THE AURIT CENTER | May 16, 2014
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In 2014, Lani Baron, a modern mediation trailblazer, sent me these words before we had even met. She then offered me a three-day personal masterclass on building a successful divorce mediation practice — an astounding gift.
I wrote back:
| May 17, 2014
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Lani taught me well.
Before reaching out to Lani for guidance on starting our dream mediation practice, which we would call ‘The Aurit Center for Divorce Mediation’, almost everyone dismissed our plan as unrealistic. One even warned my wife and co-founder, Karen, and me that we were “doomed to fail.”
But Lani, America’s most successful divorce mediator, believed in us and wanted to help. Her company, Alternative Divorce Solutions (ADS), was thriving in sunny Newport Beach, CA, working tirelessly to “change divorce for good.”
I was stunned, excited, and grateful.
Fresh out of law school and having just taken the bar exam, I visited Lani. She greeted me with open arms and a smile that said, “Boom—let’s do this!”
Her mediation suite was sleek and modern. The lobby was filled with warm natural tones, sophisticated furnishings, and a larger-than-life, brightly shining Alternative Divorce Solutions emblem behind her Mediation Assistant’s front desk. Lani’s excitement was contagious:
“Michael, this is going to be fun—you’re in for it!”
I was all in.
A year younger than me, Lani had achieved the seemingly impossible. She had mediated hundreds of cases and was booked solid for months. She built one of the country’s first true mediation brands and won numerous awards. Now, she was giving back to her community.
Yes, she really did all of this. She will always be my hero.
Sitting beside me, Lani generously shared insights into her proven methods for designing a divorce mediation process that prioritized clients and protected children from the harm of litigation.
Her passion for family mediation, much like mine, was driven by a desire to help families avoid escalating conflicts as they divorce. Not only this, but she shared what law school, textbooks, and mediation trainings simply don’t include — how to establish and grow an effective, client-centered mediation practice.
Before we had even taken a lunch break, she detailed one key concept to her success: flat fee pricing.
She explained how a flat fee approach is meant to counteract lone of the root causes of divorce disputes in the court system:
“Michael,” she said, staring straight into my eyes:
“I know this is scary, but believe me, it’s what your clients want and what’s best for everyone. You’re going to offer flat fee mediation. It’s the solution to a family law system that rewards attorneys for creating conflict. No one else is doing it, but it’s how it should be. Trust me—it’s a must.”
I trusted her completely.
Divorce attorneys charge by the hour and profit the more their clients argue and fight. This system hurts families. Research shows that ever-increasing legal fees and prolonged conflict put children at risk of long-term harm. It’s not divorce itself that is harmful, it is conflict. A simple, transparent, flat fee approach supports a healthier process and helps families.
Lani’s success came from doing the right thing and having the courage to be different. Joining Lani in her mission to change the system remains one of the most inspiring moments of my career.
Those twenty-four hours with Lani was the best training I’ve ever experienced. We covered the structure of the mediation process, procedures, customer service, office management, and marketing. She asked for nothing in return. I wrote her a heartfelt testimonial. She said, “We’re going to stay in touch — we’re colleagues now.”
With Lani’s support, two months later, Karen and I launched The Aurit Center for Divorce Mediation.
Over the past ten years, The Aurit Center has helped thousands of people through a healthy divorce, growing a seven-figure mediation center that handles over 200 cases annually, supported by our exceptional team of conflict resolution experts.
True to Lani’s spirit, we developed a team of conflict resolution professionals – mainly straight from law school or master’s programs – who are now the most experienced family mediation team in the world.
Presenting at national conferences with Lani are some of my most memorable experiences as a mediator and teacher.
By 2023 — on the heels of the pandemic — The Aurit Center became the top divorce mediation firm in America. Our mission evolved beyond “helping people have a healthy divorce” to include changing America’s divorce culture by “replacing harmful court battles with peaceful conflict resolution.”
Our nationwide expansion began in California. Lani was my first call to explore a collaboration. She graciously listened as I described our plans and shared ideas about how The Aurit Center could support Alternative Divorce Solutions as we grew and began helping clients in their area.
Finally, it was our chance to give back.
I couldn’t have imagined what she would say next.
Lani shared her story of having a breast cancer diagnosis a year prior, describing how she had endured countless rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and numerous surgeries to save her life. I knew her as a healthy-organic-foods-only superhero CEO, wife, and mom. Images of the battle she’d been through flashed through my mind.
She went on to share that just a few weeks earlier, she and her family made a move to Colorado. She had decided to step away from her practice and explore the next chapter of her life.
“Michael,
I’ve built a legacy with Alternative Divorce Solutions
and I want it to last. I trust you to carry the torch.
Take the ADS brand and use it to further the mission.
I know you’ll take good care of it.
It’s all yours.”
“Lani,
you know I will.
We’ll keep ADS’s spirit alive. I promise. I’ll share your story—how you overcame the challenges of experiencing your parents’ high-conflict divorce as a child and redirected your focus to helping parents help their children—and how you helped me.
What can I do to thank you?
“Michael,
you’ve already done it.
In 2024, The Aurit Center acquired the Alternative Divorce Solutions website and trusted brand to carry the torch for a true leader and innovator in the industry. Those who contact us at ADS, will have the same simple, caring, mindful process, with an all-inclusive flat fee and a phenomenal team to support them through a healthier divorce.
With Lani’s blessing, we are expanding ADS’s reach beyond its roots in Newport Beach, Orange County, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Bakersfield to the entire State of California.
Lani Baron is a living legend. Her shining spirit, beautiful heart and soul, redefined divorce for the better. I love knowing that her journey has truly only just begun.
I’m forever grateful for our enduring friendship and for witnessing her ongoing evolution. She continues to turn adversity into opportunity.
Stay tuned — great things are on the horizon.
Our team of expert mediators is here to guide you through your divorce. Your first step is scheduling a free consultation.
Sign up to receive updates on our latest Mediation Masterclass opportunities, and for more, read my Advice for New Mediators: Insights.
