Costs

The fee covers the entire mediation — preparation and reading in, the mediation day itself, and the drafting of any settlement agreement reached. There are no additional charges for Laurence's time on the day.

The mediator's fee is typically shared equally between the parties, so each party pays the per-party rate set out above. This is agreed in advance and confirmed in the mediation agreement signed before the day.

Venue costs are not included and are agreed separately. Laurence can advise on suitable neutral venues in Devon and Cornwall, or the mediation can take place via Zoom at no additional cost.

Once a mediation date is booked, the following cancellation charges apply if the mediation does not proceed:

These charges apply equally whether the mediation is cancelled or settles without a mediation day being needed. Early settlement is of course the best outcome — but the preparation time already invested is the same.

A full-day mediation costs each party £1,500 including VAT. Compare that to the cost of a contested court hearing — where solicitors' fees, counsel's fees and court costs can easily exceed £10,000–£20,000 per side for even a modest dispute, before taking into account the months of preparation that precede a trial.

If the mediation results in a settlement — as the majority do — both parties avoid those ongoing litigation costs entirely. The mediation fee is not an additional expense on top of litigation; for most parties, it replaces it.