Mediation

Overall,  mediation  entails  an  attempt  by  the  parties  to  resolve  thei r disputes informally on their own  
with  the  assistance  of  one  or more of our formally trained and certified neutrals and impartial third  part
y experts . The  scope  of  the  mediator’s role  is  advisory  in  nature by means of offering substantive
suggestions. Resolution of the dispute, however, rests with the parties themselves.

By  applying  the  array  of  uniqu e methodologies  and  techniques  at  thei r disposal, The Souffront
Group’s mediators  assist the parties themselves to explore and identify options and further develop
creative  solutions  that  at  the  outset  might  not  have  been  as apparent when resorting to a more
traditional adversarial process with the eventual aim to reach a mutually satisfactory settlement.

In order to achieve such a settlement, the mediators at The Souffront Group will assist the parties to:

•  reduce  the  hostility between themselves and engage in a meaningful dialogue on the issues at
  hand;
  
• open discussion into areas not previously considered or inadequately developed;
  
• communicate positions or proposals in understandable or more palatable terms;
  
• probe and uncover additional facts and the real interests and needs of parties;
  
• help each party to better understand the other party’s view and evaluation of a particular issue or
  position, without violating confidences;
  
• narrow the issues and each party’s positions, and deflate extreme demands;
  
• gauge the receptiveness for a proposal or suggestion;
  
• explore alternatives and search for solutions;
  
•  identify what is truly relevant and important and what is expendable;
  
• prevent regression or raising of surprise issues; and
  
• structure a settlement to resolve current problems and future parties’ needs.
  

• parties are directly engaged in the negotiation of the settlement;
  
• the  mediator,  as  a  neutral  third party,  can  view  the  dispute  objectively and can assist the
  parties in exploring alternatives which they might not have considered on their own;
  
• as  mediation  can  be  scheduled  at  an  early  stage  in  the  dispute,   a   settlement  can  be
  reached much more quickly than in litigation or arbitration;
  
• parties   generally   save   money   through   reduced   legal   and  opportunity  costs  and  less
  management time expended;
  
• parties enhance the likelihood of continuing their business relationship;
  
• identify  creative  solutions or accommodations to the special needs of the parties so they can
  become a part of the settlement.