Civil and Commercial Mediation Services
A Practical Solution to Business Disputes
At Focus Mediation, we specialise in civil and commercial mediation, offering services for business disputes, probate issues, and more. Whether in person, over the phone, or online, our experienced mediators are here to guide you through the process.
Why Choose Commercial Mediation?
Avoid Courtroom Uncertainty
Are you facing a legal dispute heading towards court? Litigation can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful, with no guarantee of a favourable outcome. Mediation offers a faster, more cost-effective alternative.
Benefits of Mediation:
- Speed: Resolve disputes in a fraction of the time it takes for court proceedings.
- Cost: Keep legal expenses under control.
- Control: Maintain more influence over the outcome compared to a court ruling.
- Confidentiality: Protect your business reputation with a private resolution process.
Litigation vs. Mediation: The Key Differences
Minimise Risk, Cost, and Delays
Court proceedings can drain resources and divert focus from your core business activities. Mediation, on the other hand, is encouraged by the courts and often leads to a binding settlement in just one day.
Why Mediation Is Effective:
- Confidential: Discussions and proposals during mediation remain private and cannot be used in court.
- Flexible: No commitment to any proposal unless a binding settlement is reached.
- Efficient: High success rate with settlements often achieved within a single session.
How Commercial Mediation Works
Tailored Expertise for Your Dispute
Our mediators are selected based on their expertise relevant to your dispute, ensuring a deep understanding of the issues at hand. The mediation process is straightforward and focused on reaching a settlement that satisfies all parties.
Key Steps:
- Preparation: The mediator reviews any relevant documents beforehand.
- Separate Sessions: Typically, you will be in separate rooms, with the mediator shuttling between parties.
- Open Session: An optional joint session where each party presents their case.
- Confidentiality: The mediator relays only the information you authorise, focusing on facilitating a resolution.
You have the option to bring your lawyer, a colleague, or a friend for support. The goal is to have the person with settlement authority present or available to finalise an agreement on the day.
Resolving Business Disputes
Swift, Confidential, and Cost-Effective Solutions
Business disputes can cripple productivity and damage reputations. Our mediators work quickly to restore balance, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.
Why Mediation Works for Business Disputes:
- Quick Resolution: Mediation can often be arranged within a week and typically lasts only a day.
- Confidential Environment: Protect your business interests with private, “without prejudice” discussions.
- High Success Rate: Over 90% of civil mediations result in a binding settlement on the same day.
Property and Land Disputes
Effective Mediation for High-Stakes Disputes
Property and land disputes can become complex and costly, often involving multiple parties. Mediation offers a practical way to stop runaway litigation costs and reach a fair resolution.
Common Issues Addressed:
- Contract Interpretation: Disputes over sales, leases, and mortgages.
- Neighbourhood Issues: Encroachments, boundaries, noise, and more.
- Ownership Conflicts: Disagreements over property rights.
Probate, Wills, and Power of Attorney Disputes
Calm Solutions During Emotional Times
Disagreements over wills and powers of attorney can strain family relationships, especially in times of grief. Mediation provides a compassionate approach to resolving these sensitive issues.
How Mediation Helps:
- Defuse Tensions: Address underlying emotional and psychological drivers of conflict.
- Reach Agreement: Focus on solutions that repair relationships and prevent further escalation.
- Avoid Court: Save time, money, and emotional energy by resolving disputes outside the courtroom.
Costs
Affordable Mediation Services
Mediation is often a fraction of the cost of litigation, making it a valuable option for resolving disputes.
Cost Overview:
- Starting from £100 + VAT per party for 2 hours.
- Competitive rates for claims between £5,000 and £250,000.
- Custom quotes for complex, high-value, or multi-party cases.
Focus Mediation does not offer mediation for claims under £5,000
|
Claim amount |
Cost |
|
£5,000 to £50,000 |
We can usually offer a competitive mediation rate for the day or half day – ask us and we will talk to you. |
|
£50,000 to £100,000 |
£1,200 + VAT per party for an 8 hour day and up to 3 hours pre mediation reading and £200 + VAT per party per extra hour. |
|
£100,000 to £250,000 |
£1,500 + VAT per party for an 8 hour day and up to 3 hours pre mediation reading and £200 + VAT per party per extra hour. |
|
Claims over £250,000 or complex multi-party claims |
Price on application – costs vary to reflect a need for more than one mediator, several days’ mediation or other case specific variations. |
In all cases, costs quoted are per party. Multi party cases may need two mediators.
Focus Mediation covers a wide area, including Southern England and some parts of the North. Contact us for a free consultation and tailored quote.
FAQs
What is mediation?
Mediation is a confidential process whereby an impartial third party (the mediator) facilitates the resolution of your dispute. It is a voluntary process – everyone involved has to be willing to come to mediation to resolve the problem.
Can mediation help me?
Any dispute can be mediated, providing all parties agree to participate. Business to business, boundary issues, workplace, employment, personal, family, probate – whatever your dispute, mediation is quicker and less expensive than litigation.
How does mediation work?
Mediation is tailored to the dispute. So the mediator will speak to you and the other party to confirm willingness to mediate, explain the process and costs and to find out the background of the dispute.
Once a mutually convenient date, time and venue is agreed, written confirmation is sent together with an Agreement to Mediate and an invoice – payment is due in full in advance of the mediation date. Costs are divided equally between the parties in dispute unless otherwise agreed.
You will be invited to submit a summary/position statement together with any relevant paperwork for the mediator to read before the mediation, but it is not compulsory.
There are different ways of mediating. Some people do not wish to meet at all and some wish to have face to face discussions. Often you may spend some of the time in separate rooms and some of the time together in the same room. In any case, most, if not all, of the mediation usually takes place with the parties in separate rooms with the mediator going between them.
At the end of the mediation the parties agree with the mediator what the summary of the outcome will be and with whom it will be shared. All parties will sign it and if required legal advisers will take the necessary steps to terminate any litigation that may already be underway.
What if no agreement is reached?
Most mediations are successful. However, if no agreement is reached, nothing is written down and you will have to consider whether to proceed with more formal action.
As mediation is confidential and ‘without prejudice’. This means that nothing that has been discussed in the mediation can be used subsequently by your lawyers without the agreement of both parties and the mediator cannot be called as a witness to give evidence in court.
How long will the mediation take?
Most mediations are settled within one working day — sometimes in just a few hours.
What does mediation cost?
Mediation fees are normally based on the value of the claim. See our costs schedule. Any costs incurred in hiring a venue and providing refreshments and/or lunch will be shared equally between the parties.
For more information or to discuss your specific needs, contact us today. We’re here to help you resolve your disputes efficiently and effectively.