Denver mediation can lower your legal costs, reduce stress, resolve your case and so much more. At Burnham Law, we provide professional mediation services with the goal of resolving any dispute put before our mediators.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution where the parties to a case meet with an impartial third party (called the “mediator”) and attempt to reach an agreement. Mediations are informal and non-binding, meaning mediators have no authority to force an agreement or to make any binding decisions. They are there to help with the negotiation process and control the format of the meeting. Mediation can be entered into voluntarily, or the court may order the parties to attend. In Colorado, most courts order that divorce and custody cases go to mediation prior to the court holding a trial.
There are many mediation formats and styles, including co-mediation, settlement conference, therapeutic model, shuttle format, interest-based, evaluative style, and others. Additionally, mediation can be conducted in person, over the phone, or via video conference (i.e., Zoom).
Mediation has many advantages, including:
- Resolving matters, ending stressful litigation.
- Shaving months and even years off the time a case lasts until resolution.
- Keeping the power with the parties vs. handing all power to a stranger (the judge).
- An opportunity for parties to create far more detailed and personal orders than would be issued by a judge.
- Saving on attorney fees by resolving a case before an expensive trial.
- An opportunity to learn more about the nuances of the case and the positions of the opposing party.
- An opportunity to make offers of settlement that would not otherwise be made at a trial.
During mediation, Colorado law states that any settlement offer made cannot be used in court. This simple yet effective rule allows parties to freely make offers and negotiate without the fear of the offer being used against them in court.
Why Choose Burnham Law to Serve as Mediator?
Mediators are typically attorneys or former judges. There are hundreds of mediators based all over the state of Colorado. Each specific mediator has their own style, strengths, and weaknesses. Choosing the right mediator for your case will elevate the chance of you reaching an agreement.
The attorneys at Burnham Law have been involved in countless mediations. In addition to being involved in mediations, Burnham Law is an active and busy law firm that frequently appears before Denver and Denver metro judges. With extensive experience in participating in mediations and litigating in Denver courts, we now perform mediations for other parties.
Many mediators no longer have an active litigation practice or have been long retired from the bench. Burnham Law separates itself from other mediators by actively practicing in Denver courts, and having real-time knowledge of current trends and orders from Denver judges. By having this knowledge, we are better able to guide parties towards resolution.
With offices all over the Denver metro area, including Boulder, Cherry Creek, and Westminster, Burnham Law can accommodate almost any Denver location. If visiting one of our offices is not suitable, Burnham Law has the technology available to conduct mediations by Zoom.
Contact Burnham Law today to schedule your mediation and get your case on track for resolution without the cost of trial.