NYACP Webinar

What:     Substance Use of Disorder and Collaborative Law

When:     Friday November 14th from 12:00pm-1:00pm

Micki McWade, Steven Kaplan and Ken Novenstern presented before the NYS Council on Divorce Mediation in Saratoga Springs, NY in April, 2025.  Micki, Steve and Ken will reprise an abbreviated presentation on Substance Use Disorders and Alternate Dispute Resolution. Micki will discuss elements of substance use disorders, the role of dopamine, and the greater sensitivity of women to alcohol, based upon physiology.  

Ken and Steve will also co-present actual cases involving collaboration, mediation and litigation, along with resources for individuals dealing with substance use issues identified in those cases.

 Please join us!

Registration and Attendee Information

Members: Free

Non-Members: $75.00

Micki McWade, LMSW is a Collaborative Divorce Family Specialist, psychotherapist, author, parent coordinator and clinical social worker with a practice in New York that focuses on divorce issues. She works with matrimonial attorneys to help clients divorce with dignity as part of the interdisciplinary team model of Collaborative Divorce. She has an extensive background in divorce, having founded and developed the Twelve Step Divorce Recovery Group model which ran weekly from 1993 to 2020 as well as participating in hundreds of Collaborative cases. She taught Parents Apart classes for the Putnam County court, which help parents recognize and avoid the pitfalls of divorce for children.

Steven Kaplan CPA/ABV, MBA has a CPA accredited in business valuation, practicing in White Plains, NY,  where he maintains a dispute resolution focused practice.  He provides business valuation, forensic accounting and tax services in collaborative practice, mediation, arbitration, and litigation primarily for matrimonial matters, as well as for estate and gift, economic damage, shareholder dispute and merger and acquisition purposes.  

Ken Novenstern, a partner at Fredman Baken & Novenstern, LLP in Westchester County, NY, has been practicing matrimonial law for over 37 years. The firm’s philosophy is that effective representation must reflect the unique nature of each client’s circumstances. To that end Ken Novenstern has expanded his areas of expertise beyond litigation, to mediation and collaborative law since 2004. Having seen the impact of actively litigated matters on people’s lives and finances, he has gained a greater appreciation for the importance of alternative dispute resolution methods in the matrimonial field. 

• All Collaborative professionals are encouraged to attend this training.
• This event is a virtual event via Zoom.
• Agenda subject to change.
• 2 Areas of Professional Practice CLE Credits will be available for this program. The content of this program is appropriate for experienced attorneys, as well as newly admitted attorneys. This continuing legal education program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Legal Education Board.
• Financial aid is available for this program.  Please click here for more information.

RSVP HERE

Financial Aid Policy 
The New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP) provides tuition assistance for New York attorneys who wish to attend NYACP CLE courses.  In response to written requests for financial assistance received by NYACP 10 days prior to the start date of the program, we permit the attorney to attend the program under the following guidelines: 

• Unemployed with no other source of income: Fee waiver (excluding cost of materials, location charge*, and food)
• Income up to  $50,000: 75% discount  (excluding cost of materials, location charge* and food)
• Income up to  $50,000 to $75,000:  50% discount (excluding cost of materials, location charge* and food)
• Income above $75,000:  No discount
• Attorneys in public service: 30%  (excluding cost of materials, location charge*, and food)
• Attorneys must include in their request an Affirmation of their financial status.

As a small, member supported organization, NYACP will, to the extent possible, work with others in need of financial assistance and unemployed attorneys who are unable to pay for materials and food on a case by case basis. 

*A "location charge" is a per person head charge on top of the venue charge that some venues impose - particularly if the venue is not providing food/drink.