Mediation is a process by which parties to a dispute agree to meet under the chairmanship of a neutral person (the mediator) to explore, off the record, whether they can settle their dispute on mutually acceptable terms.  It is an option which avoids the time, expense and stress of litigation, and gives parties more control over their own outcomes.  The mediator facilitates discussions between the parties, allowing them to arrive at mutually acceptable solutions.

During mediation, we do not advise as to the merits of any dispute. We listen to each party and help them examine their position from a neutral standpoint. We encourage each party in their honest and creative exploration of options for settlement and then let them (together with their advisers, should they be represented) decide whether to settle or not, and if so on what terms. 

Parties often also use mediation to de-escalate emerging disagreements, to re-build bridges and to re-establish functional working relationships before any formal dispute has been reached.