Our Service

Appointments and Referrals

It is widely accepted that effective dispute resolution, to a large extent, is influenced by the qualities and experience of the facilitator. Through the MFI referral service, parties can draw upon our network of over 100 independent ADR practitioners and Mediators from within Ireland and from other countries. The members of our network range from highly specialized practitioners and experts covering a wide legal and technical spectrum. Their experience should meet the needs of the many civil disputes and claims that are amenable to ADR.

How the referrals system works

Step 1: Contact Mediation Forum-Ireland

Contact Mediation Forum-Ireland using the online form.
Typically one party may suggest Mediation; their Solicitor will contact the Solicitor for the other side of the dispute and suggest or request that the parties consider Mediation. Once they have agreed the next step is to choose a Mediator. The Solicitor making contact with MFI to request the nomination of a Mediator will need to convey some, or all, of the following information, in confidence, at the outset.

• Desired ADR method of resolving the dispute (i.e. arbitration, mediation, other)
• Applicable rules (has the case been referred from the Court)
• Governing law
• Identity of the parties and their representatives on a confidential basis so that we can check whether potential nominees are conflicted
• Area of law
• Technical or business area
• Preferred venue of the process

Step 2: Pay Referral Fee

This service is provided on payment of a modest referral fee of EURO 20 to cover outlay.

 

Step 3: MFI checks availability of suitable practictioners

When MFI is consulted and called upon to recommend a Mediator in the context of a pending case the Centre, having taken into account the specific characteristics of the dispute, will gather profiles of suitably qualified available members of our forum. In view of the need for the Mediator and the Centre to preserve their impartiality and independence and avoid any perception of bias or connection, the Centre, in principle, will not make unilateral recommendations to only one party.

Step 4: The parties are presented with details of the nominees

Once consulted, the MFI centre, after careful consideration, will make available details of appropriate nominees once their availability has been confirmed. In response to a request for a referral, regard will be had for the nature of the dispute and the time frame within which the mediation needs to be arranged.

MFI will be pleased to discuss how it can assist conflicting parties in a search for an Appropriate Dispute Resolution process.

MFI undertakes to keep confidential the existence of all requests and enquiries and any information disclosed by the parties.

Please be assured also that all mediations are conducted under the MFI Mediation Rules, so the relevant confidentiality provisions apply. For further discussion or assistance please contact admin@mediationforumireland.com.

Whereas MFI hosts a list of people who have studied and are qualified in the area of Conflict and Dispute Resolution and will nominate one of those members of the forum when requested, it is not responsible for the actions of those practitioners. All MFI Mediators are bound to comply with the EU Code of Conduct for Mediators and to conduct the process in the spirit of the objectives of the EU Directive on ADR and related matters.