Is Timing Everything in Mediation?

Sylvia Mayer (Attorney, Mediator and Arbitrator) discusses timing in mediation.  Time and timing permeate all aspects of the mediation process, including: When is a dispute ripe for mediation? When are parties receptive to evaluative feedback? When should a mediator’s settlement proposal be made? When should an apology be offered? They…

Bankruptcy Mediation With Sylvia Mayer

Sylvia Mayer, Attorney, Mediator, and Arbitrator, discusses bankruptcy mediations, including: Bankruptcy 101 (start and finish, parties, claims); Two party disputes versus multi-party disputes; Types of disputes (claims, avoidance actions, plan negotiations, other issues); Use of mediation in bankruptcy, and Confidentiality and court approval in bankruptcy.

Preventive Mediation or a Healthy Alternative

How many times in the past month have you swallowed your anger, frustration or disappointment to avoid conflict? Or allowed the status quo to remain because there is no agreement on change? Or made excuses to cover mistakes or lapses, rather than address the underlying issue? And how often has…

The Power of a Pause in Mediation

I recently mediated a dispute over money either borrowed (according to one party) or gifted (according to the other party). While nominally the dispute was about money, as is true so often, the underlying conflict was personal. Through opening statements, it became clear that what the parties most needed was…