Meggan R: As both a client and attorney (one who does not specialize in family law), I highly recommend Brian Urban as collaborative divorce counsel. Brian, who has more than 40 years of experience in family law and is a founding member of the Cleveland Academy of Collaborative Professionals, is devoted to providing effective and efficient counsel throughout the collaborative divorce process.
Throughout my collaborative divorce process, Brian exhibited his devotion to the collaborative process as a meaningful alternative to litigation. Divorce is difficult from both legal and personal perspectives, but with Brian’s guidance I was able to navigate complicated and stressful circumstances to preserve communication with my ex spouse about our children, and mitigate the impact of the divorce on them.
One of the qualities I appreciated most about Brian was that he was extremely effective and consistent in the manner that he allowed me to drive my own collaborative process. At the commencement of the process and throughout negotiations with my ex spouse, he counseled me to identify my priorities for the divorce and advised me how to pursue them. Moreover, Brian allowed me to determine the pace of negotiations with my ex spouse, allowing for pauses and accelerations of negotiations according to my direction. Brian also consistently emphasized that I was the decision-maker on our team. Aided by Brian’s in-depth knowledge of the law and astute observations about the practicalities of my particular situation, I was able to craft agreements with my ex spouse that best suited our respective needs and the needs of our children. As a result, I felt much more in control of outcomes than I likely would have in a contested, litigated divorce.
In addition, Brian is a superb communicator. Without exception, Brian (and his office staff) responded to my questions and concerns promptly and with a great deal of consideration. Brian also communicated effectively with my ex spouse’s collaborative counsel in a way that helped preserve the collaborative nature of our negotiations and ultimately allowed the process to be successful.
Further, Brian assisted me to seek effective and cost-efficient guidance from the other members of our collaborative team, which included a divorce coach who assisted with the shared parenting plan, and a financial neutral who provided invaluable advice regarding support scenarios and other financial matters. Throughout negotiations with my ex spouse, Brian ensured that all members of the collaborative team were fully informed regarding any issues that required attention.
Moreover, I was impressed throughout my process with Brian’s attentiveness to controlling the costs of the proceedings. Brian’s fees are extremely reasonable, particularly considering the level of expertise that Brian brings to the table. Brian consistently endeavored to control costs by working efficiently and delegating appropriate tasks to the other members of our collaborative team. As a result, I feel that the collaborative process was a cost-efficient alternative to litigation.
Finally, I recommend Brian as collaborative counsel because, according to my observation, Brian’s integrity is admirable. Brian was honest and forthcoming with me and with my ex spouse’s counsel. He responded with the highest degree of professionalism to anything that did not further the goals of the collaborative process. Brian did not do unnecessary work that would have driven up legal fees, but rather provided counsel in an efficient but thorough manner.
Having experienced the collaborative divorce process, I am convinced that collaborative divorce is indeed a meaningful and beneficial alternative to litigation – if effective collaborative counsel is involved. Without reservation I recommend Brian Urban as counsel to anyone who elects to pursue a collaborative divorce.
George K: There is an old saying which states, “The definition of a fair divorce settlement is that both parties walk away unhappy.” After 31 years of marriage, raising three children and running a successful company, I did not want this antiquated interpretation of divorce to define our family. The concept of “collaborative divorce” which encompassed negotiations, compromise and creative problem solving with legal representation was certainly the answer for our family. Brian Urban personified these altruistic concepts and helped us reach a “win-win” resolution to our divorce avoiding painful and damaging litigation.
Brian Urban was instrumental in our collaborative divorce in many ways including the following;
– He was an exceptional communicator and a fountainhead of creative problem resolution options.
– He put me at ease, kept me informed and prepared me for every step of the process.
– His perspective and advice were key to helping me focus on “the big picture” involving legal issues and what was important to me, thus avoiding inconsequential emotional topics.
– Brian’s knowledge and experience in Divorce Law was instrumental in keeping the process on point and moving forward in a timely, cost effective manner.
– Brian protected ALL my interests, including the company, which is a source of income for my ex-wife, children and myself. He made sure BOTH parties understood that a healthy negotiating environment would keep the company intact and benefit everyone.
– After being involved in many, many negotiations over the years I can tell you HE IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST AT WHAT HE DOES!
I am proud to have Brian Urban as a representative because he treated all parties with respect and fairness. But I want to be clear, even though it was a “collaborative divorce”, he ALWAYS had my best interest. My ex-wife and I amicably talk on a daily basis and our children are very happy we embraced the process of a collaborative divorce.
William D: Working with Brian helped me thru a difficult personal situation. he was always assessable, good listener, and very professional. he gave great legal advice, and prevented me from making bad decisions. He was recommended to me and I would recommend him to others.
Maureen Z: Brian was magnificent in guiding me through a long, difficult and complex divorce. He is professional, brilliant, responsive, kind, compassionate and diligent. He’s the consummate gentleman who holds himself to the highest ethical standards. He worked well with opposing counsel, and made sure I understood every step of the process. His steady calm was exceptionally reassuring to me. His staff is extraordinary as well. I highly recommend Brian.
Thomas H: Brian was my attorney for my divorce in 2016. Brian was outstanding. Brian is experienced and he navigated all the legal processes with great skill.
However, what I believe makes Brian an exceptional lawyer is his holistic approach to the entire process I had to go through. Brian started by educating me so I would not be surprised by the various stages. He demonstrated great skill and great empathy in supporting me during tough times and helping me understand when we were dealing with emotional issues versus legal issues.
He was sensitive to the cost of the divorce. He gave accurate assessments of options. Sometimes being right is not cost effective. He helped me make the right, small compromises to facilitate a more rapid settlement at a reasonable cost. He included me every step of the way.
Finally, I was proud to have him represent me. He treated everyone, the judge, my spouse, her attorney and me with great respect.
Melissa B: At a time when life felt the most out of control, I sought the expertise of Brian Urban to provide me and my family intelligent, thoughtful, and supportive solutions. His robust professionalism doesn’t overshadow his sincere interest in creating a resolution for the good of the whole family. He gave me confidence with his insightful use of the law and experience in collaboration. Brian was able to make lemonade using a bowlful of rotten lemons. I would highly recommend Brian Urban to anyone needing expertise in family law.
Eileen Z: It’s so rare in todays society that you experience excellence in service. Not so with Brian Urban. Brian was responsive, attentive, and extremely personable. I could contact Brian anytime of the week or day and he would get back with me almost immediately. A collaborative process is still a very emotional time. Brian offered guidance, was empathetic and looked out for my needs!
Kudos!
Jen W: Brian explained every step of the process in layman’s language. He is an expert in collaborative divorce, and I appreciated his honest opinions and excellent guidance. His office staff is also wonderful.
Raymond S: I was told before I started the Divorce process that Divorce is not fun. It is painful, awful, expensive, and you generally feel bad and beat up during the whole process.
When I hired Brian Urban, I was hoping that those things listed above would not be 100% true. To my surprise, the Divorce process was not as painful as I thought it would be. It was still somewhat costly, but how else can people who can’t see eye to eye any more figure things out?
I would simply say the above can be achieved by hiring a lawyer who understands the feelings and emotions that are present during the divorce process. And by having an attorney who is available;
to discuss ideas with, to consult with, and to generally assist with the legal as well as the other aspects of the divorce process. Brian also returned all calls and at times when he was out of town or unavailable, I felt that Joan, in his office, was also available to talk with me and help me cope with the process.
The bottom line is Brian helped guide me through the process and never lost sight of the end goal: to complete the divorce as painlessly and inexpensively as possible without causing both sides to feel horrible.
I would highly recommend anyone contemplating this process consider hiring Brian Urban. I am very glad I did.
Sujata P: I chose a collaborative divorce process because I wanted to be sure to have the greatest amount of input with regards to the terms of the divorce, specifically, with my children, with my goal being the smoothest transition possible. I knew that a conflict laden process would not benefit anyone, having seen others who had “survived” that process and were still not on speaking terms with the other co-parent of their children.
Brian Urban was the perfect person for me. When we first met, I could tell he was extremely competent, as he had years of experience in divorce law. That, coupled with the fact that he was extremely sensitive to the process of divorce, how it impacts individuals, and how it impacts children, helped me make my decision to use him. He was very unlike other attorneys I had met with, who’s only agenda seemed to be to create more conflict in an already tense atmosphere. The more time that passes, the more thankful I am that I used a collaborative process. I watch people around me still bad-mouthing their former spouses, unable to get past the animosity that a traditional divorce creates. While the individuals suffer, their children suffer more so, and the impact of the great amount of conflict remains to be seen. I am certain that part of the reason I have a great working relationship with my former spouse and that my children are so well adjusted to the divorce is because I used Brian Urban and the collaborative divorce process. When determining the cost of a divorce, so many people overlook the long-term costs to emotional and mental health that can result from high conflict situations. To this day, I am 100% comfortable and happy with the agreement that we reached through the months of collaborating that we did. I’m not so sure many people can say that about their divorce agreements. I highly recommend Brian Urban, for his sensitive, compassionate approach to guiding me through my process. He always knew when I was reaching my limit during meetings, and knew just how to help calm me or redirect me to be as productive as I possibly could be. Through the process, I gained a greater sense of confidence in my ability to resolve conflict, and I felt a sense of empowerment that I had not previously felt. I cannot say enough good things about Brian, and about the long term benefits I have gained by using the collaborative divorce process and allowing Brian to assist in my process.
Anonymous 1: As both a client and attorney (one who does not specialize in family law), I highly recommend Brian Urban as collaborative divorce counsel. With Brian’s expert guidance, I was able to drive my own collaborative process in terms of the timing of the process and pursuing my priorities in the divorce, negotiate agreements with my ex spouse that best suited our respective needs and the needs of our children, and preserve communication with my ex spouse about our children. Brian is an excellent communicator who responded promptly and with a great deal of consideration to my every question. I appreciate that Brian’s fees are reasonable, and that he worked efficiently and effectively to control costs of the collaborative process. In addition, Brian’s integrity is second to none. He exhibited honesty and professionalism at every stage of my collaborative process. I would recommend Brian without reservation to anyone who elects to pursue a collaborative divorce.
Anonymous 2: I would highly recommend Brian Urban to anyone who has decided to end their marriage. He is highly professional with the goal to work towards collaboration to achieve a settlement that works for both parties. He is dedicated, committed to his clients, and his attention to detail in both his client’s knowledge/preparation as well as his own knowledge of each client’s case. He will work hard to achieve what is equitable for both parties involved and is successful in doing so.
Anonymous 3: I hired Brian as my attorney for my divorce. We chose to use his collaborative practice to minimize long term destruction that often happens during the divorce process. Brian was wonderful in all aspects of his practice and in the collaboration. He was compassionate and refined, yet knowledgable and competent. I highly recommend Brian for anyone who wishes to transition through the process of divorce in a healthy way.
Anonymous 4: Brian Urban is committed to Collaborative Law as an alternative for those couples who have decided to end their marriage. When looking back on my experience of hiring Brian to represent me, I realize that not only did Brian help me achieve a fair and equitable divorce, but I was able to participate in all the decision making after the knowledge that I gained from Brian’s suggestions to educate myself in the areas of communication, collaborative divorce and being detail oriented with all information that I had to provide to him. Brian expects his clients to participate: to do what he asks so that he can provide the best possible representation in each and every aspect of the proceedings. His goal is to make sure that his clients achieve their goal. I have nothing but positive things to say about Brian and his staff, who always made me feel that I was an important client. My questions/concerns were always answered in a timely manner. I know that I can still contact Brian with any concern dealing with the divorce and will receive a response from him.
