Mediation is a voluntary process involving an independent third party (‘the mediator’) who helps the parties reach an amicable settlement in respect to their dispute. Mediations are conducted in private and are generally considerably quicker and less expensive than arbitration or litigation.
As long as parties agree to participate in the process, mediation can resolve a wide range of disputes, including but not limited to, disputes between employees and employers, consumers and traders, as well as businesses and those they work with. Unlike arbitration and litigation, mediation is not an adversarial process. Instead, the mediator facilitates discussion and dialogue between the parties with a view to reaching a mutually-agreed decision. This can often preserve the relationship between the parties.
