Business Disputes
Disputes can paralyse a department or even the whole company, diverting decision-makers from the key tasks of doing deals, creating wealth. The cost in money and reputation can be incalculable. A Focus Mediator can help restore equilibrium swiftly, confidentially and with the minimum of expense and disruption. The key aim is to end the haemorrhaging of time and money as quickly and productively as possible.
Focus Gets Results
Mediation usually only takes a single day, and can be set up at short notice. Where relationships have broken down and negotiations failed, a neutral mediator operating in a private, “without prejudice” environment aims to broker a deal that all parties agree is better for them than the fight. Focus mediators achieve that in over 90% of cases, with parties signing binding settlement terms there and then. The process even brings many of the rest close enough that they settle soon after.
Business Disputes and Litigation
Disputes often grow in complexity as the lawyers jockey for tactical advantage, and extra parties (such as insurers) may become involved. Before you know it the legal costs can be one of the biggest issues! Mediators start where you are. Only a mediator can discuss each party’s hopes, fears and objectives with them in confidence. No judge, arbitrator, adjudicator or party representative can ever do that. It’s one of the main reasons mediation gets results. And mediated solutions can be more creative and user friendly than awards imposed by the courts, arbitrators or tribunals.
Problems, Problems
Traditional methods of resolving disputes often drive parties further apart long before any resolution is possible. If you’ve been through the stage of snarling at each other, and that didn’t bring the opposition to heel, where should you go next? Since April 2013 litigation procedures have been reformed to encourage and incentivise parties to use ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) including mediation. Failure to do so can have adverse costs consequences, even for parties who go on to win their case. Proposing mediation, far from being a sign of weakness, can put your opponent on the back foot.
How does a business mediation work?
We will help you choose the right mediator from our panel and a day is set aside for the mediation. A fixed fee is paid up front, usually by the parties equally. Pre-session process is kept to a minimum – usually just a short position statement from each party, to ensure the mediator understands the background. The mediation day usually starts with an opportunity to explain your case in a group session, all together. Most of the day is spent in separate rooms with the mediator shuttling between you. You say what you want relayed, and what is to be held confidentially by the mediator. This process helps the mediator see areas where agreement may become possible. The objective is a binding settlement, signed on the day.
Usually your mediation can be held within two weeks of your contacting us