Mediation Services
Confidential, efficient mediation for business contract disputes — breach of contract, partnership disputes, commercial lease claims, and financial industry matters — administered by an experienced neutral.
Key Takeaways
Overview
Contract and commercial mediation in Connecticut is a voluntary, confidential dispute resolution process in which a neutral mediator facilitates negotiations between businesses to resolve contract and commercial disputes outside of the court system. Unlike arbitration or litigation, commercial mediation does not produce a binding decision — the mediator helps parties identify common interests and reach a mutually acceptable settlement that they control.
Perkins Group, LLC, led by Jud Perkins, provides experienced commercial mediation services for businesses, law firms, and in-house legal departments navigating contract disputes in Connecticut. With active membership on the AAA Commercial Mediation Panel and the FINRA Dispute Resolution Panel, Perkins Group, LLC mediates disputes arising from business-to-business contracts, financial agreements, commercial leases, and partnership arrangements.
Connecticut’s commercial mediation framework is governed by the Connecticut Uniform Mediation Act, C.G.S. § 52-235d, which provides statutory confidentiality protections for all communications made during mediation. Businesses operating under contracts that include mandatory mediation clauses can rely on Perkins Group, LLC to administer proceedings that comply with Connecticut statutory requirements and AAA Commercial Mediation Rules.
Dispute Types
Contract and commercial mediation in addresses a broad range of business disputes. Perkins Group, LLC has experience mediating the following categories of commercial disputes:
| Feature | Mediation | Arbitration | Superior Court Litigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcome | Negotiated settlement (voluntary) | Binding award (imposed mandatory) | Judgment (mandatory) |
| Timeline | Days to weeks | 6 – 12 months | 2–4 years |
| Confidentiality | Fully protected by statute | Private, no public record | Public docket and hearings |
| Cost | Mediator fee, shared equally | Fees + arbitrator compensation | Full litigation costs |
| Business Relationship | Preserved — parties control outcome | Adversarial — winner/loser result | Adversarial — winner/loser result |
The Process
Parties agree to mediate and select Perkins Group, LLC as the neutral. Each party submits a confidential mediation statement outlining their position, key documents, and settlement objectives prior to the session.
All parties and their counsel meet in a joint session. Each party presents its position and the mediator establishes the agenda. The joint session allows parties to hear each other's perspectives, often revealing areas of common ground not apparent from written submissions.
The mediator meets privately with each party to explore interests, assess the strengths and weaknesses of each position, and develop settlement proposals. Information shared in private caucus remains confidential unless the party authorizes disclosure.
The mediator facilitates the exchange of settlement proposals, helping parties evaluate the costs and risks of continued litigation against the certainty of a negotiated resolution. The mediator may provide a neutral evaluation of the likely range of outcomes if parties request it.
When parties reach agreement, the mediator assists in drafting a written settlement agreement signed before the session concludes. A signed agreement is a binding contract enforceable in Superior Court.
Fees & Confidentiality
Fees through Perkins Group, LLC are typically shared equally between the parties and are based on the mediator’s hourly rate and the estimated session length. Compared to the cost of commercial arbitration — which includes AAA filing fees, arbitrator compensation, expert witness costs, deposition expenses, and case timelines that, in complex commercial matters, can extend one to three years — mediation fees through Perkins Group, LLC are typically shared equally between the parties. Parties should contact Perkins Group, LLC directly at (860) 204-9168 to discuss the fee structure and scheduling.
Commercial mediation in Connecticut is confidential by statute. Connecticut General Statutes § 52-235d prohibits the admission of mediation communications as evidence in any subsequent arbitration or court proceeding. Statements made in joint sessions, positions disclosed in private caucuses, and documents prepared specifically for mediation remain protected from disclosure unless all parties agree in writing to waive that protection.
Confidentiality provides commercial parties with a safe forum to discuss the real financial stakes of a dispute, allowing businesses to explore settlement ranges and acknowledge contract weaknesses without fear that such disclosures will appear in a subsequent arbitration or trial.
Common Questions
Commercial mediation through Perkins Group, LLC typically resolves in a single session of four to eight hours. Multi-party disputes or those with complex contract terms may require more than one session. Scheduling a session with Perkins Group, LLC takes days to weeks, compared to the months or years required by AAA arbitration or Superior Court litigation.
