Arlene’s Approach

Arlene H. Henry, KC is committed to helping individuals, families, communities, and organizations work through conflict and transition to find solutions best suited to their situation. Throughout her more than 30 years of legal and conflict resolution experience, Arlene has built her practice on understanding how best to design effective bridges of communication for her clients. She has a facilitative yet directive style and her primary aim is to assist participants in identifying and achieving their custom solutions within an informal, yet pragmatic environment.

Background

Arlene H. Henry K.C. is a Lawyer, Mediator, Arbitrator, Instructor, and Coach who has been practicing law since 1986, mediating since 1998 and proudly received her King’s Counsel (formerly, Queen’s Counsel) designation in 2005.

She has focussed her dispute resolution practice on the restructuring of families resulting from separation and divorce, wills and estate challenges, elder care and management and unwinding of closely-held businesses. Arlene is a multi-accredited civil and family law mediator and is highly skilled in the use of various collaborative interventions, including mediation, facilitated negotiations and med-arbitration.

She sits on several Boards and numerous committees within the dispute resolution community and is actively involved in the development of new resolution disciplines in family law within BC, including non-evaluative child interviews, med-arbitration, arbitration, parenting coordination and family violence screening.

Arlene has worked with aboriginal First Nations since 1991, developing custom lands policies; drafting laws for self-governing nations; and assisting with the final effective date implementation of each of the Tsawwassen First Nation and the Maa-nulth First Nations Treaties.

Although Arlene’s private practice is based in Metro Vancouver, she serves all areas of BC and many areas of Canada. When she isn’t helping her clients, she is likely found in a classroom teaching various dispute resolution disciplines or volunteering in her community.

Education & Training

  • Accredited Family Law Mediator (Law Society of BC), 1998 – present
  • Accredited Family Law Arbitrator & Parenting Coordinator (Law Society of BC), 2013 – present
  • Certified Comprehensive Family Mediator (FMC), 2005 – present
  • Chartered Mediator (CMed): ADR Institute of Canada, 2002 – present
  • Arbitration Training: ADRIC, 2002; CLE, 2013
  • Certificate of Conflict Resolution: Negotiation & Mediation – 200 hours (Justice Institute of BC), 1997
  • 1985 Bachelor of Laws (University of Victoria)
  • 1982 Bachelor of Commerce: Urban Land Economics Major (University of British Columbia)

Boards, Committees & Other

  • BC Parenting Coordinators Society: Director – April, 2012 – 2020
  • BC Hear the Child Society: Chair – December 2013 -Present; Director – September 2011 – 2020
  • Mediate BC Society: Roster Committee & Board of Directors (Member) – February 2011 – 2020
  • Child Protection Mediation Practicum (Mentor) – September 2006 – 2008
  • Family Mediation Practicum Project (Mentor), 2004
  • Surrey Court Project: Facilitated Planning Meeting Pilot Project (Mediator), 2001 – 2003
  • Law Society: ADR Focus/Task Group – June 2000

Rosters

  • Hear the Child, Non-Evaluative Child Interviewer Roster (Roster Member), 2012 – present
  • Nunatsiavut Dispute Resolution Board (Roster Mediator), 2012 – 2016
  • Parenting Coordinator Roster (Roster Member), 2010 – present
  • Police Complaint Mediation Roster (Roster Mediator), 2010 – 2013
  • International Mediation Institute (Roster Mediator), 2010 – 2016
  • VanIAC [formerly BCICAC] (Roster Mediator & Arbitrator), 2006 – present
  • ADR Institute of Canada (Member), 2002 – present
  • ADRBC [formerly BCAMI] (Roster Mediator), 2001 – present
  • Mediate BC Society (Roster Mediator (Child Protection)), 2001 – 2019
  • Mediate BC Society (Roster Mediator (Civil) & (Family)), 1999 – present
  • ICBC – ADR Department Mediation Roster (Roster Member), 2002 – 2014
  • ADRnet: National EAP Roster (Roster Mediator), 2005 – 2007
  • CBA Member Dispute Resolution Committee (Member & Volunteer), 2003 – 2008
  • General Insurance Ombudservice (Roster Mediator), 2002 – 2007
  • Insurance Dispute Resolution Services of BC (Roster Mediator), 2001 – 2007.
  • Provincial Court Civil Mediator Roster (Ministry of Attorney General), 1999 – 2004

Affiliations

  • Academy of Professional Family Mediators: 2016 – 2018
  • The Advocates’ Society: 2015 – present
  • American Bar Association: ADR section (Member), 2011 – present
  • Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (Member), 2009 – present
  • Family Mediation Canada (Member), 2002 – present
  • ADR Institute of Canada (Member), 2002 – present
  • DRS: Dialogue and Resolution Services Society (Member), 2002 – present
  • ADRBC [formerly BCAMI] (Member), 2001 – present
  • Conflict Resolution Network Canada (Member), 2000 – 2008

Professional Awards

  • Appointed Queen’s Counsel [now, King’s Counsel], December, 2005.
  • President’s Award, CBA, BC Branch, June 2008
  • Community Service Award, Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, October 2012
  • Named one of CLEBC’s Most Prolific Volunteers: 1996 to 2016
Download CV

Affiliations / Accreditations