A business contract, lease or other written contract may contain a mediation clause. By using such a clause, the parties to the contract agree to mediate any future disputes. As with any clause, all parties must agree to it, and the following mediation clause does not have to be used “as is” in order to use the services of United States Arbitration & Mediation.
In the event a dispute shall arise between the parties to this [contract, lease, etc.], the parties agree to participate in at least four hours of mediation in accordance with the mediation procedures of United States Arbitration & Mediation. The parties agree to share equally in the costs of the mediation. The mediation shall be administered by the offices of United States Arbitration & Mediation 500 N. Broadway, Suite 1800, St. Louis, MO 63102 (314) 231-4642.
Mediation involves each side of a dispute sitting down with an impartial person, the mediator, to attempt to reach a voluntary settlement. Mediation involves no formal court procedures or rules of evidence, and the mediator does not have the power to render a binding decision or force an agreement on the parties.