As regular visitors to this blog will know I have, especially in the early days of writing, made a habit of posting on the nuts and bolts of mediation practice.
It has always seemed a valuable space to fill.
Like most mediators my standard mediation agreement, which I provide to parties to sign prior to the mediation, contains a cost sharing provision — where the parties each pay half of my fees. No problem so far.
Today I received an e-mail from a lawyer in a recent mediation asking me to reconsider the half share of my fee that I had invoiced his client soon after the mediation for a number of reasons – all adding up to his client having fallen on hard times.
“Hi Geoff,
Thanks for your invoice. Great work on getting us all signed up… this is a bit awkward but I need to talk to you about your fee….”
To be honest I’ve never been that focused on the level of my fees — on the basis that I believe in the long view in a small legal community like NZ – repeat lawyers need to know they can talk to me around fees in deserving cases.
But what to do about today’s request – they agreed to both share costs – can I now simply reduce one party’s share?
I think not.
Well then, reduce both shares? Well heck no! – given the other side is a well heeled corporate and has already paid.
What then?
I think the only transparent way of doing this is to go to the other side and advise of the request and see if they have a problem – if they do then I would decline the request.
Any other takes on this?
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