Janusz Dudek
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Areas of mediation

Mediation may be considered when people still have concrete decisions to make but the conversation has stalled in conflict. The situations below show possible subjects for discussion; they are neither an exhaustive list nor a promise that mediation will suit every case.

Family mediation

Family & relationships

A change in family life does not end every shared decision. Family mediation may help separate the conflict between adults from the practical matters that still need clear arrangements, especially where children are concerned.

  1. After a relationship ends

    What still needs to be decided, how information will be shared and which practical matters cannot be postponed after separation.

  2. Day-to-day care

    Where a child lives, how care is shared, who handles everyday responsibilities and how life is organised between parents.

  3. Contact schedules

    Specific days and times, weekends, holidays and school breaks, as well as handovers and appropriate phone or online contact.

  4. Child maintenance and expenses

    The amount and timing of maintenance, regular costs, additional expenses and straightforward ways to record and share them.

  5. Parenting decisions

    How to exchange information about health and education, agree on activities and approach important decisions without restarting the same dispute.

  6. Wider family relationships

    Conflict involving parents and adult children, siblings or extended family when some form of continuing relationship still matters.

Property and asset mediation

Property & assets

A property dispute is rarely only about numbers. Mediation may help turn a tangled situation into separate decisions: what needs dividing, who uses what, how costs are shared and what should happen next.

  1. Dividing shared assets

    Which assets need to be addressed, what might go to each side and how to account for items that cannot sensibly be divided.

  2. What happens to the home?

    One person remaining, a sale, a transfer of one share or a financial adjustment between the parties — as options for discussion.

  3. Loans and ongoing liabilities

    The discussion can cover how the parties share repayments and other costs between themselves. Their obligations to a bank or another creditor still need separate consideration.

  4. Managing co-ownership

    Who uses jointly owned property and when, how bills and repairs are shared, and whether the parties want to sell or reorganise the ownership.

  5. Contributions and financial adjustments

    Spending on repairs, upkeep or shared investments, and how to account for what each side contributed or paid.

  6. Access, boundaries and shared areas

    Access routes or driveways, entry to property, boundary questions and practical rules for using common areas.

Business mediation

Business & cooperation

Not every commercial disagreement has to end the relationship, but each one needs a clearly defined problem. Business mediation may help separate what needs settling now from the decision about whether, and on what terms, the parties want to continue.

  1. Partner deadlock

    Different views on the direction of the business, responsibilities, decision-making rules, revised working arrangements or one partner’s exit.

  2. Agreements with contractors

    Delivery dates, the scope of each party’s obligations, changed circumstances and practical terms for completing the agreement.

  3. Client and contractor

    What was meant to be delivered, the nature of any concerns, remedial work, acceptance, fees and additional work outside the original scope.

  4. Payments, invoices and timing

    Overdue or disputed payments, challenged invoices, amounts owed in both directions and a possible timetable for settlement.

  5. Different readings of a contract

    Conflicting interpretations of duties, delays, responsibility for delivery and proposals to change the scope, timing or method of performance.

  6. Ending a business relationship

    Exit terms, final accounts, transfer of responsibilities and the practical matters that remain after the working relationship ends.

Workplace and neighbour mediation

Workplace & neighbour relations

Workplace and neighbour disputes may look different, but they have something important in common: the people involved still need to work or live alongside one another. Mediation may help address recurring problems that cannot be solved simply by avoiding contact.

  1. Employee and employer

    Responsibilities, terms for continuing to work together, communication and differing views of how the work is being carried out.

  2. Tension within a team

    Repeated friction between colleagues, unclear ownership of tasks, gaps in information and practical rules for working together from here.

  3. Manager and employee

    Different expectations, responsibility for decisions, how feedback is given and clear ground rules for future communication.

  4. Ending a working relationship

    Handover of responsibilities, communication with the team and practical organisational matters surrounding the end of employment or cooperation.

  5. Recurring neighbour disputes

    Noise, access, parking, use of property or other repeated situations that affect everyday life on both sides.

  6. Shared spaces, practical rules

    Use of common areas, division of everyday responsibilities and workable arrangements for people who will continue to meet.

Every situation has its own context.

A conversation can help determine whether mediation is the right next step.

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