Mediation
Disputes can be draining - mentally, physically and financially. Often, it seems like there is no way through a conflict. Providing the environment for caring, thorough, and creative solutions is what Waterhouse Mediation is about. Our goal is to help people resolve personal or business conflicts and move on with their lives.
Services
Waterhouse Mediation specialises in helping to settle sensitive disputes, both legal and non-legal
Waterhouse Mediation is fully accredited and provides services in the following areas:
- facilitated settlement conferences
- mediation of legal disputes
- trauma-informed approach to settlement of historical abuse claims
- personal injury and negligence disputes
- disputes between organisations
- inter-personal disputes including employment disputes and family disputes.
philosophy
I have spent many years involved in settling complex disputes. Frequently this has involved difficult private and personal issues for individuals.
In my experience, to reach agreement about a dispute, the legal detail is often secondary to the need for parties to respectfully listen to each other. It’s not simply a question of the lawyers discussing the strengths and weaknesses of their case. While the legal aspects are important, and the legal rights and duties of each side need to be properly understood, just as important is respectful listening and engagement with the other side.
In my work in the NSW public sector, I led by example in introducing trauma-informed settlement processes following the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, establishing a respectful ambience in which effective understanding can occur.
Bringing to bear many years of experience settling legal disputes, I can effectively set the climate to help parties on both sides of a dispute think afresh about potential pathways to resolution, involving both legal and non-legal factors.
Awards
Recognising this work, Michael was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in 2018 under the Australian Honours and Awards system “for outstanding public service to education through legal counsel roles in New South Wales.”
Michael is recognised for his empathetic character, his capacity to listen and understand the perspectives of others, and his practical approach to the search for solutions.
Qualifications and professional memberships:
- BA Hons (majoring in Government) University of Sydney
- Diploma of Law (Legal Practitioners’ Admissions Board)
- Diploma Legal Practice (NSW College of Law)
- Diploma of Business Administration (Australian Graduate School of Management)
- Admitted as a Solicitor by the NSW Supreme Court
- Holder of unrestricted practising certificate NSW Law Society
- Accredited under the National Mediation Accredited Scheme
- Professional Member of the Resolution Insitute
What others have said about Michael Waterhouse
Our services and fees
Facilitation and structured negotiation of litigated and unlitigated claims.
Full day mediation – 2 parties
- $3700 plus GST
- This assumes 2 parties legally represented and includes 2 hours pre-reading and preparatory meetings/calls.
Full day – 3 parties
- $4000 plus GST
- This assumes 3 parties legally represented and includes 2 hours pre-reading and preparatory meetings/calls.
Half day mediation – 2 parties
- $2000 plus GST
- This assumes 2 parties legally represented and includes 2 hours pre-reading and preparatory meetings/calls.
Half day mediation – 3 parties
- $2500 plus GST
- This assumes 2 parties legally represented and includes 2 hours pre-reading and preparatory meetings/calls.
Additional charges may be incurred if additional reading is required, if any party is unrepresented or if overnight travel is required.
The above fees are a general guide and if a particular case has different characteristics, fee arrangements can be negotiated in advance.
