Rick Weiler

OK, I know I'm going out of turn with this Blog post, but I thought readers will want to be aware of a HUGE mediation development in Canada - even if it does involve a mediation that will take place…

I recently had three mediations in a row that failed to reach settlement. After a couple of days contemplating running away with the circus and other lateral career moves, I started focussing on what…

Recently, during a lull in the action in a tort mediation, I was drawn aside by an insurance representative I see frequently. He had concerns about my “style” as a mediator. “Every mediation it’s the…

I’ve been working in this field for more than 20 years and one thing that I’ve observed with genuine curiosity over that time is the sniping from various quarters that what I (and others with…

“Thank God for the last minute; otherwise nothing would ever happen.” This old saying rolls through my mind as I sit to type this on my iPad in the departures lounge at Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport…

Often when I’m mediating a difficult case; the parties, running hot, miles apart and showing no sign of movement, an inner voice whispers softly to me, “it’s just not ripe for settlement.” It’s an…

My work as a commercial mediator in Ontario Canada generally involves the resolution of money disputes.  The process, most days, starts with a brief joint session during which the lawyers, and…

Two stories in the Canadian media caught my eye this past month. New Rules for Bank Mediators - The Federal Minister of Finance has indicated that the Canadian federal government will not require…

Some disputes are more suitable for mediation than others. Counsel and their clients contemplating whether or not to mediate a particular dispute can sometimes benefit from a more structured approach…