FAQs

Mediators are trained to deal with difficult situations involving anger and upset.  Crucially, the mediator is completely independent, and experienced in bridging differences.

• It’s quicker. Divorce issues can be resolved in weeks, Civil and Commercial matters in a day.
• It’s cheaper than the court process.
• Parties keep control of the solution to their problem and retain the dignity of reaching an agreed solution.
• The range of potential solutions is more varied than those available from litigation.  At trial a court will have limited options for resolving a dispute, likely to result in one or both parties being unhappy at the outcome.  In mediation both parties can seek a resolution that could benefit all parties.
• Mediation can eliminate the risk of a court decision going against them.
• Mediation can help restore or preserve a valued relationship between parties.
• No Risk involved.  Mediation is a voluntary process and if a party is unable to reach an agreement they are happy with they are under no obligation to settle.  Indeed a participant can leave the mediation at any time.

Family & Divorce Mediation

Leonard Gray Mediation Service has been approved to undertake work paid for by the Legal Aid authorities. If you qualify for Legal Aid then in most cases the mediation sessions will be free of charge to you. There will be no deduction from any eventual monies or property which you receive as a result of receiving Legal Aid as this is paid for by the Government.

If you do not qualify for Legal Aid then a set hourly rate will apply which will be agreed with you in advance. Each mediation session is paid for at the beginning. We would suggest that you telephone our mediation service on 01245 264764 or email Carol Cunningham, on ccunningham@leonardgray.co.uk to check the current sessional rate.

Civil and Commercial Mediation

Unlike other mediation service providers, our prices do not vary according to the value of the dispute, or the outcome of the case. We will quote a fixed fee in advance based on the scale below. You will always have peace of mind that what we quote, is what you pay.

• A 3 hour mediation starts at £400 + VAT per party.
• A full day’s mediation starts at £750 + VAT per party.
• Open ended mediations are priced on request.

Please telephone or email our Mediation Co-Ordinator, Carol Cunningham, on 01245 264764 or ccunningham@leonardgray.co.uk for help.

Our offices in central Chelmsford have separate entrances, waiting rooms and mediation suites. We are a two minute walk from Chelmsford Rail Station and offer free car parking for clients. Click here for a map.

The majority of our mediation meetings take place during normal office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm, but alternative times can be arranged to suit.

Lawyer mediators are solicitors who have combined many years of family law experience with intensive training in mediation skills. The combination of practical experience and legal knowledge makes lawyer mediators ideally equipped to deal with all the issues that arise.

Leonard Gray is the only local law firm with a long established Mediation practice. Our family mediatiors have a very high success rate, with most cases reaching full agreement in just a few weeks.  Our civil and commercial mediations have a 90%+ success rate, most settling in less than one day.

Please contact our office and speak to Carol Cunningham if you would like further information on mediation on, 01245 264764 or email ccunningham@leonardgray.co.uk. You are very welcome to have an informal discussion with one of our mediation co-ordinators who can help you further.

Family mediation is a way of solving disagreements without involving the courts in expensive negotiations if your relationship has gone wrong. In many cases, mediation is a better way of sorting out family disputes than going to court. An independent third party (the mediator) helps to find options and reach proposals to resolve issues arising over their children, divorce or associated financial/property matters. We can help married couples, unmarried couples of mixed or same sex and family members.

• It’s quicker, generally 2/3 months with on average 3/4 sessions, whereas the court process may take a year or a year and a half to complete,
• It’s cheaper, costing several hundred pounds per party rather than £10,000/£15,000 per party for court proceedings including in a final contested hearing. If you are legally aided it may even be free.
• Mediation leaves better feelings between parties because arrangements have been agreed rather than imposed by a court. This can help over many future years where divorced people meet, for example at christenings, weddings and funerals.

Normally persons involved in a dispute will be seen separately or together (if they agree) first. If the people involved and mediators feel that mediation will be of help then you will be offered either one or a series of meetings depending on the circumstances of the case. The mediators will provide a safe setting where your discussions can take place. Mediators have special training so that they can deal with hard discussions. Mediators can also help you to understand the information you will need so that you can decide the best way forward which is fair to everyone involved.

“MIAM” stands for “Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting”. A court will expect you to have attended a ‘Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting’ (MIAM) if you’re divorcing or ending a civil partnership and applying for a court order about finances, property, or arrangements for the children. If you haven’t been to one of these meetings, the court may ask you to do so before it proceeds with your case.

At Leonard Gray this meeting is completely free. If you decide not to proceed with mediation, you will require an FM1 certificate to show your solicitor. This certificate costs £60 including VAT.

Leonard Gray Mediation Service has been approved to undertake work paid for by the Legal Aid authorities. If you qualify for Legal Aid then in most cases the mediation sessions will be free of charge to you. There will be no deduction from any eventual monies or property which you receive as a result of receiving Legal Aid as this is paid for by the Government. If you do not qualify for Legal Aid then a set hourly rate per mediating party will apply which will be agreed with you in advance. Each mediation session is paid for at the beginning. We would suggest that you telephone our mediation service on 01245 264764 or email Carol Cunningham at ccunningham@leonardgray.co.uk to check the current sessional rate for mediation if you are interested.

This must depend on the type of issues which are presented and the complexities of your particular circumstances. Family mediation will normally involve a series of meetings of about 1 hour each over several weeks. Most family mediations are complete in about 3 to 6 meetings. Sometimes this can be shorter or longer depending on the type of issues arising. Once a decision is reached, the mediator will draw up a Memorandum of Understanding which you can then discuss with your solicitor, who can then produce the paperwork necessary to finalise and implement the agreement.

Our safe, private offices in central Chelmsford have separate entrances, waiting rooms and mediation suites. We are a two minute walk from Chelmsford Rail Station and offer free car parking for clients. Click here for a map.

Your partner will be asked to attend at the same time as you; however we acknowledge that in some situations it is just not possible, or desirable for you to meet in the same room.  Leonard Gray offers a service called ‘shuttle mediation’ where no face to face communication takes place. Instead your mediator acts as a go-between and you will remain in separate rooms throughout the session.

In emergency situations, mediation sessions can be arranged within 24 hours (ask for our express mediation service). This is particularly useful on urgent child contact/residence problems.

Please contact our office if you would like further information on mediation on 01245 264764 or email Carol Cunningham at ccunningham@leonardgray.co.uk. You are very welcome to have an informal discussion with one of our mediation co-ordinators who can help you further.