Fees
Clear fees — quoted before you commit
We do not compete on price. We do believe that clients are entitled to know exactly what mediation will cost before they instruct us, with no hidden administration charges. The default fee for a full-day mediation is £1,500 + VAT, normally shared equally between the parties unless they agree otherwise. The emphasis is always on value, experience and appointing the right mediator for the dispute.
Every dispute is different
Mediation is not a commodity. The right fee is the one that reflects the work your dispute genuinely requires — no more, and no less. That is why we quote a fixed fee for every mediation, in writing, before you commit to anything.
The factors that shape the fee are the same whether you are a solicitor instructing us on behalf of a client, an insurer managing a panel, or a business resolving a dispute directly. We will ask about each of them when you enquire, then confirm the total cost and each party's share.
We will also tell you honestly if a lower-cost format — a half-day, or an online mediation — would suit your matter. Our interest is in resolving the dispute, not in running up cost.
What fees depend on
The factors we take into account
Value of the dispute
Higher-value claims typically warrant more preparation time and a more senior mediator.
Complexity
The number of issues, the volume of documents and the legal or factual difficulty of the case.
Number of parties
Two-party disputes cost less than multi-party actions; each additional party adds preparation and time.
Preparation required
Reading the papers, pre-mediation calls and the mediator's familiarity with the subject matter.
Length of mediation
A half-day, full day or multi-day mediation — the single largest driver of cost.
Location
In-person mediations may incur venue hire, travel and accommodation; online mediations do not.
Typical mediation fees
A format to suit the dispute
The default fee for a full-day mediation is £1,500 + VAT, normally shared equally between the parties unless they agree otherwise. Fees for shorter mediations or other arrangements are available on request and may depend upon the nature, complexity and value of the dispute.
Full-Day Commercial Mediation
Normally shared equally between the parties.
Suitable for most commercial, property, partnership, insurance and professional disputes.
The fee includes
- Mediator preparation
- Review of documentation
- Full-day mediation
- Reasonable post-mediation administration
Shorter Mediations
Fees may depend upon the nature, complexity and value of the dispute.
Suitable for
- Lower value disputes
- Straightforward commercial disputes
- Neighbour disputes
- Shorter mediations
Includes
- Preparation
- Mediation
- Administration
Workplace Mediation
Every workplace mediation is different.
Fees are agreed according to
- The number of participants
- Preparation required
- Whether mediation is online or on-site
- Travel requirements
- Follow-up work
- Action planning
A fixed quotation will always be provided before work commences.
More about workplace mediation →Civil Mediation Council Fixed Fee Scheme
Where appropriate, ProMediate can undertake mediations under the Civil Mediation Council Fixed Fee Scheme.
Please contact us if you would like to discuss whether your dispute is suitable.
Contact us about the scheme →Complex & high-value disputes
Where the dispute value exceeds approximately £250,000, involves multiple parties, or is likely to require more than one mediation day, ProMediate will provide a bespoke quotation tailored to the requirements of the dispute.
Request a bespoke quotation →Important note: The default fee for a full-day mediation is £1,500 + VAT. Fees for shorter mediations or other arrangements are available on request and may depend upon the nature, complexity and value of the dispute. Mediation fees are normally shared equally between the parties unless they agree otherwise. A bespoke quotation will be provided for complex, high-value or multi-party disputes.
Online mediation
Online and telephone mediation can often provide a cost-effective and convenient alternative where appropriate. Because there is no venue hire, travel or accommodation to add, the fee is lower than an equivalent in-person mediation.
It is particularly useful where the parties are in different locations, where time is short, or where an in-person meeting is not necessary to reach a settlement. The same mediator, the same preparation and the same confidential process — simply delivered remotely.
More about online mediation →Value, not price
A small fraction of the cost of trial
The cost of a mediation is almost always a small fraction of the cost of taking a case to trial, and a still smaller fraction of the cost of losing one. Our emphasis is on appointing the right mediator with the right experience, and on making the process as flexible and accessible as it needs to be.
We do not compete on price. We compete on the quality of the mediator, the thoroughness of the preparation and the likelihood of a durable settlement.
Included within our fees
What is included
Our fees generally include the full mediation service from initial appointment to post-mediation follow-up. There are no hidden administration charges.
Appointment of mediator
Selection of the right mediator for the subject matter and value of the dispute.
Preparation
The mediator's time preparing for the mediation, including pre-mediation calls with each party.
Review of documents
Reading the case summary and the papers provided in advance of the mediation.
The mediation
The mediation itself, including reasonable overrun where progress is being made.
Administration
Arranging the mediation, liaising with the parties and their representatives, and the settlement logistics.
Post-mediation follow-up
Follow-up contact after the mediation where the case has not settled.
Not included: venue hire (where an in-person mediation is not held at a party's offices), travel and accommodation for in-person mediations outside the mediator's home region, and VAT. These are always identified separately in the quotation and never added without agreement.
Payment
Invoices are normally payable in advance of the mediation, unless otherwise agreed. We will set out the payment terms, the parties' respective shares and the due date in the quotation, so there are no surprises.
Where a matter is funded by an insurer or handled through solicitors, we are happy to invoice on the usual undertaking or conditional terms by arrangement.
Frequently asked questions about fees
- How are fees divided between the parties?
- The mediation fee is normally shared equally between the parties unless they agree otherwise. Any alternative split can be set out in the quotation. We will confirm the total cost and each party's share before you commit.
- Is VAT included in the quotation?
- All quotations are given plus VAT. Venue hire (where applicable), travel and accommodation for in-person mediations outside the mediator's home region are identified separately and never added without agreement.
- When is payment due?
- Invoices are normally payable in advance of the mediation, unless otherwise agreed. We will confirm the payment terms in the quotation.
- Does ProMediate offer legal aid or pro bono mediation?
- Where a dispute qualifies for the Civil Mediation Council Fixed Fee Scheme, qualifying parties may access mediation at a fixed low cost. Outside that scheme, fees are charged as quoted.
- What happens if the mediation settles early?
- The fee is agreed in advance and reflects the mediator's preparation and time set aside. Where a matter settles very quickly, we are happy to discuss the position, but our quoted fees are not hourly-rated.
Next step
Request a quotation
We are always happy to provide a no-obligation quotation and discuss the most appropriate mediation process for your dispute.
Request a quotation
Tell us about the dispute and we will confirm a fixed fee and each party's share in writing, usually within one working day.
Request a quotation →Speak to us
Prefer to talk it through? Call us in confidence and we will advise on the most suitable format and mediator.
Speak to us →Contact ProMediate
Send us the background in confidence and we will suggest suitable mediators, available dates and a process.
Make an enquiry →Or contact us directly on 0203 621 3908 or enquiries@promediate.co.uk.
Consumer complaint?
Complaints against a trader, insurer or service provider under an approved Consumer Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme are handled by our separate Consumer ADR service.
Visit Consumer ADRRequest a fixed fee quotation
Tell us briefly about the dispute and we will suggest suitable mediators, available dates and a fixed fee — usually within one working day.