San Francisco Attorneys Representing Clients in Mediation
Acuña & Casas, P.C.: Dispute Resolution by Agreement; Preserving Business and Family Relationships
Acuña & Casas, P.C., has developed such expertise in estate planning, probate and trust administration, and business disputes that its’ attorneys and adjunct staff have been called on to mediate in a wide variety of matters.
Mediation is a voluntary settlement process emphasizing informed decision making and mutually acceptable agreements. It is practical, informal, highly focused on the issues to be resolved, and involves the problem-solving skills of everyone involved in the process. Impartial mediators help the parties clarify issues, determine needs and interests, consider options for settlement, and reach fair agreements. Written agreements are prepared and forwarded to the parties' attorneys for review and to be finalized as a court order, where appropriate.
Mediation is effective even when conflict and anger are high and communication has broken down. Therefore, most mediated agreements provide:
* Control over decisions. Participants negotiate directly with each other and reach decisions by mutual agreement. Neither courts nor attorneys control the process or the outcome.
* More satisfying results. Mediation offers more creative solutions than courts of law. Participants reach agreements based on individual needs, common knowledge and experience, and a sense of fairness.
* Family and business oriented solutions. Lawyers and judges cannot know your family and business as well as you do. Mediation provides a creative environment to specifically tailor business solutions quickly.
* Greater efficiency and reduced costs. The parties negotiate face-to-face. Attorneys are used as advisors in a cooperative process, rather than as combatants in an hourly billing war.
Acuña & Casas’s Dispute Resolution Center provides a multi-disciplined, comprehensive approach to conflict resolution. Each team includes a licensed therapist and a licensed attorney with specialized training and experience in mediation and non-adversarial conflict resolution techniques. Each team includes both a woman and a man, to provide a balanced atmosphere in which to resolve disputes.
