Thank you for your enquiry into mediation and/or arbitration for your family law matter. As your mediator, I will assist you in reaching a settlement containing reasonable terms acceptable to both sides. As your arbitrator, I will carefully consider the evidence and your arguments before rendering a prompt and detailed decision.
Initial counsel conferences and party intake meetings will be held via Zoom video-conference. Mediation sessions and arbitration hearings may be held via Zoom videoconference or they may be held in person if all parties and counsel agree.
My process is reasonably straightforward:
1. A brief Zoom videoconference is arranged between myself and counsel to narrow the focus to the issues that are most important to the parties. This is scheduled forthwith after your initial contact with my office, and usually lasts no longer than 20 to 30 minutes.
Please note that while counsel and I may discuss potential Mediation dates during this initial conference, no Mediation dates will be scheduled until such time as my requested retainer has been fully provided to my office.
2. The parties will each forthwith provide me with their completed Intake Forms via email, as well as their respective retainer payments via e-transfer, both to my email address todd@jenneylaw.ca. Each party and I will then schedule their individual intake screening sessions with me via Zoom.
3. I will draft the necessary Agreement (Mediation, Arbitration, or Med/Arb) and forward it to counsel to review with the parties. Once the Agreement is to everyone’s satisfaction, each party and counsel will execute a copy of same and return it to me at their earliest opportunity.
4. After all of the foregoing steps have been completed, I will schedule a full day for the Mediation session, although parties and counsel can agree in advance to a half-day session instead. Please note also that even if I do book a full day for a Mediation session, I only docket and bill for the time I have spent. For example, if a Mediation session ends after three hours, my docket for that Mediation session will be three hours, not a full day.
My billing rate is $495.00 per hour plus HST, and my initial retainer is $5,000.00 for a half-day and $7,000.00 for a full-day. The parties may divide this initial retainer payment between them as they see fit.
If the matter is not fully resolved by the conclusion of the Mediation session, we then discuss whether or not we return for a further Mediation session or if we should be proceeding to Arbitration. While many matters are resolved in just one Mediation session, it is not uncommon for a second session to be required. Parties sometimes need time to consider a proposed settlement, or to obtain and provide further necessary disclosure. We will agree upon a timetable for the next session or hearing.
If you are ready to proceed with Mediation, Arbitration, or Med/Arb, or if you have any other questions with respect to same, please email me forthwith to schedule the initial Zoom videoconference.
I look forward to working with you to resolve your matter.
Yours very truly,
Todd Jenney