 2014
• “Navigating the Waters of Divorce - A Practitioner's View” by Estate Planning Council of Erie, Erie, PA, May 7, 2014
• “Collaborative Practice Dispute Resolution Without Going to Court”, Erie Club, Erie, PA, Apr 24, 2014
• Collaborative Law Training, Basic Parts 1 and 2 and Advanced Training, live w/Suzanne Brunsting, Erie, PA, Nov 8 and 9, 2013
• PICPA Erie Chapter Networking Mentorship Panel, Erie, PA, Nov 7, 2013
• CPNWPA Retreat, Jan 12, 2013
• “Collaborative Law: Resolving Disputes Respectfully”, Erie Club, Erie, PA, Oct 5, 2011
• “ABC’s of Networking Luncheon”, PICPA training, Bel-Aire Hotel, Erie, PA, Sept 28, 2011
Trainings offered to suit your event
Introductory and Advanced trainings
Hourly, half-day or full day available
Topics include, and can be tailored to your event:
"Building Your Collaborative Practice, How to be a Profitable Peacemaker"
"Navigating the Collaborative Roadmap"
"Building a Successful Practice Group"
"Marketing for a Successful Collaborative Practice Group"
"Building your Mediation Practice"
"Building Your Peacemaking Practice"
"Hope – The Essence of Resolving Family Disputes"
Forrest "Woody" Mosten
Adam Cordover
Robert Merlin
Brian Galbraith
Comments
Attorney Zanita Zacks-Gabriel is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and a founding member of the Collaborative Professionals of Northwest PA (President from inception to Spring 2014; Past President Spring 2014 to present). Publications: “Symposium On Alternative Dispute Resolution in Pennsylvania”, Introduction, Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly | April 2019, pgs. 55-56 “Collaborative Practice In Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Collaborative Law Act”, Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly | April 2019, pgs. 71-81 “Unbundled Legal Services”, Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly | April 2019, pgs. 96-104 Authored Chapter 7 - “Creating Collaborative Office Space”, ABA Building a Successful Collaborative Family Law Practice, Forrest S. Mosten & Adam R. Cordover, ABA, ISBN #978-64105-241-2, August 2018 "Collaborative Law Practice Solves Legal, Emotional, Financial Problems", PBA Bar News, Vol 27, Number 21, November 6, 2017 "A Road Map for States Which Have Not Yet Adopted the UCLA", IACP Collaborative Connection, Vol. 11, Issue 3, Spring 2015 "Collaborative Professionals of NW PA", The Trend, Spring 2014 (A newsletter of the PBA Collaborative Law Committee) "Collaborative Professionals of NW PA", The Trend, Fall 2013 (A newsletter of the PBA Collaborative Law Committee) 96 ERIE 27 - 41, S.J.S. v. M.J.S., Erie County Legal Journal, Vol. 96, No. 36, 9/6/2013 "Reflections on Chicago", The Trend, Spring 2013 (A newsletter of the PBA Collaborative Law Committee) "Northwest Professionals High on Collaboration", The Trend, Spring 2012 (A newsletter of the PBA Collaborative Law Committee