The purpose of mediation is to find an agreement that’s acceptable to all parties, and settles the dispute.
Mediation is one form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that’s often adopted by parties to resolve their problems or disputes. ADR is not a soft option resulting in ‘giving away the business’, ‘paying a premium’ or ‘taking the easy way out’. It’s a disciplined way of resolving issues; an extremely effective business tool that is available to parties in dispute long before they contemplate litigation. If the parties are already involved in litigation, ADR can help close the dispute quickly and cost-effectively.
ADR now forms part of the Civil Procedure Rules and the courts expect parties at least to have considered mediation and to provide good reasons if they have not undertaken it. Mediation is now widely recognized all around the globe as the most popular form of ADR, offering solutions beyond those that a court can usually impose and often leading to a win-win situation.