Business & Family Mediation
The mediation lawyers at Barna, Guzy & Steffen offer mediation services in the Minneapolis metro area of Minnesota that are designed to allow legal matters to be addressed in a more efficient and cost effective manner. One example is mediation. Our firm offers mediation in business and family matters. Civil matters filed with the courts now must utilize an alternative dispute resolution process prior to going to trial.
Mediation is, by far, the most common form of alternative dispute resolution. Family law cases strongly encourage mediation prior to a court case. Unlike binding arbitration, mediation is not a final decision imposed on the parties. Mediation is binding only if the parties reach an agreement at the end of the process that they choose to make binding.
While anyone can be a mediator, only individuals with special training are qualified neutrals. Qualified neutrals, also called qualified neutrals under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice, may act as neutrals in court-referred cases and are subject to their own ethics board.
At Barna, Guzy & Steffen, the qualified neutrals under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice, are also practicing lawyers. They utilize the experience in their areas in providing mediation services in Minnesota.
Mediation is most effective when the parties are seeking to resolve the matter and is an opportunity to communicate.
Mediation offers many benefits to the legal process:
- Faster
- Less Expensive
- Client Controlled
- Certainty
If you are interested in using the mediation lawyers in our firm or would like more information about the process of mediation, please contact one of the following Barna, Guzy & Steffen Ltd. Rule 114 Qualified Neutrals:
Scott M. Lepak
Douglas G. Sauter
Elizabeth A. Schading
Joan M. Quade
We offer several different types of Business and Family mediation services in the Minneapolis metro area including:
Flat Fee Mediation
Many court cases take a year or more to go to trial and cost tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees and expert witness fees. Generally, even the winner is not content with the outcome, because of the time lost and money spent in reaching the resolution. Resolving cases through mediation provides the best way to a cost efficient, timely resolution for disputes.
Our lawyers, Joan M. Quade and Douglas G. Sauter, offer mediation at flat fees. For a two party dispute you could pay another mediator as much as $800 an hour.
We charge $350 per hour or you can arrange for a flat fee.
A flat fee will save you money and help you accomplish your goals while keeping your budget in mind.
- A flat fee of $1,500 for any case involving two parties and up to $100,000 in controversy, for up to 8 hours of Mediation.
- A flat fee of $1,600 for any case with three parties up to $200,000 in controversy.
- A flat fee of $1,800 for any case involving four parties up to $500,000 in controversy.
Joan M. Quade
Attorney/Mediator
Joan has been a litigator in courtrooms across the state for almost 25 years. She has litigated matters in State and Federal Courts handling court trials, jury trials and numerous motions in all types of business and employment law matters. She has handled such cases as:
- Contract and Business disputes
- Construction defect matters
- Employment cases
- Constitutional claims
- Shareholder disputes
- Real Estate issues/Property law disputes
- Neighbor disputes
Doug Sauter
Attorney/Mediator
Doug has devoted his 34 year career to litigation of family law and business disputes. He has spent countless hours successfully resolving his clients’ cases which include:
- Dissolution
- Asset Valuation Issues
- Custody/Parenting Time Disputes
- Parentage Proceedings
- Family or Business financial issues
And many more family law related issues. He is also a former prosecutor and represents clients facing serious criminal problems.
Elder and Adult Family Law Mediation
Helping families through parental transitions or other complex family issues- aiming for long term family harmony, without a primary legal focus in multi-party, multi-generational, and multi-circumstances, such as:
- Financial decisions
- Residence decisions
- Medical decisions
- Estate Planning considerations
- Selling or allocating the family homestead or other valuable assets
- Consideration of sentimental and emotional attachment
Mediation is a confidential process that uses facilitated discussions to resolve emotional issues through effective communication. Elizabeth A. Schading is a Family Law attorney who represents clients in family law matters, as well as a Minnesota Statewide ADR Rule 114 qualified mediator and can help you with this area of Mediation.
More Mediation Options
Barna, Guzy & Steffen also offers civil mediation as well as hourly mediation and employment labor mediation.
