Our Fees.
The initial contact with me is free of charge
Get in touch by phone or email. When we speak I will ask you about your case and tell you whether I can help and if so what happens next. Every case I mediate is different. Many do not have a monetary value so it is not possible for me to say what the fee will be at the beginning. I will need to contact the other side to see if they will agree to mediation after which I will discuss your case with you and your opponent and then suggest a figure which will reflect the nature of the case and the time involved.
Lots of mediators provide a fee scale on their websites which are based on the monetary value of the claim which I do not think is right. Every case is different and has different aspects which may affect the amount of time involved in the mediation. I can assure anyone who uses my services that the fee I suggest will be reasonable and competitive.
After Fees Are Agreed
Once the mediation fee has been agreed I will send a mediation agreement to all parties. This will usually be done as an attachment to an e mail. The agreement should be printed and signed where indicated. It should then be scanned and e mailed back to me. If this is difficult for any party then I can provide an address for the signed agreement to be sent to. Once I have received all the signed agreements then the agreed fee must be paid in advance before the mediation begins. This is usually done by bank transfer. It us customary for the fee to be divided equally between the parties. However sometimes the fee is paid by one party only or is not divided equally.
The venue
For further information please read about our ‘online mediation‘.
Online mediations are conducted through computers using a platform such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. This sounds complicated but it isn’t. I am trained to use both systems and can make the process easy for you.
If you do not wish to mediate online then I can make arrangements for the parties to meet in person. This will involve hiring some rooms in an office or for example a community centre. This does involve extra cost which will be paid by the parties in proportions they agree.
How the mediation starts
Whether online or in person, the mediation usually starts with a joint session where the parties and myself introduce themselves and the parties each state their position in the case. After this the parties usually leave the joint session and go to separate rooms. The I will then visit each party for private sessions to discuss how they feel about the case and the position they are taking. These sessions involve each party and myself and are private. No information discussed in these sessions will be passed to any other party unless this is by consent.
The whole mediation process is private and confidential. The parties agree to this by signing the mediation agreement.
Cancellation Terms
If either party cancels the mediation within 5 clear days of the date arranged, then I reserve the right to make a reasonable charge for the work carried out to the date of cancellation.
