How it works

First, mediation is voluntary and it is held in private. The parties must accept beforehand that the Mediator who is neutral, is there to help them reach an agreement that they are content with. The Mediator does not impose his own solution nor does he give advice to either party.

The duration of the mediation is usually from a few hours to a day and it is best that the venue is a neutral one, giving no impression of an advantage to any party.

At the agreed date, location and time, the parties gather in a room where the Mediator briefs them on how matters will be conducted. After the briefing, the Mediator meets with each side in separate rooms and moves back and forth between them, clarifying points and exploring possibilities. When the Mediator reaches a point where he believes there is a basis for an agreement, he brings the parties together again to discuss the matter further, to the point where the parties reach an agreement.