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Mediation Service

Resolve your dispute.Without a contested hearing.

Family mediation, MIAM, civil and workplace mediation from accredited mediator Eugene Pienaar. Fixed fees. Settlement agreement drafted on the day. England and Wales.

verifiedAccredited mediator verifiedMIAM court-compliant verifiedSettlement drafted same day
Mediation services

Three types of mediation. One accredited mediator.

Eugene is accredited to conduct family, civil and commercial, and workplace mediation. Fixed fees. Settlement drafted and signed on the day where agreement is reached.

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Family Mediation and MIAM

Child arrangements, financial settlement on divorce, separation agreements and co-parenting disputes. MIAM is court-compliant for family proceedings.

MIAM from 150. Half day from 400.
  • checkMIAM — Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting
  • checkChild arrangements mediation
  • checkFinancial remedy mediation
  • checkSeparation and co-parenting
  • checkSettlement agreement drafted same day
Book a MIAM
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Civil and Commercial Mediation

Neighbour disputes, contract disagreements, debt and money claims, property disputes and business partner fallouts. Resolve before it reaches the county court.

Half day from 400. Full day from 750.
  • checkNeighbour and boundary disputes
  • checkContract and commercial disputes
  • checkDebt and money claims
  • checkProperty and landlord disputes
  • checkSettlement agreement drafted same day
Enquire
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Workplace Mediation

Resolve workplace conflict between employees, between employees and managers, or in relation to grievance and disciplinary processes before they escalate.

Half day from 400. Full day from 750.
  • checkEmployee-to-employee conflict
  • checkGrievance and disciplinary disputes
  • checkManager-employee breakdown
  • checkReturn-to-work mediation
  • checkAgreement documented same day
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Why choose mediation?

A contested court hearing can take one to two years to reach a conclusion, cost thousands of pounds in legal fees, and leave both parties worse off than a negotiated settlement. Mediation typically resolves in a single day at a fraction of the cost — and the outcome is one both parties have agreed to rather than one imposed by a judge.

The family court requires you to attend a MIAM before filing most applications. Even where mediation is not mandatory, it is almost always worth attempting. Courts look favourably on parties who have made genuine efforts to resolve disputes through mediation.

What is a MIAM?

A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting is a one-to-one meeting with an accredited mediator to discuss whether mediation is suitable for your situation. It is a legal requirement before applying to the family court in most cases. Eugene conducts MIAMs and issues the Form FM1 that you need to file alongside your court application.

How does a mediation session work?

Both parties attend the mediation session, either together or in separate rooms depending on the circumstances. The mediator helps both parties identify the issues, explore options and work towards a resolution. The mediator is neutral — they do not take sides or make decisions. If agreement is reached, a settlement agreement is drafted and signed on the day.

What Eugene brings to mediation

Most mediators can facilitate a conversation. Eugene brings something additional: he is a qualified solicitor who understands the law, the likely outcome if a case goes to court, and what a realistic settlement looks like. That legal knowledge helps parties make informed decisions about what to agree. It also means that if either party has unrealistic expectations, Eugene can explain calmly why the court is unlikely to give them what they are hoping for.

After the session

Where agreement is reached, Eugene drafts a memorandum of understanding or a full settlement agreement on the day. For family financial matters, a separate consent order will still need to be approved by the court to make it legally binding — Eugene can advise on this process.

Common questions

Mediation and MIAM — what people ask us

Is a MIAM compulsory before going to family court?expand_more
In most cases yes. Before applying to the family court for child arrangements or financial remedy orders you are required to attend a MIAM unless an exemption applies. Exemptions include domestic abuse, child protection concerns, bankruptcy, urgency and situations where the other party has already started proceedings. Eugene conducts MIAMs and issues the Form FM1 needed to accompany a court application.
Can the other party refuse to attend mediation?expand_more
Yes. Mediation requires the consent of both parties. If the other party refuses to attend a MIAM or mediation, you can use that refusal to satisfy the MIAM requirement and proceed with a court application. The court may take a dim view of a party who unreasonably refuses to engage in mediation, and this can affect costs decisions.
Is what is said in mediation confidential?expand_more
Yes. Mediation is a confidential and without prejudice process. What is said in mediation cannot generally be used as evidence in court proceedings. The settlement agreement reached in mediation, if any, is a separate document and is not confidential.
How long does a mediation session take?expand_more
A MIAM typically takes one hour. A mediation session is usually a half day (up to four hours) or a full day (up to seven hours) depending on the complexity of the dispute. Many matters resolve in a half-day session. Eugene will advise on what is realistic for your situation during the initial call.
Is a mediation agreement legally binding?expand_more
A memorandum of understanding signed at the end of mediation is not automatically a legally binding court order. To make a financial settlement on divorce legally binding you need a consent order approved by the court. For other civil matters a signed settlement agreement is a binding contract. Eugene will explain what steps are needed after the mediation to make any agreement enforceable.

Could this be resolved without court?

Book a free 20-minute call. Eugene will tell you honestly whether mediation is likely to work in your situation and what it will cost.

menu_bookFree divorce and mediation guides at beyourbestlawyer.com