The best time to mediate is before an issue escalates to litigation. Mediation is obviously more cost effective before a lawsuit, but it can be used before, during or after court proceedings. Mediation can also be used as a preventative measure for conflicts that won’t lead to litigation, but will have significant emotional cost.

Mediation sessions are typically 2-3 hours. Complex issues and multiple parties may require more than one session.

Mediation has a very high success rate - a recent national study shows that around 70% of mediated disputes reach a settlement. My experience has been even better with agreements reached over 80% of the time. Even when a dispute is not settled in mediation, key issues are identified and some may be resolved.

A written mediated agreement signed by all parties is enforceable in the same manner as any other written contract. In fact, mediated settlements are less likely to return to conflict because the agreement is made by both parties instead of being imposed on them.

I offer professional mediation services at an hourly fee. Payment is requested at the end of each meeting. I do not require a retainer as the duration of a mediation is hard to predict, and ultimately, dependent on the parties. A typical mediation session will last 2-3 hours and I charge a 2 hour minimum. Complex issues and multiple parties may require more than one session, but you control the amount of time you spend. For cases that are particularly complex and difficult to schedule, I may charge a case development fee.

My hourly rate is $250, split between the parties. I offer significantly reduced rates for nonprofit organizations and workers. For cases that require me to travel more than an hour, I charge $125/hr for travel time plus travel and expenses.

Absolutely! According to a national study, mediation costs less than 10% of an adversarial trail. Mediation takes much less time than an attorney negotiated settlement or litigation. The cost of an attorney’s time on telephone calls and letters alone will often exceed the cost of mediation.

It is difficult to know whether a party will agree to something until they are asked. Sometimes, hearing the request from a neutral third party makes it easier to accept the idea of mediation. The best way to find out if they are willing to mediate is to have the mediator contact them. That way, I can address any concerns they have about mediation. Given that the alternatives are lengthy, stressful and expensive, I find that people tend to be very agreeable to the idea of mediation.

It is much easier to maintain unreasonable positions in letters than it is in person with an impartial 3rd party present. Once a party enters into mediated dialogue, polarization and extreme positions tend to fall away and progress toward a reasonable settlement follows.

Successful mediation does not depend on parties being reasonable, friendly, or even on talking terms. If both parties agree to mediate, they have a great chance to achieve a settlement. With years of experience negotiating complex issues, I have successfully resolved seemingly impossible conflicts between the most impossible parties.

The parties do not have to be in the same room to achieve peace. In my volunteer work for the local Superior Court, I have resolved matters where the parties were under court order to not have contact with the other. As a trained mediator, I can use a process called caucusing (or “shuttle diplomacy”) where I will keep the parties in separate rooms and meet privately with each party. Caucusing may be used for some or all of a mediation session.

Mediation is not a process of universal compromise or convincing one side to give in to the other. Mediation promotes understanding and generates agreement opportunities that neither party could create independently. I understand that parties will often have differing perspectives and seemingly unresolvable positions.

Anywhere in the world. I have a professional video studio in my office and I have extensive experience with global negotiation over video conferencing. Virtual mediation offers significant benefits in time and cost. That said, I have an office in Northern California (Nevada City) and am generally able to travel to a location that is convenient to you.