The Mediation Conference is a meeting involving the parties, their representatives and a Mediator. Unlike a court hearing with its rigid rules and procedures, the Mediation Conference is designed to be a forum where business people solve business problems:
- Convenient – Mediation Conferences are scheduled at a time and place convenient to the parties, usually within 30 days of initiating mediation. The conference can be held at Business Mediation Network, the offices of one of the parties or their representatives or at a pre-arranged conference facility.
- Productive – each party is required to have a person with settlement authority attend the Mediation Conference
- Direct – parties are encouraged to participate directly in the Mediation Conference and can attend with or without their attorneys
- Confidential – all statements made during mediation are confidential