… A small business owner may have a client who has not paid, or two neighbours may be in dispute over the need for repairing a common wall. Traditionally, the business owner is faced with either having to write off the debt, or, sue in court to recover. Writing off the debt is bad business, but suing in court will involve legal fees and take some time.

… The relationship of the neighbours may deteriorate to the point where they refuse to speak and the problem wall, affecting both their properties will remain unrepaired unless one or other party takes legal action, again involving lawyers fees and delay.

Ultimately, one neighbour may prevail in court but at what cost to the relationship ( I have seen one case where a neighbour sold his property, even though he loved the house and suburb, as a result of litigation with his neighbour)?

In both these instances, mediation may have afforded the parties a way of exploring and ultimately resolving the dispute quicker, at less cost and in a way that relationships can be maintained.