Choose an ADR Specialist who meets your needs
Connecting with us
1
What is your conflict?
All parties who have stake in the dispute will be asked some general question about the dispute and their version of the conflict in a one-on-one intake discussion.
2
Mediation/Arbitration
While both methods have different executions, this stage involves the brunt of the process. This is where we will either have mediation sessions or arbitration hearings to determine an outcome.
3
Memorandum of Understanding/Arbitrary Award
Once disputants either come to an agreement, or an award is presented by our Arbitrator, a document will be written up and presented to the parties. From here, the parties can present this to the courts to have it stamped as legally binding.
FAQs
What is the Difference between Mediation and Arbitration?
While both methods of ADR have similarities, like confidentiality and neutrality, the major difference between the two is that in Mediation, the parties are working towards a resolution on their own; they are not taking any outcome from the mediator directly. In Arbitration, disputing parties are taking a conflict to the Arbitrator and requesting a hearing. They will bring any evidence that supports what they want, and the arbitrator will weigh that evidence and any case law towards a decision. The Arbitrator will then be the one to decide the outcome.
Why choose Arbitration instead of going to Court?
While legal litigation is always an option there after arbitration, the courts in Ontario have been, and remain to be, backlogged. This means you will be waiting months before you have the opportunity to be heard, and thats only if all of your forms, applications, and fees have been successfully completed and processed. Additionally to that, you’re potentially spending up to tens of thousands of dollars on legal fees for the time that counsel spends on completing these forms and following up with the courts. With Arbitration - you have personalized service from the person who will be hearing your case. The hearing takes place up to only a few weeks upon submission, saving you time, stress, and money. Lastly, there are no hoops. You can represent yourself in an arbitration without fear of legal jargon, improper vocabulary, or the dreaded forms.
Do i need legal counsel in mediation/arbitration?
While we always recommend you seek the opinion of legal counsel while in mediation or arbitration, they are not mandatory for either process. Horizon will guide you through the process to ensure everyone has a good understanding on the procedure, but will suggest you take any final decisions to a lawyer for review.