News

Kaplan honored as Member Emeritus of CLASP

May 28, 2015

Pittsburgh, PA – May 28, 2015 – The Honorable Lawrence W. Kaplan (ret.) will be honored by the Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania (CLASP) as a Member Emeritus at their June 3, 2015 meeting.

When the concept of the Collaborative Divorce Process was introduced to Southwestern Pennsylvania in 2006, the family law community already understood the benefits of alternative dispute resolution for families, especially children. Within a few short years of taking the bench in the late 1970’s, Judge Kaplan became a tireless advocate for the use of mediation to resolve divorce related disputes, especially those affecting children. So it is not surprising, perhaps, that Judge Kaplan was trained in the Collaborative Process in May 2007 at the first training hosted by CLASP in Pittsburgh. Judge Kaplan also became one of the first members of CLASP, supporting and giving credibility to the fledgling organization with his membership.

On June 3, 2015, CLASP returns the favor, honoring Judge Kaplan as Member Emeritus of CLASP at its Annual Mid-Year Social and Membership Meeting at The Carlton, 500 Grant Street (BNY Mellon Center), Pittsburgh, PA 15219 beginning at 4:45 p.m.

Judge Kaplan served on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Family Mediators from 1982 – 1987 and is the founder and president emeritus of the Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania. He also served on the editorial board of The Mediation Quarterly for over five years. His contributions to the field of mediation were honored by the combined efforts of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Committee, the Pittsburgh Mediation Center, and the Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania in 2004, who initiated the annual Lawrence W. Kaplan Lecture in Conflict Resolution. In October 2008, Judge Kaplan was named Family Division Judge Emeritus by the Allegheny County Family Division for his 30 years of dedicated service to the families of Allegheny County. He continues to practice mediation with the Pittsburgh firm Rothman Gordon.

Judge Kaplan is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in Oakland with his wife, Natalie. They have three adult children: Tom, Ellen Teri and Jon; two granddaughters: Samantha and Sydney Kaplan; and one grandson, Matthew Seth Goldstein.

About CLASP

The Collaborative Law Association of Southwest Pennsylvania, CLASP, is an association of professionals who are trained in the Collaborative Process, which helps clients to resolve disputes respectfully without going to court. The Collaborative Process focuses on the needs and goals of the clients and the preservation of relationships among family members or business associates.

About Rothman Gordon

Rothman Gordon is a Pittsburgh-based law firm that has been advocating its clients’ interests since 1954. Rothman Gordon has created a suite of services for individuals, organizations, and closely-held and family businesses. Our areas of practice include alternative dispute resolution; business and corporate law; commercial real estate; business and commercial litigation; white collar criminal investigation; estate planning and administration; taxation and employee benefits; financing and commercial loans; employment and labor law; employment litigation; oil & gas for landowners; workers’ compensation; and social security disability.