Disputes in business and personal matters can be costly, especially if they go to court to resolve but a former lawyer is offering a new service to keep costs down and get results.

Alsager-based Steve O'Gorman has set up a business called 'Fast Resolve Mediation' - to keep civil, commercial and employment disputes out of court.

Mediation - what is it?  Mediation is a simple way of settling a legal dispute - using a trained and experienced professional to help negotiate a settlement. Your problem could be solved cheaply and quickly. Court should be the last resort, and you could resolve your issues on the day – not the next year or two.

"Mediation is 'on the march'," says Steve. "Recent court decisions are making mediation pretty much mandatory in most civil, commercial and employment cases.

"Solicitors may not like this as it tends to reduce their fees and settle without protracted litigation, although the more enlightened ones are seeing the writing on the wall and embracing mediation as a useful tool to help their clients."

Some examples may bring this to life….

Civil dispute over software development.

It's common for IT projects to go wrong, this one to develop website software was going for a year and delivered nothing. The dispute was heading to last at least six months (small claims) and I estimated at least £20,000 in combined legal fees.

Mediation lasted 2 hours, on-line, and landed a settlement both parties were happy with. The key here was to point out to participants the risks and stress to both parties in going forward in this sort of dispute, based on extensive experience of similar cases.

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Employment dispute about bullying and defamation.

"Bullying in the workplace is more common than you think – as someone who came up through large industry in the 80s and 90s I've seen a fair amount of it," says Steve. "The employee of this household name company had had enough of 'workplace banter' over several years, and it was getting worse.

"She finally cracked, had a row with her supervisor and was dismissed for misconduct. It's sometimes hard getting employers round the table but eventually a one- hour mediation, on-line, was arranged.

"We arrived at a settlement quickly, after allowing enough time for the participants to express their views, and more importantly to be heard, both parties realised that the company had fostered – unknowing – a toxic culture for some time.

"This case illustrates what is unique about mediation, as it involved an apology and recognition as to the harm caused (an outcome generally not possible in court), also some compensation for distress and lost earnings."

Company partnership troubles

Many companies, and especially limited partnerships, get into trouble and end up being dissolved says Steve.

"There's no harm in this, but it often leads to disputes between partners, especially over joint investments, decisions or debts.

"This company had run well for some years but ran into trouble as the transport sector became very competitive and their fleet just couldn't be run profitably.

"It was either time to re-invest a substantial amount or wind up. The dispute centred round this decision and the financial impact on the partners.

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"Mediation was tough over a four hour in-person session, with strong personalities expressing strong views, including respective legal teams, on both sides.

"A settlement was reached and signed on the day. The key to this was to bring out to both parties, and both sets of legal teams, the merits of the opposing case (something they don't do as they tend to argue their own side exclusively).

"This helped them understand the risks in going to Court and making an agreed settlement a far better option, even if it wasn't ideal for everyone.

"My contribution was to recognise the energy in the room, often expressed robustly, and not let the emotion de-rail the session. I've seen (and been in) heated negotiations over many years, so this wasn't anything strange."

So why wait – you have nothing to lose! – if you're in any stage of a Civil, Commercial or Employment dispute – haven't yet started or just about to go to Court, get in touch and see if mediation can help. Initial consultations are free, and we're still offering free mediations (during 2026) as part of the Society of Mediators 'Free Mediation Project'.

Here are the benefits:

·      Reduces the stress and high costs legal proceedings

·      Outcomes that can't be achieved in a Court

·      You stay in control – it's your process, you get to have your say.

"For too long, in the Legal and Commercial work I've done over the last 30 years, I've seen people waste tens of thousands of pounds, or more, and years of effort, fighting over something that could have been resolved in a day if those in dispute would sit down and talk," said Steve.

"Our legal system is not in my opinion fit for purpose; it's inaccessible to all but the rich, and a mystery to most. Mediation is far more effective at resolving disputes where, as in most cases, the legal issues are not clear cut."

Fast Resolve Mediation is a member of the Society of Mediators and offers a FREE consultation. For details, email him at [email protected]

Alsager Nub News is delighted that Fast Resolve Mediation is a sponsor of Alsager Nub News.

It is thanks to the generosity of organisations like Fast Resolve Mediation that we can continue our mission to revive local news, both in Alsager and across the UK. 

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