Mediation

Mediation provides a neutral and confidential setting in which the parties can openly discuss their views on the underlying dispute. Enhanced communication can lead to mutually satisfactory resolutions.

So, why is mediation so good? Here are some of the key reasons:
– It is private and confidential – not public as with the courts and tribunals
– It is voluntary and consensual, with a win–win outcome
– The mediator controls the process – very flexible with no prescribed rules to follow
– The parties determine the outcome – they retain control
– All issues can be included in one forum (legal, practical, psychological), depending on the skills of the mediator and if lawyers are present – its potentially holistic nature is powerful
– It focuses on interests and needs – future–oriented, rather than getting bogged down in the usual blame game
– Resolution can be quick – it is quick to set up and to undertake, usually in one day
– It can be stress-busting and even therapeutic – partly owing to quick set-up and non-adversarial nature, and partly due to having a real forum to have your say
– Modest costs – in comparison with the often much higher management time and/or legal costs with long-drawn-out traditional remedies
– The possibility of saving strained relationships, or even restoring them – compared to litigation, where this is rare.