THINKING ABOUT MEDIATION

I was honoured to selected as Mediator/Arbitrator of the Year at the awards ceremony last Friday. It is wonderful for my work to be recognised by the profession as I approach 25 years in the profession.

Thanks to all of my clients who have supported my mediation practice. I am privileged to work with some many wonderful lawyers, HR professionals and referrers of mediation work.

This is a great opportunity to introduce you to Lynette Edwards, my colleague and reflect a little on what are the qualities of the great mediator.

It is great to be able to offer you a choice of mediators with different qualities and backgrounds.?

Lynette has been working with me for more than 5 years. I have observed Lynette’s work up close.?She has mediated and conciliated hundreds of matters and I am confident in recommending her professionalism, skills, and integrity to you.

Lynette’s profile is on our web site. ?

Lynette’s impressive resume includes working in mediation, conciliation, and as a counsellor.?She has worked in the private and the public sectors and has recently undertaken several important assignments for the NSW Government.?

Lynette is a director of Voluntas Ltd, providing pro bono mediation services to charities.?She is a skilled trainer and has judged mediation competitions around the world.

My profile is also on our website.

After almost 25 years of continuous work as a mediator, I continue to enjoy mediating complex cases and am privileged to still be working with interesting people with complex disputes to discuss.??

My mediation work includes commercial litigation, insurance, workplace conflict, intellectual property, insolvency, and personal injury.?Over my 25 years as a full-time mediator and more than 3,000 mediations I have experienced almost every human emotion. I have had the pleasure of working with many of Australia’s leading lawyers, from the multi national to boutique law firms.

I have facilitated the mediation of almost all common and many uncommon, even unusual disputes.

The qualities of a great mediator??

I am interested in what makes a great mediator. Here is my list. What would you add to this list?

·????????Patience, diplomacy and perseverance..

·????????Mastery of the skills of mediation and negotiation such as,

o??Active listening. Everyone wants to be heard!

o??Exploring what is important to the parties to the dispute.

o??Reality testing ideas and proposals.

o??Identifying the value of proposals and offers against objective criteria.

o??Identifying creative ideas for resolution.

o??Closing a deal including ensuring that outcomes are appropriately documented.

o Creativity, especially when it comes to identifying elegant solutions.

·????????Empathy and understanding across cultures and experiences.

·????????Subject matter and legal knowledge to quickly understand complex issues and dynamics of dispute.

·????????Honesty and integrity.?You need to be able to trust your mediator!

·????????Discretion.

Thank you to all those who have made it possible for me to follow this wonderful career for so many years.?I truly enjoy working with great lawyers, HR professionals, businesspeople and community, supporting them to create great outcomes in the times when it is hardest to reach agreement.

Lynette and I would like to continue working with you and your clients.?

For details of our fee structures or to discuss any dispute or conflict please call me on 0418 272 449 or 9036 0333.?

Should you or your colleagues have a need for mediation services please use our profiles propose me or Lynette as a suitable mediator.

All the best

Steve Lancken