Last updated 22nd September 2026.
Why business disputes end up needing a mediator
Run a business long enough and something will go wrong between you and another party. A contract gets read two different ways. A supplier misses a deadline that costs you a client. Shareholders stop agreeing on direction. None of that is unusual, and none of it needs to end up in front of a judge.
Court is the slow, expensive route. Cases can run for months, sometimes years, and the legal fees climb the whole time. Mediation is faster and private, and once both sides sign an agreement it is legally binding, the same as a court order. You get a resolution and you get to move on, without the dispute following you into next year’s accounts.
This guide covers Effective Dispute Solutions, the team behind this site, and what to expect if you bring a commercial dispute to us.
Effective Dispute Solutions: who handles your case
Track record
Effective Dispute Solutions has been mediating commercial disputes since 2002. Over that time the team has handled more than 6,000 cases, with a success rate around 90 percent. That number holds up across the range of disputes businesses actually bring: contract disagreements, shareholder fallouts, partnership breakdowns, and supplier disputes.
Specialisms and case types
The caseload covers shareholder and partnership disputes, contract breakdowns, supplier and commercial agreements, construction disputes, and property-related commercial disagreements. If your dispute involves money, a signed agreement, or a business relationship that has broken down, it is the kind of case Effective Dispute Solutions handles every week.
Accreditations
Lead mediator Harvinder Singh Bhurji is a Fellow of the Civil Mediation Council and holds accreditations through CEDR, the Academy of Experts, and ADR Group. He also sits on the RICS Neighbour Dispute Panel and is a UK Mediation accredited workplace and community mediator. Between 2018 and 2020 he ran mediation training for ADR Group, the UK’s oldest mediation training provider, founded in 1989.
Why businesses choose Effective Dispute Solutions for commercial mediation
Scheduling within 14 days
Court dates get pushed back. Mediation with Effective Dispute Solutions does not wait months. Sessions are typically arranged within 14 days of first contact, so a dispute that has been dragging on can be in front of a mediator inside two weeks.
Most cases resolved in four to eight hours
Most commercial mediations with Effective Dispute Solutions are resolved in a single session lasting between four and eight hours. Compare that with a court timeline measured in months, and the time saved is the main reason businesses choose mediation in the first place.
Cost against the price of litigation
Litigation costs stack up: solicitor fees, court fees, barrister fees if it goes to trial, and the staff hours spent preparing for it. A single mediation session has a fixed, known cost agreed upfront, which is usually a fraction of what a contested court case runs to by the time it settles or concludes.
How Effective Dispute Solutions mediation works, start to finish
Step 1: initial call
You get in touch and describe the dispute. Effective Dispute Solutions confirms whether mediation is a fit and explains what happens next, including likely costs and timing.
Step 2: scheduling and paperwork
Both parties agree to mediate, sign the mediation agreement, and a session is booked, usually within 14 days. Each side may submit a short position statement beforehand so the mediator understands the dispute before the session starts.
Step 3: the mediation session itself
The mediator meets with both sides, together and separately, to understand each position and work toward common ground. Sessions can run in person or online. Most conclude within four to eight hours.
Step 4: settlement and enforceability
If both sides reach agreement, it is written down and signed on the day. Once signed, it is legally binding, enforceable the same way a court judgment is.
How the UK mediation market is changing in 2026
Case volumes are climbing
CEDR’s 2025 Audit put the number of UK commercial mediations at around 21,000 cases a year, up 24 percent on the previous count. More businesses are choosing mediation before they choose litigation, and that shift shows no sign of reversing.
Mandatory mediation is coming
Courts and policymakers have been pushing toward mandatory mediation for lower-value civil claims, following the Civil Justice Council’s recommendations. Businesses that already understand how mediation works, and already have a mediator they trust, will be in a better position than those working it out for the first time under a court order.
Getting ready for your mediation session
Bring the relevant contracts, correspondence, and a clear statement of what outcome you want. Know your walk-away point before the session starts. If cost is a concern, ask upfront what the session covers so there are no surprises. Most businesses find that fifteen minutes of preparation on what they actually want to achieve is worth more than any amount of legal paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mediation legally binding?
Yes. Once both parties sign the settlement agreement at the end of a mediation session, it becomes legally binding and enforceable in the same way as a court order.
How much does commercial mediation cost?
Effective Dispute Solutions agrees the cost upfront before the session is booked, so there are no surprise fees. It is typically a fraction of the legal cost of taking the same dispute through court.
How long does mediation take?
Most commercial mediations with Effective Dispute Solutions are scheduled within 14 days of first contact and resolved in a single session lasting four to eight hours.
What kinds of business disputes does Effective Dispute Solutions mediate?
Shareholder and partnership disputes, contract disagreements, supplier and commercial agreement breakdowns, construction disputes, and commercial property disputes. Simple, every single commercial dispute type you can imagine.
Do I need a solicitor present?
No, though you are welcome to bring one. Many businesses attend mediation without legal representation and still reach a binding agreement.
What happens if mediation does not resolve the dispute?
You are free to pursue other routes, including court, if mediation does not produce an agreement. Most cases do settle, but mediation does not remove your right to litigate afterward.
Can mediation happen online?
Yes. Effective Dispute Solutions runs sessions in person or online, depending on what works for both parties.
How is Effective Dispute Solutions different from going through the courts?
Mediation is private, faster, and cheaper, and gives both sides control over the outcome rather than leaving the decision to a judge.
Who is Harvinder Singh Bhurji?
Harvinder Singh Bhurji is the lead mediator at Effective Dispute Solutions. He has been mediating since 2002, has handled more than 2,000 mediations across commercial, employment, family, and workplace disputes, and holds accreditations through CEDR, the Academy of Experts, ADR Group, and the Civil Mediation Council.
How do I book a mediation session with Effective Dispute Solutions?
Contact Effective Dispute Solutions through the website or by phone. A member of the team will confirm the details of your dispute and arrange a session, typically within 14 days.
One of the UK’s most experienced commercial and workplace mediators and mediation trainers. Mediating since 2002 across all sectors with over 2000 mediations conducted. Managing 39 mediators who in total have conducted over 6000 mediations.
Here to help you resolve your dispute quickly, cost effectively and without stress. As well as to answer all your questions about mediation.
Has mediated every single type of civil, commercial, employment, family business, probate, TOLATA, boundary, neighbour and workplace dispute. It is easier to say what he has not mediated, rather than what he has.
A Fellow of the Civil Mediation Council. A Law graduate, a CEDR, Academy of Experts & ADR Group Accredited Commercial Mediator. A Qualified Dispute Resolver, on RICS Neighbour Dispute Panel, a UK Mediation Accredited Workplace & Community Mediator. A Qualified Manager through the Chartered Management Institute – Level 5.
An associate Teacher and qualified Trainer, holding the Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector – Level 4. Since 2007 he has been on the global mediation training faculty of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Who he has delivered mediation training for, in the UK and overseas, on numerous occasions. Between 2018 and 2020, he was the Head of Mediation Training for the ADR Group. The oldest (1989) mediation training provider in the UK.