Businesses can be faced with a multitude of challenges that individuals rarely have to deal with. Whether it’s issues with neighboring businesses, vendors, customers, employees, commercial property and real estate, premises liability—the list can go on and on. Owning or operating a business can be so rewarding and profitable, but can also give rise to unexpected (and usually expensive) issues. Knowing how to save as much of the bottom line is vital to business success. In the vast majority of issues that come up, mediation can be of great help.

Many landlords and tenants alike are facing serious financial strain. While moratoriums have extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are still watching their rental debt increase with every passing month. While aid has been established to help the situation, there are certainly shortcomings that still exist, and ones that will reveal themselves when moratoriums begin to lift across the country.

What kinds of information to share or not share, and in what detail - that has always been the question… People have all sorts of opinions about it, and it certainly depends on the subjective circumstances at times. This is a little insight from my observation over the years, including some ways that sharing information at mediation might increase the chances of settlement.

Due to a number of factors, mediation can sometimes fail. While this rarely has to do with the mediator, as the parties are supposed to be making their own decisions when it comes to how they want to settle their disputes, there are some common themes that can quickly contribute to mediation taking a turn for the worse.

Mediation is unique in the way that people who are often on opposing sides of a lawsuit, or have the potential to be, are coming together to propose solutions. The communications that occur with the mediator are then generally inadmissible if the case does not resolve in mediation (including party admissions).

Separating is very difficult whether or not you’re married to your partner. In addition to any emotional difficulties that might be going on, there are always a few unfortunate orders of business to deal with at some point.