Robert Lopich

Introduction

Robert is a director of Mediate Today Pty Ltd, Collaborative Lawyers Pty Ltd an incorporated legal practice operating as “Lopich Lawyers”, Collaborative Practice & Mediation Centre Australia Pty Ltd and is special counsel to Goldrick Farrell Mullan, Solicitors of Sydney. He has some 30 years experience in providing high quality legal and dispute resolution services to his clients.

Robert believes that:-

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to treat every problem as a nail.”
(Abraham Maslow)

He is a mediator and facilitator holding national accreditation with LEADR and the Law Society of New South Wales and a collaborative lawyer (Advanced Level).

Robert conducts a mediation and collaborative law practice in the areas of commercial and business matters, including disputes concerning partnerships and joint venturers, contractual issues, company directors, liability and warranty disputes, construction and building disputes, local government, planning and environmental issues, property development issues, commercial and residential property (including commercial and retail leases matters), and industrial and workplace relations and other matters.

Robert is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales, Panel of Mediators. He is a Level 3 mediator with specialised accreditation from the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre (ACDC) in Business and Commercial Mediation and in Local Government Mediation and has completed the Advanced Mediation Certificate with Bond University.

He also holds a Certificate IV, Assessment and Workplace Training and has completed the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, Training the Trainers program as well as a range of other courses and training.

Tertiary

Diploma in Law (S.A.B.) – University of Sydney, Law Extension Committee 1982

Courses

  • Integrated Sustainability – University of Technology of Sydney, Centre for Local Government;
  • Development Control – University of Technology of Sydney, Centre for Local Government;
  • Mediation Certificate – Bond University, Dispute Resolution Centre;
  • Certificate of Accreditation – Mediation Level 3, Business & Commercial Mediation, Australian Commercial Dispute Centre;
  • Certificate of Accreditation – Mediation Level 3, Local Government Mediation, Australian Commercial Dispute Centre;
  • Collaborative Law Practice Program – University of Technology of Sydney: Law Short Course, presented by Stuart Webb and Marion Korn;
  • Advanced Mediation Skills Workshop – The Heart of Conflict: Advanced Skills for the Dispute Resolution Professional – presented by Bernie Mayer for LEADR;
  • Advanced Mediation Certificate – Bond University, Dispute Resolution Centre;
  • Certificate IV, Assessment and Workplace Training – The Illawarra Information Technology Centre;
  • Workplace Dispute ADR Training – The Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia;
  • Collaborative Law Negotiation Skills – National Centre of Collaborative Law, presented by Dr Tom Altobelli;
  • Advanced Collaborative Practice – University of Technology of Sydney, presented by Marion Korn;
  • Advanced Collaborative Practice 2007 – University of Technology of Sydney, presented by Marion Korn;
  • Advanced Strategies Workshop and Private Session Strategies Workshop – LEADR presented by Forrest (Woody) Mosten, April 2007;
  • Narrative Mediation Training with Richard Jaffee Cohen, JD, July 2008;
  • Training The Trainers Program – The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, New Orleans, October 2008;
  • Kongres 2009 – LEADR 10th Annual International Conference – September 2009;
  • Kongres 2010 – LEADR 12th Annual International Conference – September 2011
  • Engaging the Public Controversy – with Peter Adler for LEADR – November 2011 .

Professional Qualifications and Standing

  • Admitted to practice as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Federal Court of Australia and High Court of Australia in 1982;
  • Admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 1992;
  • Nationally accredited mediator and member of LEADR;
  • Law Society of New South Wales Panel of Mediators (panel member);
  • Accredited mediator in Business & Commercial Mediation, Australian Commercial Dispute Centre;
  • Accredited mediator in Local Government Mediation, Australian Commercial Dispute Centre;
  • Collaborative Lawyer (Advanced Level);

Collaborative Practice – Trainings and Papers Delivered

  • Worked as training coach during the Introductory Collaborative Practice and the Advanced Collaborative Practice courses conducted by Marion Korn in 2006 through the University of Technology of Sydney;
  • Worked as training coach during the Introductory Collaborative Practice and the Advanced Collaborative Practice courses conducted by Marion Korn in 2007 through the University of Technology of Sydney;
  • Co-trainer with David Hoffman of the Boston Law Collaborative for LEADR training Commercial Collaborative Practice – September 2007;
  • Collaborative Law An Australian Experience – NSW State Legal Conference, August 2007;
  • Collaborative Practice – An Effective Tool for the Resolution of International Commercial Disputes [co-authors: Robert Lopich & Paul Faxon], Meitheal Collaborative Practice Conference, Cork, Ireland, May 2008;
  • Collaborative Law Overview Towards Collaborative Problem Solving in Busines at the 9th National Mediation Conference in Perth (September 2008); Collaborative Practice – An Effective Tool for the Resolution of International Commercial Disputes [co-authors: Robert Lopich & Paul Faxon], 9th Annual Conference of the International Academy of Collaborative Professional in New Orleans (October 2008).

Memberships

  • Collaborative Professionals (NSW) Inc. (President);
  • Global Collaborative Law Council (Director)
  • Law Society of New South Wales;
  • Law Society of New South Wales Panel of Mediators;
  • Law Council of Australia – Business Law Section;
  • Australian Dispute Resolution Association (ADRA);
  • National Centre of Collaborative Law;
  • Office of the Franchising Mediation Advisor – Mediator Panel;
  • Produce & Grocery Industry Ombudsman – Mediator Panel
  • Asia Pacific Mediation Forum.