Fixed fees. No hidden costs. Every successful mediation includes a solicitor-drafted settlement agreement — on the day, at no additional charge.
"Every engagement begins with a free 30-minute scoping call. If mediation is not appropriate for your situation, I will tell you that — before you spend a penny."
— Eugene Pienaar, Solicitor (non-practising) & CMC-Accredited MediatorThe most common and most cost-effective alternative to civil litigation. Whether the dispute is between businesses, individuals, neighbours, or former partners, the structure is the same: both parties agree to mediate, attend a facilitated session, and — in the majority of cases — leave with a binding resolution.
Because I am a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales (non-practising), I can draft the settlement agreement at the conclusion of the mediation. This is not a template. It is a properly constructed legal document, signed on the day — binding without further legal input.
Contract disputes · Debt recovery · Professional negligence · Property & boundary disputes · Neighbour conflicts · Partnership & shareholder disagreements · Service disputes · Supplier-customer conflicts
Employment disputes are expensive, damaging, and public. An Employment Tribunal claim can take 18 months and cost tens of thousands. Workplace mediation resolves the same conflicts in a day — before they become formal proceedings, before relationships are destroyed, and before the legal costs begin.
Workplace mediation is appropriate at any stage: before a grievance is filed, during a formal HR process, or following disciplinary action. It works best early. The longer a dispute runs inside an organisation, the more it costs — in legal fees, management time, staff morale, and productivity.
Manager-employee breakdown · Team conflict · Grievance resolution · Bullying or harassment allegations (where appropriate) · Post-disciplinary relationships · Redundancy disputes · Return-to-work disputes
Before applying to the family court for most orders — including child arrangements and financial remedy orders — both parties are required to attend a MIAM. This is a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting: a formal session in which the mediator explains the mediation process, assesses whether the dispute is suitable for mediation, and issues the necessary certificate for court proceedings if mediation is not appropriate or is refused by the other party.
Where both parties agree to proceed to mediation, the process covers children arrangements, financial settlements on separation or divorce, property division, and maintenance. A consent order — the legally recognised document that formalises family agreements — can be drafted at the conclusion and submitted to the court for approval without separate solicitor involvement.
Family mediation is not appropriate in cases involving domestic abuse or where there is a significant power imbalance. A MIAM will always assess safety first. Court exemptions are available and will be confirmed where applicable.
Most mediators, when a settlement is reached, hand the parties a template document and advise them to see a solicitor. This creates cost, delay, and risk. Momentum from the mediation dissipates. Lawyers get involved. Positions harden. Agreements unravel.
Because I am a qualified solicitor (non-practising), I can draft the settlement agreement as part of the mediation itself. It is written during the session, reviewed by both parties, and signed before anyone leaves the room. It is legally binding from the moment it is signed. There is no follow-up required, no additional cost, and no ambiguity about what was agreed.
For family matters, the relevant document is a consent order, which I also draft — ready to submit to court for approval. The drafting fee is included in the mediation fee. This is not a bolt-on. It is built into the process because the agreement is the whole point.
A mediation that ends with an agreement but no document is an unfinished mediation. The settlement agreement is what makes the resolution real — legally enforceable and unambiguous. It is the reason you came. It should not cost extra.
"I would rather lose a client by telling them mediation won't work than take their money and waste their time. The scoping call exists for this reason."
Where one party has significantly more power, resources, or has abused the other, mediation may not produce a fair outcome. Domestic abuse cases are screened at MIAM stage and court exemptions are issued where appropriate.
Mediation is a civil process. Criminal offences — including fraud, theft, and assault — are matters for the courts. Where a civil dispute also involves criminal conduct, legal advice should be sought first.
Mediation is voluntary. If the other party will not engage, it cannot proceed — though the court may draw adverse inferences from an unreasonable refusal. A MIAM certificate will be issued to allow court proceedings.
Where immediate court intervention is needed — freezing orders, non-molestation orders, urgent property matters — the courts must act first. Mediation may follow once the immediate position is secured.
All prices per party. VAT applicable where relevant. Settlement agreement drafting is included in every successful mediation — no exceptions.
| Service | Fee (per party) | Duration | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping Call | Free | 30 minutes | Assessment, suitability, quote |
| Civil & Commercial — Half Day | £500 | Up to 4 hours | All sessions + settlement drafting Included |
| Civil & Commercial — Full Day | £800 | Up to 8 hours | All sessions + settlement drafting Included |
| Workplace Mediation | From £500 | Half or full day | Pre-meetings, sessions, written agreement |
| MIAM | £150 | 1 hour | Assessment + court certificate |
| Family Mediation | From £500 | Half or full day | Sessions + consent order drafting Included |
| Settlement Agreement Drafting | £0 (included) | During mediation | Legally binding document, signed on day |
| Online Mediation (any service) | Same as above | As per service | No travel supplement |
VAT: Quoted fees are exclusive of VAT where applicable. Travel: In-person mediation within Surrey and Greater London is included. Travel outside this area is quoted separately. Multi-party disputes: Where more than two parties are involved, bespoke pricing applies — please enquire. Cancellation: 48 hours' notice required for cancellation without charge.
For those who want to understand their options before picking up the phone — and for parties who want to arrive at mediation fully prepared.
A plain-English guide to the mediation vs litigation decision — costs, timelines, risks, and when each route makes sense. No legal jargon.
Free · Launching 2025A practical online course for parties entering mediation — how to write a position statement, what to expect on the day, and how to maximise the chance of settlement.
Paid · Launching 2025Position statement templates, negotiation frameworks, and settlement heads of terms — for parties who want to come prepared and in control.
Paid · Launching 2025Thirty minutes to assess the dispute, confirm mediation is appropriate, and give you a fixed-fee quote. If it is not right for you, you will know — before spending anything.