Private Mediation

Settle it yourselves, on terms you can live with.

Most disputes end in an agreement. Mediation gets you there sooner, for less, and with the decisions in your hands instead of a judge's. As your mediator, I help both sides see the case clearly and find terms that will hold.

What I mediate

  • Divorce, parenting plans and support
  • Family disputes over estates and trusts
  • Home construction disputes between homeowners and contractors
  • Business, partnership and contract disputes

What I bring to the table

I've litigated these cases, so I know how they tend to end in court. I've also negotiated business deals, so I know how to get people from stuck to signed. I'm patient, direct, and focused on an agreement that actually works the morning after.

How it works

As a mediator, I'm neutral. I don't represent either side, and I can't give either side legal advice. Each party is welcome to bring their own lawyer, and I encourage it. Sessions can be in Brunswick, at another agreed location, or by video. Cases already filed in court and disputes that haven't reached court are both welcome.

How a mediation day usually goes

  1. Scheduling. One side or a lawyer calls. I confirm I have no conflict with either party, then we pick a date and a place. Most mediations are one session.
  2. Before the day. Each side sends me a short confidential summary: what the dispute is, what they want, and what's already been offered. Those summaries stay with me.
  3. Opening. We start together so everyone hears the same ground rules and the same description of the problem. Some cases stay in one room; most move to separate rooms.
  4. The work. I go back and forth, testing each side's position against what a court would likely do, what the fight will cost, and what each person actually needs. I say the hard things privately so nobody has to lose face publicly.
  5. The agreement. When the terms come together, they get written down and signed before anyone leaves. In a court case, that document goes to the judge. In a private dispute, it becomes the contract.
  6. If it doesn't settle. Nobody is worse off. Settlement talks are protected under Maine's evidence rules, and sometimes a second session finishes what the first one started.

Questions I get

Is this the same as the court's mediation? In Maine family cases with children, the court requires mediation before a contested hearing. Some people use the court's program; others hire a private mediator so they can pick the person, the date and the pace. I do private mediation, and the agreement counts the same way.

Do I need a lawyer to mediate? No, but I recommend one, and I'll tell you when a question needs a lawyer's advice rather than a mediator's. Many people come with counsel; some come alone and have a lawyer review the agreement before signing.

Can you tell us who's right? I can tell each side, privately, how I think a judge would see it. I won't decide it for you. That's the point.

What does it cost? I bill mediation hourly, and the parties usually split the fee. A full day of mediation costs a fraction of a contested hearing, and the parties walk out with a decision.

Is anything we say confidential? Settlement talks are protected under Maine's evidence rules, so what's offered in mediation can't be used to prove who's at fault later. As the mediator, I have a privilege not to testify about the mediation, and I keep each side's private summary private. We'll also sign a short mediation agreement that spells out the confidentiality terms before we start.

What if the other side won't agree to mediate? I'll reach out to them or their lawyer and explain how it works. Most people say yes once they understand it's their decision, not mine.

Can we mediate by video? Yes. Some of the best results I've seen came from people in separate towns on separate screens.

When I say no

If I've represented either party before, I can't be the mediator. If one side is using mediation to stall, intimidate, or dig for information, I'll end it. And if there's a safety issue between the parties, I'll tell you plainly whether mediation is the right room for it.

Ready to schedule, or have questions about whether mediation fits? Call (207) 373-9302 or use the contact button below.