Cerno Thames Ltd | Tel: +44 (0)7798 816169 | Email: kevin.churchill@cernothames.com
What is Civil and Commercial Mediation?
Civil and commercial mediation is a confidential, structured process, that helps individuals and businesses, resolve disagreements and disputes quickly and effectively. It is used to settle issues in business partnership or contract situations, supplier and client disagreements, landlord and tenant issues, or family or neighbour disputes with financial implications. Civil and commercial mediation provides the parties with a platform for open dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperative decision-making.
Our approach is to create a constructive, confidential environment where all parties can express their concerns, listen to the other party, clarify misunderstandings, and find solutions that address and resolve the situation.
Civil and commercial mediation is an invaluable tool in dispute resolution, providing a platform for open dialogue, mutual understanding, and cooperative decision-making. Our approach is to create a safe, confidential environment where all parties can voice their concerns, clarify misunderstandings, and find solutions that promote fairness and mutual benefit.
Why Choose Us?
Whether you're facing an individual conflict situation, business disagreements, or workplace challenges, Cerno Thames can guide you through the process.
We encourage you to engage early in our services; this helps maintain a positive relationships with the other party, and can prevent the conflict escalating.
Don't wait for disagreements and disputes to disrupt your peace of mind; have them handled professionally and discreetly.
Let's arrange an initial exploratory call and explore constructive resolutions.
Contact Cerno Thames; we are your partners in progress, prosperity and peace of mind.
Key Benefits of Mediation
In civil and commercial mediation, businesses can save resources, preserve relationships, and swiftly return their focus to growth and success.
Cost Effective
Avoid hefty legal fees with a more affordable resolution method.
Time Efficient
Achieve quicker outcomes compared to prolonged court proceedings.
Preserves Relationships
Protect and maintain business relationships by reaching mutually acceptable agreements, civilly and respectfully.
Confidential and Private
All discussions remain private and confidential to those in the room.
Empowers Decision-Making
You are each in control of the outcome and timeline, not a Court or a Judge.
Flexibility
Mediation provides for a wide range of possible outcomes, far beyond simply being restricted to points of law.
Commonly Asked Questions about
Civil and Commercial Mediation
Typically, the parties are the individuals or businesses that are in dispute.
No. A mediation process is not a ‘rights-based’ process therefore you do not need to be ‘represented’ in the sense as in court proceedings. In mediation, the parties represent and speak for themselves.
However, you are able to seek legal advice before and after the mediation. In general, your rights to other means of dispute resolution are not affected by your participation in mediation.
Costs vary but are generally lower than litigation. Fees include time spent on preparation for the mediation and undertaking the mediation itself, plus any follow-up after the mediation day.
Fees are typically in the 'hundreds' or 'low-thousands', that are split equally between the parties, rather than in 'tens or hundreds of thousands'.
The length of time of the civil-commercial mediation process varies depending on the complexity of the dispute, and availability of the parties to meet. It is generally arranged and carried out over a period of days or weeks, rather than months or years, and is usually started and completed considerably faster than court proceedings in England and Wales.
It depends on the nature of the mediation and the wishes of the parties. In civil-commercial mediation, if the parties wish for the agreement to be legally binding (and they usually do) then once it is signed by the parties, the agreement is legally binding.
All mediation is voluntary, requiring both parties to agree that participating is in their individual best interests, and an appropriate way to try to resolve the dispute.
If one party declines to participate, our conflict coaching and/or business advisory service may be able to help progress the situation. Alternatively, you may wish to consider other dispute resolution approaches and/or court proceedings.
If mediation isn’t possible, suitable or successful, then our conflict coaching or business advisory services may be able to help you progress the situation.
For individuals and businesses seeking a more efficient, cost-effective, and amicable means of resolving commercial or contractural disputes, each of these services stand out as attractive options to explore.
“….wanted to say thank you for all your help…. really didn't think we were going to get anywhere (in the dispute with the builder).
Really glad I reached out…’
Homeowner, Thames Valley. Summer 2024.