Mediation FAQs: Process, Costs & Legal Answers
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Mediation Questions Answers
Common Questions About Mediation Services
Last updated: Tuesday the 15th of September 2026.
Straight answers to the questions people ask us most before their first mediation. If yours isn’t covered here, call us on 0800 246 1218 for a free, confidential chat, no obligation attached.
Why Choose EDSL for Your Mediation
Why should I use EDSL's mediation services?
Effective Dispute Solutions is led by Harvinder Singh Bhurji, who has mediated for over 24 years across disputes ranging from a few hundred pounds to multi-million-pound commercial claims. We are accredited by the Civil Mediation Council and are a designated provider to His Majesty’s Courts Service and the National Mediation Helpline. Our national panel brings decades of combined experience across law, business, and industry, which is why clients trust us to resolve disputes that other routes have stalled on. Read more about our approach on the Mediation & Principles page.
Mediation should be used when it appears that other than resorting to litigation or more formal practices your dispute cannot be resolved.
No! Mediation is a voluntary process, all in dispute need to agree to use it, you cannot be forced into mediation.
Yes, the entire mediation process is confidential, from the moment you contact us up to the time we mediate for you, whatever you discuss with us in confidence remains that way, unless you give us your permission to discuss it with anyone else.
Yes, once an agreement has been reached and it has been deduced to writing (for commercial and civil disputes) it will usually be enshrined within a consent order if court proceedings have commenced, if they have not, the written agreement will be drawn up as a contract which is binding on the parties.
Mediation is a highly flexible and successful process, most mediations settle, if not on the day shortly after the actual mediation , the mediator is there to help, although there is no guarantee of success, the more the parties are committed to finding a solution the more likely the mediation is to be successful
Once you have appointed us to mediate for you, we will issue the necessary paperwork and invoices. We will also request certain documents from you, which the mediator will read through prior to the mediation. On the day of the mediation, the mediator will start with an opening statement, this will include introductions, ground rules, explaining their role and the process. This will be followed by a series of joint and private meetings, until an agreement is reached.
Yes and no, we have found that it is very constructive to see parties together, it allows for better speed, accuracy, for a better flow and for dialogue to be established. Therefore at the start of the mediation we would prefer to see parties together for a brief meeting, just to explain the ground rules and so forth, if you have an objection to seeing the other party face to face, we won’t make you, and can undertake the mediation process by seeing you both separately.
Our national panel of mediators have all been through an accredited mediation training course, are insured and supervised and come from a variety of professional backgrounds, such as Judges, barristers, solicitors including partners in national and regional law firms, academics, lecturers, architects, accountants, surveyors, dentists, HR professionals, senior managers and directors with several years of business experience in the UK and overseas.
The mediator has no power to decide or impose their solution upon you, so you do not have to agree with them. There is no obligation to agree to anything you are not entirely happy with; any agreement made will be your agreement.
The mediator is there to provide the parties with an ear, and to assist improved communications. Their function is to facilitate any discussions and to manage the process. Whilst remaining independent throughout.
Although your opponents may have a solicitor you will not be disadvantaged for not having one, part of our roles as mediators is to ensure that the mediation is undertaken in an even handed manner and to prevent / stop any sort of imbalance of power should it surface.
Call us, or arrange for us to call you. We shall discuss why you wish to become a mediator and help you to decide whether becoming a mediator is right for you. As well as which accredited training programme to undertake through us. See our commercial, and workplace mediation training pages for full details.
The earlier you decide to use mediation, the more likely you are to see an increased saving.
Mediation fees and any associated costs of the mediation, i.e. catering, room hire must all be paid upfront in one payment. If need be payment can be made in instalments. This will be in only exceptional circumstances. However the total fee must be paid prior to the mediation taking place. Without the respective fees, the mediation shall not take place, where a cancellation charge may then become payable.
Telephone mediation works exactly like a physical face to face mediation works. The only key difference is the method, doing it via a telephone. The mediator simply conferences in all the parties and mediates how they would normally. The process will include the mediators opening, and a series of private and joint telephone conversations as appropriate. Any agreement is drawn up and emailed over to the parties.
Online mediation works exactly like a physical face to face mediation works. We use the Zoom platform. For which there is no cost. The mediator simply sends all the parties in advance a sign in link and password. The process will include the mediators opening, and a series of private and joint video conversations as appropriate. Any agreement is drawn up and emailed over to the parties.
The Mediator Can
The mediator can listen, assist in communications, coach the parties on how to package and relay offers, & guide them towards a settlement.
The Mediator Cannot
The mediator cannot impose their views or opinions on the parties. They must not give legal advice, or impose a solution on the parties. They must also maintain confidentiality at all times.
Mediation Areas
We have mediators who live and work across the whole UK. Therefore, we can get a local mediator to you within days if need be. With the Zoom platform, your location no longer really matters. As no matter where you are in the world, we can just dial you in, and mediate for you.