Lord Neuberger, President of the Supreme Court, said last week (see Law Gazette http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/neuberger-backs-compulsory-mediation-for-more-civil-cases/5048784.article ) that we should be uninhibited about more mediation in civil and family matters.
While stopping short of calling for compulsory mediation for all, his views suggest a judiciary which is starting to recognise the success story which is mediation. Lower costs, more flexible outcomes and quicker resolution of disputes are just some of the advantages over traditional litigation.
Litigation has its place, of course and some cases will not be successfully mediated but the law and our court system provides a sledgehammer to crack a nut for the vast number of disputes which fall within the bracket where the claim is worth between £50,000 and, say £1-5 million.
Add to that last month’s swingeing increase in court fees and you have powerful reasons to consider mediation at the right stage of the dispute.