Fechter Mediation offers the convenience of mediating cases out of any jurisdiction or state remotely via ZOOM videoconferencing. At the time of the COVID lockdown, Adrienne transitioned from in-person to videoconference mediations, expecting the change to be temporary. What she and her clients discovered, however, is that ZOOM mediations increased efficiency and lowered costs. Most important, conducting mediations via ZOOM had no negative impact on the process or the settlement outcomes achieved. As a result, Adrienne now conducts mediations almost exclusively by videoconference.
With remote mediations, virtual, private breakout rooms replace brick and mortar conference rooms for private caucusing. Zoom virtual rooms may be even more secure than conference rooms in a law office or in a mediation center, as participants cannot inadvertently overhear conversations taking place in another party’s virtual breakout room. Adrienne controls access and she seamlessly moves between or among rooms to conduct private caucuses, and can move counsel around the platform as needed. Long gone are the days when your clients – the parties to a dispute – dread running into each other in the hallways during mediations. This can significantly reduce stress and increase the chances of resolution. Similarly, with the advent of virtual mediations, there is no need for attorneys, parties, insurance representatives or other participants to travel to attend a mediation, making ZOOM mediations much more convenient, comfortable, economical and accommodating to the schedules of the decision-makers and counsel.
Mediation participants do not need any special equipment or a subscription to engage in Zoom mediations. Adrienne’s professional subscription to ZOOM allows invitees to attend mediations with any laptop, tablet, desktop or phone equipped with a camera and microphone. Adrienne will email counsel a secure link for the mediation session typically the day prior to your scheduled mediation. Participants need only click the link provided at the scheduled time from whatever location is most convenient for them. Often participants on one side choose to gather together in a single location for the mediation, but they always have the choice to join a Zoom mediation from a number of different geographic locations and Adrienne will move them into a single private caucus room with the other participants on their side. Only Adrienne can move in and out of your private caucus room, providing you and your clients with a private and secure environment for the day.