Mediation Solicitors in Carlisle, Cumbria & Northumberland
Disputes are thorny affairs, but if the prospect of settlement without time in court sounds good, let’s talk.
If you’re in a dispute with one or more parties and have been unable to resolve it between yourselves, mediation could well be your best answer. That’s because it offers a huge advantage over litigation – the identification of possible settlements that courts might not be able to order. At Cartmell Shepherd our CMC Associate Mediator, Mark Aspin, conducts civil and commercial mediations on appointment by the relevant parties. With statistics showing that mediation successfully settles disputes more often than not, make Mark your first port of call.
FAQS
Mediation is a confidential, voluntary process which gives parties to a dispute control in order to reach an acceptable outcome, without the need for a decision imposed by a judge. The mediator is a neutral, independent professional who assists all sides in negotiating a mutually agreeable settlement. The Civil Mediation Council – an organisation with voluntary regulation for mediators of which Mark is a member – has a handy guide about the process on their website.
To keep costs proportionate Cartmell Shepherd has different fees for mediation, depending on the value of the dispute (for a monetary claim) and the likely length of time the process will take. Full details are found here.
The beauty about mediation is that it’s a flexible process – so it’s up to you.
Invariably a lot of the day will consist of the mediator meeting each party privately, to discuss the case and potential resolution in a confidential environment. There can also be joint meetings where appropriate, but the mediator will discuss with you if they think there’s a benefit.
Assuming you reach a settlement, you will record your agreement in writing. The mediator will not normally draft this for you, and won’t advise you on the agreement, but will assist in ironing out any details. Having the agreement in writing helps protect both parties going forward in undertanding what has been agreed.
If you and the other parties involved in the dispute agree to mediation in principle, you can contact us on a joint basis. Note that because a mediator has to be independent, we cannot be appointed as a mediator if you’ve contacted us as an individual in connection with your dispute.
To view our full Mediation Terms please see here
