Mediated Arbitration

What Is Med-Arb?

Mediated arbitration, or "med-arb," is an all-stops approach to dispute resolution that uses mediation in the arbitration context to resolve disputes more efficiently. In this process, the neutral first mediates the dispute, working collaboratively with the parties to find a mutually agreeable resolution. If the parties reach an impasse, the neutral removes her mediator hat and puts on her arbitrator hat to shift into the role of the decision-maker to issue a decision on the unresolved issues.

How Med-Arb Works

  1. Mediation Phase: The med-arbiter facilitates open discussions between the disputing parties, helping them identify their interests, narrow the issues, and negotiate a resolution.

  2. Arbitration Phase (if needed): If the parties cannot resolve the dispute during mediation, the process transitions to arbitration. At this stage, the med-arbiter resolves the dispute, issuing a decision.

Med-Arb Services


As a trained mediator and arbitrator, Ms. Parker brings the skills and experience necessary to guide parties through the med-arb process effectively. Services include:

  • Facilitating constructive discussions to help parties resolve disputes collaboratively.

  • Transitioning seamlessly into arbitration when impasse is reached, ensuring continuity and a deep understanding of the issues.

  • Providing impartial and well-reasoned decisions based on the evidence presented with the ability to ignore information learned in mediation.

  • Offering the alternative of selecting another neutral, if parties prefer a separate neutral for each phase.

Why Choose Med-Arb?

Med-arb offers a unique combination of flexibility and finality:

  • Efficiency: By integrating mediation and arbitration, med-arb can resolve disputes faster than pursuing mediation or arbitration alone.

  • Focus: The process helps narrow the scope of disagreement, allowing parties to direct their efforts and resources toward the most challenging issues.

  • Customizable: Parties can choose whether to have the same neutral third party handle both phases or to use a separate mediator and arbitrator to address any concerns about impartiality during the decision-making phase.

  • Cost-Effective: Resolving disputes in a single integrated process can reduce overall costs compared to conducting separate mediation and arbitration proceedings.