What is Mediation?

“Mediation is a process in which a neutral facilitates communication between the parties and, without deciding the issues or imposing a solution on the parties, enables them to understand and to reach a mutually agreeable resolution to their dispute.”

Mediation in its simplest form consists of at least 5 stages:
Introduction
Fact-finding
Identification of issues
Generation of alternatives
Reaching and clarifying agreement.

Our experienced lawyer-mediators move smoothly through the stages and once past the introduction may move back and forth through the stages to gain more facts, clarify issues, help raise up other alternatives as they seek to help each party to understand and to be understood, thus creating opportunities for settlement. While our mediators don’t give legal advice, with our experience and legal knowledge we can “prime the pump”when the well of creativity runs dry, by such techniques as asking appropriate thought-provoking questions and by referencing cases, laws, examples of what others have done, etc., thus improving your chances of reaching settlement. Our mediator are not just facilitators, we can act as catalysts, helping you reach agreement when you couldn’t do it by yourselves.