First I speak with each of the sides on the phone to get a general sense of what the overall dispute is about.

Once mediating parties decide to go forward, we schedule a time for mediation and the parties pay a $250 deposit. This deposit is usually paid proportionately, half-and-half two parties, unless given certain circumstances one of the parties should pay more than the others (for example where one spouse works while the other has been the at-home spouse).

Once we have set up a time, I have the parties sign a mediation agreement in which the parties agree to confidentiality and two other ground rules of the mediation process.

For homework, I ask that each side prepare a list of issues that they like to discuss, and then prioritize them. When we meet, we will go through all of the issues for both sides, generally speaking from the easiest problems to solve to the most difficult.

If lawyers are involved, typically I will get a brief or letter explaining the issues. I’m happy to review anything that either side thinks is important and persuasive.

I meet with both sides together in a room followed by individual sessions with each side separately. For online mediations, I use the online video mediation equivalent with a joint video session via Zoom, followed by individual sessions. These sessions need not take place on the same day, they can occur over several days or weeks as necessary. In some cases joint meetings are counterproductive and we only meet separately.

While simple matters can be resolved in as little as a couple or few hours, complex matters such as environmental mediation, sometimes reliant on regulatory progress, could take many months, or even years.

Obviously if parties are more agreeable and flexible, mediation will take less time.

For complicated matters, such as multiparty matters, environmental matters, and complex litigation with administrative agency involvement and mediated discovery issues, mediation can take weeks, months, or in some cases even years as parties work their way through a mediation process tailored to their particular case.

In any event, mediation is a lot cheaper than litigation, and more certain.

For typical two-party matters I charge $500 hourly. I keep track of my time and bill in tenths of hours. I do not charge for the initial consultation that I have with parties.

We can meet virtually.

We can do online mediation or video mediation sessions, or mediation via phone calls.

I like having in-person meetings where we can because I have found people find saying “no” much easier via phone or video than in person. I like to make sure the people are committed to the process, and willing to consider alternatives that might solve the problem. But carrier representatives and business people often prefer the convenience of virtual mediation, where possible. I’ll mediate in whatever way the parties agree, whatever works.