A form of alternative dispute resolution in which the parties agree to submit any dispute to a neutral mediator, whose purpose and goal is to achieve a mutually acceptable settlement and compromise of the dispute, rather than issue a formal ruling and decision on the merits as occurs in arbitration. Depending upon the parties’ agreement, the results of mediation can be binding or non-binding.
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UK: An alternative dispute resolution approach to settling disputes. An impartial mediator helps the parties to negotiate. The process is not binding unless or until the parties reach agreement, after which the final agreement can be enforced as a contract.