Our People
Susan L. Zwaenepoel KC (Retired)
Barrister & Solicitor
Susan L. Zwaenepoel, K.C. retired on September 30, 2019 and currently resides on Salt Spring Island, BC. Susan began her legal career in 1982 with a mixed civil litigation and family law practice.
In 1989, she joined this firm (then known as McBean Becker Cochard Gordon & Zwaenepoel) and focussed her practice exclusively on family law. In the early 2000’s, after many years of experience in all aspects of family law litigation, Susan began work to bring Collaborative Practice to Edmonton. This approach to family law offered Susan’s clients options outside the court process for resolving their family law issues in a creative, respectful, practical and cost-effective manner that reduced the loss and damage to their children, finances and business that is often caused by divorce.
Susan became actively involved in the development and growth of Collaborative Practice in Alberta. She has extensive training in collaborative practice, mediation, interest based negotiation and non-defensive communication. Susan has been qualified as an expert in Collaborative Practice and standard of care by the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and is widely recognized as one of Edmonton’s most experienced Collaborative professionals and as a leader in Collaborative Practice in Alberta.
Susan was the Registrar of the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Edmonton) from 2002 until she retired and has been on the Board of Directors of the Association of Collaborative Lawyers of Alberta, Chair of the Interdisciplinary Committee and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. When she is not busy gardening and enjoying the beauty surrounding her on Salt Spring Island, Susan continues to work as a trainer of lawyers, financial and mental health professionals in Collaborative Practice and Interest Based Negotiation with the Legal Education Society of Alberta and through the Association of Collaborative Family Professionals (Edmonton).