Commercial Mediation

Commercial mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where a neutral mediator helps businesses in conflict communicate effectively. The mediator does not take or make decisions but guides discussions and manages emotions. This process is often quicker and more-effective than going to court. It allows the parties to control over the outcome and work towards a mutually acceptable agreement.

Contract disputes

A contract dispute is a disagreement between two or more parties about the meaning, performance, or enforcement of a contract. It happens when one party believes another has failed to meet their obligations, or when the parties interpret the contract differently.

Common reasons for contract disputes:

One party doesn’t deliver goods or services as agreed
Payment is late or withheld
The quality of goods or services isn’t what was promised
Deadlines aren’t met
Terms in the contract are unclear, ambiguous, or interpreted differently
One party tries to change or terminate the contract unfairly

Example:

A company hires a supplier to deliver materials by a specific date. The supplier delivers them late, causing delays and costs for the company. Both sides argue over whether the delay was justified under the contract, this becomes a contract dispute.

Business-to-Business Disputes

A Business-to-Business dispute is a conflict that arises between two or more businesses over a commercial arrangement, transaction, or ongoing business relationship. These disputes typically involve contracts, service delivery, payments, or performance issues.

Why B2B disputes happen

They occur when one business believes another has:

Not delivered goods/services as agreed
Failed to pay or has underpaid
Breached terms of a contract
Caused financial loss through delay or poor performance
Misrepresented a product or service
Violated an exclusivity, distribution, or supply agreement

Examples

A manufacturer and a retailer argue over defective stock.
A supplier stops deliveries, claiming unpaid invoices, while the customer disputes the charges.
A distributor breaches a territory agreement by selling outside its region.
A service provider charges additional fees not agreed in the contract.

Company and Partnership Disputes

A Company and Partnership Dispute is a conflict that arises within a business, typically between its owners, directors, partners, or shareholders. These disputes focus on how the business is run, how profits are shared, or how key decisions are made.

These usually happen when individuals involved in the business:

Disagree on the direction or management of the company
Feel excluded from decision-making
Believe another director/partner has breached duties or acted unfairly
Dispute profit shares, salaries, or dividends
Want to leave the business but cannot agree terms
Have concerns about misuse of company money or assets

Examples

Two directors argue over strategic decisions and accuse each other of acting against the company’s interests.
A partner wants to retire, but the parties disagree on the value of their share.

Commercial Property & Real Estate

It is widely used in landlord–tenant conflicts, rent arrears, service charge disputes, dilapidations, and joint venture disagreements. Common reasons are:

Focus on business property: Covers offices, retail units, warehouses, hotels, and investment properties.
Types of disputes: Rent arrears, service charges, dilapidations, breaches of covenants, professional negligence, and joint ventures.
Benefits are: Faster, cost‑effective, flexible, and often preserves business relationships compared to litigation

Construction & Engineering

Construction and Engineering mediation is widely used because construction disputes often involve multiple parties (contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and clients), complex technical issues, and high financial stakes.

Focus on projects: Covers disputes in building works, infrastructure, design, engineering services, and project management.
Types of disputes: Payment delays, defective works, design errors, delays in completion, professional negligence, or contract interpretation.
Benefits: Faster, cost‑effective, flexible, and often preserves working relationships compared to litigation or arbitration.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property disputes involve copyrights, trademarks, patents, designs, or trade secrets without going through lengthy litigation. It is particularly valuable because IP disputes often involve complex technical issues, high commercial stakes, and the need to preserve ongoing business relationships.

Focus on IP rights: Covers disputes over ownership, infringement, licensing, royalties, and misuse of confidential information.
Types of disputes: Trademark infringement, copyright disputes, patent licensing disagreements, design rights, and trade secrets.

Energy, Utilities & Environment

Energy, Utilities & Environment mediation resolves disputes in sectors such as electricity, gas, water, renewable energy, waste management, and environmental regulation. These disputes often involve technical issues, regulatory compliance, and long‑term commercial relationships, making mediation a practical alternative to litigation or arbitration.

Types of disputes:

Energy supply contracts – disagreements over pricing, delivery, or termination.
Utility billing disputes – conflicts between providers and consumers over charges or service quality.
Infrastructure projects – delays, cost overruns, or technical failures in power plants, pipelines, or wind farms.
Environmental compliance – disputes over pollution, waste disposal, or regulatory enforcement.

Franchising Mediation

Franchise relationships are ongoing and often long‑term, mediation is especially valuable in preserving business ties while addressing issues of compliance, performance, or financial obligations.

Disputes can be about many areas including:

Royalty or fee arrears – disagreements over payments owed.
Brand compliance – disputes about following franchisor’s operational standards.
Territorial conflicts – overlapping franchise areas or exclusivity breaches.
Termination or renewal – disagreements over ending or extending franchise agreements.

Technology & IT

Technology and IT disputes involve information technology systems, software, hardware, digital services, and technology contracts. These disputes often involve complex technical issues, intellectual property rights, and long‑term commercial relationships, making mediation a practical alternative to litigation or arbitration.

Areas of dispute can include:

Software licensing disagreements – over usage rights, royalties, or compliance.
IT project delays – disputes about missed deadlines or cost overruns.
System failures – conflicts over responsibility for downtime or defective performance.
Data protection breaches – disputes about liability for GDPR or privacy violations.