What is Mediation?

Where two or more people or companies are unable to resolve a particular problem they invite a neutral person to help them arrive at a solution. The neutral person, or Mediator, will work hard with each side and help them to understand better their own and the other person’s position, and explore alternative solutions. By so doing the parties improve their chances of working out a solution to their mutual satisfaction.

When should I use Mediation?

When it appears that there is little chance of an agreed resolution and a risk that the problem may get out of hand and involve everybody concerned in a lot of time and money.

If you do not agree with the Mediator

The Mediator has no power to decide. He is only there at your invitation to see if by talking to all concerned he can help you negotiate your own settlement. If, during proceedings, you do not like the way it is going you are free to leave. There is no obligation to agree to anything you are not entirely happy with.

How do you find a Mediator?

Many professional bodies have lists of people willing to act as Mediators. The Academy of Experts has a list of Mediators and can advise on the most suitable one for your problem.

Are Mediators Qualified?

All the Mediators on The Academy of Experts Register are qualified experts in various subjects. In addition they undergo a training programme which includes both instruction in the various techniques they will need to help both sides negotiate their own agreement and an assessment in which they have to be successful before qualifying for the inclusion in the Register.

How to start

All those involved in the dispute need to agree to try mediation. Once you have the agreement of all involved you contact The Academy of Experts giving brief details of the problem. They will then write back providing a list of Mediators who would be most suitable to help you with your problem.

Will it work?

Experience shows that mediation has a high success rate, but of course there can be no guarantee that agreement will be reached. The Mediator is there to help but it is up to the parties involved to develop their own agreement.

The other side won't Mediate

You may contact The ADR Centre and they will endeavour to persuade the other party to agree to Mediation by drawing attention to the advantages of trying to reach a settlement by mediation.

More than two Parties

Mediation being very flexible is ideally suited to multi-party disputes. By bringing all parties together mutually inter-dependent solutions can be reached.