Online mediation

What cases and situations are best for online mediation processes?

Online mediation is particularly suited if the following circumstances apply

Geographical distance: geographically diverse participants such as global business entities with cross-border disputes, e-commerce buyers and sellers who need a fast resolution for disputes. Separated couples who live apart and would like to revise their current parenting schemes / custody arrangements

Preference for non-face-to-face: highly emotional situations with the potential for escalation. In online processes parties may feel more at ease to communicate online without the "stress" caused by the physical presence of the other party and where there is no need for participants to respond immediately, allowing for less emotional and more reflective communication.

Physical and budget constraints: participants with limited time and financial resources who prefer to connect to the ongoing discussion at different times and places such as frequent travelers, over-scheduled users, anyone who can't afford to take time off work, housebound, handicapped or elderly persons, or small-business owners.

Resolution of low-value disputes: disputes (such as those that arise in e-commerce) where the value of the subject matter of the disagreement is not sufficiently high enough to justify the cost of parties meeting physically. Generally going to court is simply not an option. Too expensive, too slow and given the geographical distance between parties, impractical.

Enhanced preparation of high value and complex disputes: disputes where the complexity and the value of the subject matter sufficiently justify and, above all, require an effective preparation to enhance the effectiveness of the subsequent proceedings, at considerably lower costs.

Circumstances of urgent (legal) problems and justice needs: in many situations, going to court is neither an option nor viable, which leaves the way open for fast and fair online processes. Examples are former war-torn areas, where legal infrastructures have vanished and citizens are deprived of their basic rights for access to justice, or when natural disasters require a fast resolution of (insurance) claims so that people can start to rebuild their lives.