Family businesses form the heart of many economies, often spanning generations and contributing significantly to local communities, state productivity and global markets. However, one of the most critical—and sometimes overlooked—elements of a successful family business is succession planning. Without a clear strategy for passing leadership and ownership to the next generation in family business succession planning, family businesses risk failure, …
The recent housing crisis has not been easy on home-owners. Many home-owners have been forced to foreclose. Often, this ends in bankruptcy and taking down large banks with them in the process. Bank of America, Wachovia and US Bank Corp are all large corporations that lost billions in the mortgage crisis. Mediation mitigates housing disputes. But a less-discussed off-shoot of …
Everyone would love to live in a world of peace. Well, almost. But you and I know that it’s not going to happen. Until the time that human beings are the wired the way they are today, they are going to find some reason in some part of the world, to go to war about just something or the other. …
If you are going through a divorce, or seriously considering one, then you need the best people on your side. By best, I don’t mean the ones that will FIGHT it out on your behalf. You need people that are understanding of your specific situation. They must take step by step measures and develop specific plans for you that result …
Sexual harassment is one of the most common forms of employment disputes and has grown in numbers and in media attention that it receives over the past few years. The growing awareness into this area, however, unlike other crimes, has not prevented it from remaining among the top source of distress and dispute at the workplace. Between the year 2000 …
In our line of work, we work on dozens of mediation cases every year. However, like many other professionals, we are not at liberty to discuss our cases in public forums such as this one due to reasons of confidentiality and privacy. When we get questioned about past experiences, we often resort to fabricating names or situations in order to …
The Congress usually does not hire mediators to settle budget of other parliamentary disputes. The process usually involves direct debate between Congressmen and Senators. These take place on the floor, with the Speaker taking on the role of a facilitator. Mediation is usually not part of this process. Learn more about the Minnesota budget crisis mediation case. However, given the …