Mediation: more than 500 practices seek mediators

A record number of law firms contacted the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) for assistance with mediation last year, according to figures released last week.


More than 500 firms used CEDR Solve - the organisation's commercial mediation arm - to access its panel of mediators or receive advice on venues and procedure.


Eileen Carroll, CEDR deputy chief executive and director of CEDR Solve, said the service had been used by firms from all over the country, with a growing number of smaller firms seeking to set up mediations.


CEDR Solve's overall workload grew by 8% last year to almost 700 cases, with some 75% settling on the day of mediation or shortly afterwards. Just over half of the parties came from outside London, although 61% of mediations actually took place in the capital.


There was a 42% rise in the number of cases coming through mediation schemes linked to the courts. More than four-fifths came to mediation through voluntary agreement of the parties, however, compared to 74% last year. A new scheme aimed at the voluntary sector saw 46% growth.


Ms Carroll said: 'There has been a lot more agreement between parties to come to mediation, which shows a maturity in the market. We have also seen more mediations being set up at short notice, with less than ten days to set up the process.


'There has been a particular growth in mediations set up by lawyers in the employment and partnership disputes field, which now make up 12% and 5% of all disputes respectively. These are the kind of areas that are well suited to resolving issues in private.'


She added: 'There is a lot of sophistication in the market, but the larger law firms are still coming to us for our panel of more than 80 mediators. We have also seen a rise in the number of smaller firms seeking advice on mediation practice, how to prepare for mediation, what venue to choose and how to select a mediator.'