Running a family business is both a professional and emotional journey. On one hand, you’re building something lasting with the people you love and trust most. On the other hand, the same ties that unite you can also make conflict more personal and difficult to manage. Family-owned business mediation can be crucial in resolving disputes before they escalate. Small misunderstandings …
Every successful business encounters conflict. Contract disputes, partnership disagreements, or employment issues can stall momentum and damage reputations. When tensions rise, many assume the courtroom is the only path forward—but in reality, that’s often the most costly and damaging route. At Alternative Law, we help companies nationwide avoid litigation through a faster, fairer, and more efficient process: business mediation. The True Cost …
A well-planned succession planning mediation session is one of the most crucial parts of any business’s future. However, it’s also one of the most emotionally charged. Choosing who leads next, dividing shares, and aligning visions can spark tension even in the closest families or strongest partnerships. At Alternative Law, we guide business owners and families through succession planning mediation—a proactive, collaborative process …
Your Family vs. The Courtroom: Choosing the Right Path for Your Business When a conflict over your family business’s future arises, you face a critical choice: how will you resolve it? This often involves choosing between mediation and litigation, leading to the classic debate of mediation vs litigation, two distinct approaches with profound consequences for your finances, your well-being, and …
Demystifying the Mediation Process: A Path to Peaceful Transition The decision to use mediation for your family business dispute is a smart one. But we understand that the unknown can be intimidating. You might be wondering, how does family business mediation work? What actually happens in a mediation session? How do you go from conflict to a signed agreement? At …
Creating a family business succession plan is complex, blending financial, legal, and deeply personal family dynamics. Even with the best intentions, many families fall into predictable traps that can derail the transition and cause lasting conflict. Recognizing these pitfalls is the first step toward avoiding them. At Alternative Law Mediation, we’ve seen how these challenges can impact a family. Here are five …
Why do siblings clash in business? Family businesses often mix the past, competition, control, personal history with the future and professional decisions. That’s a recipe for sibling conflict in a family business setting. Sibling conflict can arise when you have different work styles, expectations, or opinions on how the business should run—or who should run it. Common sibling conflicts include: …
Is your business conflict getting worse, not better? Disagreements happen—but if they keep escalating or affect operations, it may be time to get outside help. Knowing when to use mediation can prevent issues from worsening. Waiting too long can make the problem harder (and more expensive) to fix. Top signs you should consider mediation: Why early mediation works better: What’s …
Mediator guiding a business family through a structured discussion
What is mediation in a family business conflict? Mediation is a confidential, guided process that helps family members resolve disputes without going to court. A trained neutral mediator facilitates the conversation, allowing each person to speak openly, be heard, and contribute to crafting a mutually acceptable solution. It’s less about who’s right and more about finding a path forward everyone …