Looking for a New Hampshire mediator? I am pleased to announce that I am now offering mediation services to parties with disputes. As a litigator with Drummond Woodsum, one of the largest law firms in Northern New England, I know that the majority of cases are resolved by way of settlement, but finding that common ground to get a deal done can be difficult. My 14+ years of litigation experience has given me the tools, experience, and insight to help parties come together and find a mutually beneficial outcome.

Why mediate?

All disputes carry inherent risk and costs.

There is the obvious risk of liability (for a potential defendant) and the risk of no recovery (for a potential plaintiff). There are less obvious risks, like setting bad precedent for your business or industry, or undermining key relationships.

There are the obvious costs of direct litigation expenses, but it does not end there. Whether you are a business or an individual, disputes divert time and resources away from other endeavors.

Mediation allows parties to avoid risk and minimize their costs, while achieving a mutually beneficial outcome. This lets you get back to doing what matters most to you.

What to expect

Mediation is not a trial and a mediator is not there to decide who “wins” or “loses.” Instead, my job as a New Hampshire mediator is to help the parties understand the relative strengths and weaknesses of their cases, facilitate communication , and, ultimately, try to find a common ground from which to reach a settlement.

Make no mistake, mediation can be tough. It can require some honest discussions and serious evaluations of the positions you are taking and the facts that you believe are on your side. Bring an open mind and be prepared to be up front with how you view your case and what is important to you in terms of potential outcomes.

You should expect to walk away from a mediation feeling like you were treated fairly, that your concerns were heard, and that you received insight into your own case and the other parties’. If it settled, you will likely feel as if you reached an outcome that was not quite great, but not too bad either. If it did not settle, you will likely feel like you better understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and are better prepared for what lies next in the litigation process.