Walter  Marcus and other attorneys have created the Connecticut Collaborative Law Group. Their goal is to assist divorcing clients when mediation is unsuitable to reach a negotiated settlement using cooperative rather than adversarial strategies. Each member of the group is an experienced family law attorney with an independent law practice. The guiding principle of the Connecticut Collaborative Law Group is the commitment by each member to avoid interim court motions and the threat of litigation to reach settlement of their cases. A key factor that distinguishes a Collaborative Divorce is that the parties and the attorneys agree that the attorneys will withdraw from the case if it becomes adversarial. Collaborative lawyers believe that as much effort should be exerted toward settlement as is traditionally spent in preparing and conducting a trial. The goal of attorneys in the Collaborative Law Group is to minimize the negative economic, social, and emotional consequences of protracted litigation on the participants and their families. Clients who use Collaborative Law can rely on their attorneys and counselors for guidance, but they also rely on their own creativity and integrity to reach an agreement that will provide a strong foundation for the future well-being of their post-divorce family. Each party is represented by an independent attorney who, together with the client, works with the other spouse and his or her attorney in four-way conferences to achieve an equitable settlement. All professional advisors including accountants, therapists, appraisers, and financial planners, are hired jointly by the divorcing couple and provide expert advice to support the achievement of a fair settlement. While this approach cannot alter the underlying differences that have led the couple to consider divorce, an honest exchange of information and a commitment to consider the needs and concerns of all parties involved in the divorce, including the children, leads most couples to a satisfying agreement without resorting to a courtroom battle.