Optimistic outlook for mediation

Courts and tribunals may have been slow to move to remote working after being closed during the first lockdown period, but when it came to mediation the process was able to instantly adapt.

“I’d always done mediation in person and was a firm believer that you needed to be in the room with people,” Mr Hossack says. “Before we went into the pandemic I’d done a couple of phone mediations and was a bit sceptical thinking it wouldn’t be the same because it was disembodied voices, but in fact it worked out pretty well. Since the pandemic I’ve done six virtual mediations as the mediator and I’m quite sold on it.”

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What a year it’s been for Scottish Mediation

When Scottish Mediation conceived the idea of having a Year of Mediation, I think it would be fair to say that Covid-19 was not something we had considered. Last week I was speaking at a meeting held to celebrate the Year and reflected that it hadn’t gone as we had expected and that 2020 was never likely to be remembered for mediation. In some ways, however 2020 has seen some considerable, developments in mediation and whilst our Year has maybe not been the catalyst, I am delighted that they have happened.

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The Margaret Taylor interview: David Hossack’s optimistic outlook for mediation in Scotland

As the year comes to a close with Christmas all but cancelled, it is hard to imagine that any good has come from Covid-19. For Morton Fraser partner David Hossack, however, one positive to come out of the coronavirus pandemic is that it has helped to highlight the role mediation can play in the resolution of disputes. Courts and tribunals may have been slow to move to remote working after being closed during the first lockdown period, but when it came to mediation the process was able to instantly adapt.

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