elissa

da costa-waldman

Barrister | Mediator 
Year of call: 1990

About Elissa

Mediation Profile

Elissa is a firm believer in the advantages of mediation, being a principled and assertive negotiator as well as a Collaborative Lawyer and Family Law Arbitrator (Finance). Elissa is a practising barrister, a specialist in matrimonial finance and cohabitation claims (TOLATA), although she also deals with probate and inheritance matters and some private children disputes.

REASONS TO CHOOSE ELISSA-

• Experienced as a mediator and an advocate on behalf of clients at mediations
• Calm yet assertive, empathetic yet pragmatic, Elissa is an excellent choice for family disputes where the temperature inevitably runs high
• Elissa’s experience of family disputes and TOLATA claims as well as her advocacy experience in probate cases make her an ideal choice of mediator for probate and inheritance act matters
• Realistic – Elissa recognises that no matter how large or small the case, litigation can have an enormous impact on it whereas the benefits of mediating a dispute successfully are immeasurable
• Elissa has a high success rate due to an assertive yet pragmatic and approachable manner
• Creativity – Elissa believes that no problem is insoluble and quickly engages mediation clients in a creative and innovative search for successful solutions
• Early Neutral Evaluations – Elissa offers an informal indication of likely outcomes if the parties went to court on their dispute, where a mediation or negotiation has reached impasse
• Flexible on Fees – Elissa is committed to mediation as a means of dispute resolution and is content to work to the parties’ budgets
• Availability – although based in London, Elissa is happy to travel anywhere in the country in order to accommodate the parties.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Matrimonial Finance
• Property and Business
• Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act claims
• Children – Residence, Contact and Specific Issues
• Probate and Inheritance Act Claims

Elissa has extended her already burgeoning family practice to include Court of Protection work in order to provide the full service. With a growing and increasingly aging population, being able to advise on and mediate disputes arising from Lasting Powers of Attorney, both financial and health and welfare is a necessary skill. In addition many more people are experiencing mental health problems which includes difficulties with mental capacity arising out of dementia. Elissa is currently providing training on these issues, deprivation of liberty and the newly updated Court of Protection Rules

PUBLICATIONS
Contributor to Blackstone’s Civil Practice 2000 -2003
Co-Author of Family and Matrimonial Law (Cavendish) 2002
Author Everything you wanted to Know about Practising Family Law (Cavendish) 2004
Various articles for Family Law (Jordan’s) and Family Law Journal.
“The Loved-Up Divorce – how to be civil about it”, Sunday Times Style Magazine 24 October 2010
Co-Author ‘Cohabitation Claims, A Resolution Guide (Resolution) 2019

 

 

EQUALITY | EXCELLENCE | EQUITY