A court-free solution: Why mediation may be a better way forward
Not every family law dispute involving children or finances needs to end up in court. LGFL Director and experienced mediator Anne Leiper explains how mediation can offer faster dispute resolution for all involved.
When you can’t agree with your partner but neither of you want to take your dispute to court, mediation can be quicker, less stressful and result in a better outcome too. It can also be cheaper as it can avoid court fees and lengthy timescales.
Mediation comes in various formats, so you don’t actually have to meet on the day. You can have your legal team with you in a separate room, or even participate online. At LGFL our aim is to find the best method to enable you to discuss, negotiate and come to a proposed solution without going to court.
Why choose mediation?
Mediation is simply a process that helps you to discuss ways forward without the need for a judge in a court to rule what happens next. By meeting in a safe environment with a mediator present, you can discuss possible solutions for issues concerning your children and financial settlements.
As an experienced mediator currently working towards full accreditation, Anne has seen for herself just how mediation enables people to actively work towards a solution.
There’s also a major advantage in choosing a lawyer mediator like Anne, who has the legal knowledge and practical experience through years of court experience to keep discussions about proposed solutions focused and on track.
How the courts view mediation
The courts view mediation as playing an increasingly important role in helping families resolve matters in a more constructive, efficient and cost-effective way. Mediation that results in a proposed solution also reduces the pressure on court time, and often leads to a better outcome. It’s not just a ‘nice to do’ either: English courts actually insist on separating parents trying mediation first before issuing court applications,
Is mediation suitable for everyone?
When mediation is successful, (and it is very often is), it can result in a long-lasting solution that works for you and your family.
However, we know that mediation may not be suitable in all circumstances. So before any mediation even takes place, we check if it is appropriate and safe for those involved. Anne’s 30 years of family law and mediation experience ensures she can advise on the best format for mediation from the options below.
• Face to face mediation
In ‘standard’ mediation, both of you sit in the same room, face to face, with a mediator present. You can also bring in other professionals to support you, such as your pension advisor, your Independent Financial Advisor, and (if you wish) your own legal team.
• Shuttle mediation
In shuttle mediation, both of you have your own separate room for you and your own legal teams who are there to support and advise you. Your mediator then “shuttles” between the rooms and discuss various options with each person and their team, as a neutral third party.
• Remote mediation
Remote mediation provides another layer of safety and security for those concerned in being in the same building as their ex-partner or spouse. One person can join in remotely and take part via video link alongside their support team. Or indeed both of you can be remote, with Anne hosting the virtual meeting in person from our offices.
Safety and privacy for mediation sessions
At LGFL, our priority is ensuring mediation takes pale in a safe and secure environment. Our countryside offices at Wyvols Court offer several meeting room options, with options for separate entrance and exits. Our Client Liaison team can also arrange staggered entry times to avoid potential face to face confrontations between you and your ex-partner.
Moving forward from mediation
When you’ve provisionally agreed on your issues, we draw up a ‘memorandum of understanding’ for you to check with your legal advisors. If everyone agrees to it, this is drawn up into a formal consent order for filing with the court. This saves on the extended waiting times and expense of a full court appearance.
For more details and to discuss LGFL’s mediation service further:
Mediation FAQs
Q. Why is mediation better than just waiting for a court date?
Mediation has a major advantage of a court appearance: speed. Long waiting times for a court appearance are rarely helpful for families who are already stressed and want to move forward to a solution. Putting everything effectively on hold for months for a court date extends that stress, worry and lack of resolution for everyone involved, including children. A lengthy wait for a court appearance can cause you to second-guess outcomes and change tactics simply due to inactivity, which then results in less than desirable outcomes on the day.
Q. How many mediation sessions will we need?
Mediation does not have a set timetable, so you might require two or three sessions to come to a draft solution.
Q. Why should I choose Anne Leiper as my mediator?
Mediation is both a skill and a passion for Anne, and she is working towards full accreditation with Resolution. To keep her skills up to date, she has recently completed her refresher mediation training to further strengthen her extensive expertise in supporting families through the mediation process.
Anne’s experience of almost 40 years as a family lawyer has given her both exceptional levels of legal insight and a practical understanding of the emotional and personal challenges families can face. Her approach has always been to help her clients navigate difficult discussions with clarity, empathy and balance while remaining focused on constructive solutions.
Q. Why should I choose LGFL for local mediation services?
Our mediation services have helped clients from our local Reading and Thames Valley areas, and increasingly from the London area too. Many clients appreciate mediation as a much more discreet and confidential method of working through issues than in open court, where anyone can be listening (and reporting).
Mediation in a nutshell
As boutique family lawyers, we firmly believe that ANY process that can reduce conflict, create meaningful and lasting solutions, and avoid the costs and lengthy delays of court appearances is worth a few hours of anyone’s time.
For more details:
About the author
Anne Leiper is Director and Co-Founder of LGFL Ltd. Anne deals with many of LGFL’s high net worth clients with complex financial matters, who value her determined and informed approach. Her aim is to always achieve the best financial settlement possible for any client.
- Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer
- Listed in Chambers and Partners
- Listed Leading Lawyer at Wiselaw
- Resolution Member and Mediator working towards accreditation
- Fully accredited collaborative lawyer
- Accredited Family Lawyer by The Law Society