Venues post corona

Unless you're looking at a video conference mediation, you'll need to agree a venue with the other side: it's usual to share the cost between the parties.   We ask that you book the venue that you've agreed direct, please, and let us know where the mediation is to be held.

We'll need at least two rooms, one for each party.   For each additional party, we'll need an extra room.   It shouldn't be possible for a party in one room to overhear, or see, what's being said or done in another room.   Ideally, there will also be a third room for joint meetings, and to act as a base for the mediator, though if cost or space is an issue we can sometimes make do without it, so long as one of the parties' rooms is big enough to accommodate everyone should we hold a joint session, and especially if there's a desk somewhere for the mediator.   There will need to be printing facilities, so that we can print any settlement.  And we'll need access to tea, coffee, and water throughout the day!   It can also be really useful if there's wi fi so that we can all access the internet.

Sometimes one party's solicitor or barrister offers facilities free of charge.  It's natural for the other side to feel that perhaps they'd prefer a "neutral venue".   That's understandable, but, on the whole, if one side is able to offer suitable premises at no cost, it may make sense to accept the offer.

We normally aim to start mediations at 10.00am, though in London the mediator may suggest a 10.30 start to allow for the London rush hour. During the Coronavirus pandemic we may need to adjust our start time and / or agree a finish time in advance in order to ensure that those travelling to the mediation do not need to travel on over crowded public transport during the rush hour.  

If neither side's solicitor or barrister can offer facilities free, here are some venues that we've been asked to mediate at in the past, and which we thought worked well: