AikinenOptimizing the Pieces Together

Mediation

 

"Mediation is one of the most effective tools of non-violence. It can turn parties away from conflict, towards compromise." - Miroslav Lajcak

Mediation

Aikinen offers professional Mediation services for a variety of complex personal and business situations/conflicts. Mediation is a dynamic, structured, interactive process where a neutral third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques.

Conflicting situations arrive in our personal and professional/business lives and cause a lot of stress and bring our health down in many ways. Many times two individuals cannot communicate well or communications break down with each other. The result is that a long standing or unresolvable conflict happens that never seems to end. Bringing in a neutral and experienced third party mediator can easily resolve these types of conflicts/situations between two people. Mediation is a "No-Lose" dispute resolution process because it is entirely voluntary where both parties have to completely agree on any final solution.

Mediation has been around for thousands of years going back to ancient cultures. It is a time tested solution to ongoing conflict and most often results in a final solution being implemented.

Chris Pereira, Aikinen's key mediator, is certified in Mediation Training from the University of California at Berkeley's Peace and Conflicts Studies Program and has been doing mediations for over 30 years.

7 Stages of the Mediation Process

Stage 1: Pre-Mediation Memorandum - A memorandum/brief is independently drawn up by each of the parties in the dispute. These two documents outline the facts and issues on each side of the dispute and are for the mediator to understand the particulars/financials/situations in each case.

Stage 2: The Mediator's Opening Statement - After the disputants are seated at a table, the mediator introduces everyone, explains the goals and rules of the mediation, and encourages each side to work cooperatively toward a settlement.

Stage 3: The Parties'/Disputants' Opening Statement - Each party is invited to describe the dispute and its consequences, financial and otherwise. The mediator might entertain general ideas about resolution, as well. While one person is speaking, the other is not allowed to interrupt.

Stage 4: Joint Discussion - The mediator might encourage the parties to respond directly to the opening statements, depending on the participants' receptivity, in an attempt to further define the issues.

Stage 5: Private Caucus - The private caucus is a chance for each party to meet privately with the mediator. Each side will be placed in a separate room. The mediator will go between the two rooms to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each position and to exchange offers. The mediator continues the exchange as needed during the time allowed. These private meetings comprise the guts of mediation.

Stage 6: More Joint Negotiations - After caucuses, the mediator might bring the parties back together to negotiate directly, but this is unusual. The mediator usually doesn't bring the parties back together until a settlement is reached or the time allotted for the mediation ends.

Stage 7: Closure - If the parties reach an agreement, the mediator will likely put its main provisions in writing and ask each side to sign the written summary of the agreement. If the parties didn't reach an agreement, the mediator will help the parties determine whether it would be fruitful to meet again later or continue negotiations by phone.

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Mediation Services apply to the following areas:

Family Workplace
• Prenuptial/Premarital agreements • Wrongful termination
• Parent(s)/Adult Children • Workers' compensation
• Eldercare • Discrimination
• Elder/Aging Parents/Adult Children disputes • Harassment
• Financial or budget disagreements • Grievances
• Conflicting career decisions between spouses • Employer/Employee conflicts
• Divorce/Separation • Coworker disputes and conflicts
• Custody agreements • Labor management
• Determining, valuing, and dividing martial property • Dissolution and Buy Outs
• Possession and/or disposition of the family residence  
• Family businesses Business/Commercial
• Adult sibling conflicts • Landlord/Tenant
• Estates • Homeowners' associations
• Medical ethics and end-of-life • Builders/contractors/realtors/homeowners
  • Contractual disputes
Public Disputes • Medical malpractice
• Environmental • Personal injury
• Land-use • Partnerships
  • Insurance claims
Other • Property damage
• Probate & Will Disputes • Commercial leases
• Trust Administration • Non-disclosure agreements
• Non-profit organizations • Neighbor disputes
• Faith communities • Neighbor Tree/Border disputes
• School conflicts • Maritime/Shipping disputes
   

Hourly Fee: $250 (Party of 2)

Additional parties: Each additional party will be charged an additional $200 to the hourly mediation.

All payments must be paid in full 7 days prior to the scheduled mediation. Cancellation Policy: $250 due if the session is cancelled in the 7 days prior to the mediation session.

Free Consultation/Easy Scheduling/No Administrative Fee