Mediator Fees

* Fees as stated apply unless court order, agency order, or published panel/roster rates dictate different rate, in which case that rate governs.  Fees are split evenly between each “side” (i.e., one half to all the parties on the plaintiff/claimant side and one half to all the parties on the defense side), unless the parties agree otherwise.

• Half-day reserved: 
  
  • Videoconference Mediation: two-hour minimum ($1,000 minimum, $500 minimum per side); $500/hour thereafter (charged in increments of 1/10th of an hour, split evenly per side)
  • In-Person, Local Mediation (Greater Tampa Bay only)**: three-hour minimum ($1,500 minimum, $750 minimum per side); $500/hour thereafter (charged in increments of 1/10th of an hour, split evenly per side)
    **Note: For "In-Person" engagements, we do not have mediation space available.  Additionally, “Local” means within one hour drive-time from our Riverview Office.

• Full-day reserved:
  
  • Videoconference Mediation: four-hour minimum ($2,000 minimum, $1,000 minimum per side); $500/hour thereafter (charged in increments of 1/10th of an hour, split evenly per side)
  • In-Person Mediation**: six-hour minimum ($3,000 minimum, $1,500 minimum per side);  $500/hour thereafter (charged in increments of 1/10th of an hour, split evenly per side)
    • **Note: For "In-Person" engagements, we do not have mediation space available; mediator will travel to any agreed location.  Full-Day (6-hour minimum) required for all in-person mediations that are farther than one hour drivetime from our Riverview Office.
    • Travel Expenses charged: when in-person mediations require travel of more than one hour from our closest location (Tampa, FL; Baltimore, MD; or Providence, RI), the mediator shall split his actual travel expenses (e.g., hotel, airfare/train fare/mileage at IRS rate, meals, parking, etc.) evenly among the parties.

• Premediation time: 15 minutes (per side) of standard pre-mediation communication is included in the fees above.  Review of materials or conversation in excess of 15 minutes will be billed to the side requesting at the rate of $500/hour (charged in increments of 1/10th of an hour) with those fees to be added to that side’s bill to be paid at the end of mediation

Notice of cancellation/postponement must be received at least 7 calendar days prior to the scheduled commencement of the mediation conference. Otherwise, the parties will incur a late cancellation / postponement fee equal to the applicable minimum engagement. If the parties do not otherwise agree as to how to apportion the late cancellation/postponement fee, or if, for example, one party wishes to cancel but others are prepared to move forward with the mediation, the mediator reserves the right to apportion some or all of the fee against the party(ies) who request the late cancellation/postponement. Late cancellation/postponement fees are invoiced to each responsible side and are subject to the Payment Terms below, including the back-up card charge. If a mediation is postponed or rescheduled, each side’s payment authorization on file carries over to the new date, and no new form is needed. 

• RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTORNEYS  Notwithstanding the fact that counsel is acting as agent for a disclosed principal, the attorney’s client, the mediator is setting aside time to mediate this dispute without requiring prepayment of fees in consideration of each party’s attorney’s agreement that the attorneys undertake responsibility for timely delivery of that party’s fees.
• PAYMENT TERMS Full payment is due at conclusion of mediation session (or upon late cancellation or postponement), unless prior arrangements have been made. We accept payments in cash, by check, or by major credit cards, PayPal, and Zelle (send to chris@shulmanadrlaw.com). Alternative arrangements (such as ACH or EFT) only with prior approval. If a side’s invoice is not paid within 15 calendar days of the invoice date, the back-up credit or debit card on file for that side will be charged for the unpaid balance on or after the 16th calendar day. 
• PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION FORM REQUIRED  All parties must provide payment information, including a signed back-up credit or debit card payment authorization (to be used if that party’s payment is not received timely), before the mediation. Our mediation confirmation email includes a link to the secure online Payment Authorization Form, which each side must complete regardless of how that side ultimately chooses to pay. Card details are entered only on a secure page hosted by Stripe; we never see or store full card numbers. Completed forms are due:  (1) at least 14 days before the mediation, if it is booked 14 or more days in advance; (2) at least 7 days before the mediation, if it is booked 7 to 13 days in advance; or (3) before the mediation will be confirmed, if it is booked fewer than 7 days in advance.  Firms that have worked with us in the past six months and will pay us directly may instead reply “Invoice Firm” to the confirmation email. Federal government parties are covered by standing statutory payment arrangements and need not submit the form. 
• Mediation is subject to cancellation if we have not received timely completed payment authorizations from all parties.