AN APPOINTMENT
AN APPOINTMENT
Private, neutral-facilitated resolution of business disputes — including breach of contract, partnership disputes, and commercial relationship breakdowns — without litigation.
Key Takeaways
Overview
Contract and commercial mediation in Connecticut is a private, neutral-facilitated process that resolves business disputes — including breach of contract, partnership disputes, and commercial relationship breakdowns — without litigation. Jud Perkins, founder of Perkins Group, LLC in Salem, Connecticut, mediates commercial disputes statewide as a panelist with the American Arbitration Association, the ADR Center of Connecticut, and FINRA. Perkins Group, LLC resolves more than 85 percent of cases, typically within weeks rather than the months or years required by Connecticut Superior Court proceedings.
Perkins Group, LLC
Contract and commercial mediation in Connecticut is a confidential, structured negotiation process in which a neutral mediator facilitates discussion between disputing business parties to reach a voluntary settlement. The mediator does not decide who is right, issue a binding award, or impose a resolution. Parties retain full control over the outcome unless and until they sign a written settlement agreement.
Connecticut General Statutes §§ 52-408 through 52-424 govern written arbitration agreements in the state, and the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq., governs arbitration clauses in contracts involving interstate commerce, which frequently overlaps with Connecticut commercial disputes. Business-to-business contracts across Connecticut regularly include mandatory ADR clauses requiring mediation before any arbitration or litigation can proceed.
| Method | Binding | Average Timeline | Privacy | Cost Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Mediation | No (unless settled) | Weeks | Fully private | Low |
| AAA Commercial Arbitration | Yes | Months | Private | Moderate to high |
| Connecticut Superior Court | Yes | 1 to 3 years | Public record | High |
| Informal Negotiation | No | Variable | Private | Lowest |
Perkins Group, LLC
Perkins Group, LLC mediates the full range of contract and commercial disputes that arise between businesses, partners, vendors, and counterparties in Connecticut and across the region. Perkins brings direct commercial project experience spanning more than three decades, so the firm arrives at each session with working knowledge of contracts, project finance, and business relationships — not legal theory alone.
1
Breach of contract disputes arise when one party fails to perform a contractual obligation — including non-payment, non-performance, and non-compliance with the terms of the agreement. Mediation resolves breach claims in a private setting, without the public court record created by litigation, so businesses can protect confidential commercial relationships during the process.
2
Partnership disputes arise when co-owners disagree over profit distributions, management decisions, buyout terms, or the direction of a shared venture. Perkins Group, LLC mediates partnership disputes between parties seeking a resolution that preserves the business or enables a clean separation, without surrendering the outcome to a judge or arbitrator.
3
Commercial contracts between vendors, suppliers, service providers, and customers generate disputes over scope, payment, delivery, and performance. Mediation resolves those disputes faster than litigation. Businesses return to operations rather than spending months preparing for court.
4
Commercial lease disagreements, landlord-tenant disputes, and real estate development contract claims arise on Connecticut projects of every scale. Perkins brings direct real estate development experience to commercial lease mediations, so the firm understands the financial and operational stakes on both sides.
5
Perkins Group, LLC holds panel membership with FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and mediates financial and investment-related commercial disputes. FINRA-administered mediations follow established procedural rules that protect both parties throughout the process.
6
Complex commercial disputes involving more than two parties — including developer-contractor-lender disputes, vendor chain disagreements, and multi-counterparty contract claims — require a mediator who can manage competing interests across a single session. Perkins has managed multi-party commercial projects at the highest level and brings that coordination experience to multi-party mediation.
Perkins Group, LLC
Commercial mediation produces better outcomes when the mediator understands the commercial environment in which the dispute arose. Perkins Group, LLC reports successful resolution in more than 85 percent of mediated cases — a track record built on 35 years of managing large-scale commercial projects, not on a legal career alone.
Before founding Perkins Group, LLC, Perkins managed the development of large-scale commercial projects across the United States, including Walt Disney World and Madison Square Garden. Those projects required direct experience negotiating contracts, managing vendor and partner relationships, resolving payment disputes in real time, and delivering results under financial and schedule pressure.
Perkins Group, LLC holds active panel membership with the following organizations, giving commercial parties access to a neutral recognized across multiple dispute resolution forums:
Perkins Group, LLC
Commercial mediation in Connecticut follows a structured process that moves from pre-session preparation through joint discussion, private caucuses, and, when parties reach a resolution, a written settlement agreement.
1
The parties contact Perkins Group, LLC, and agree to mediation. Each side submits a brief written statement outlining its position, the key contract terms or facts at issue, and the resolution sought. Perkins reviews those materials before the session begins, so time is not spent on introductory education.
2
All parties convene with Perkins in a joint session. Each side presents its position directly and without interruption. The joint session gives Perkins a direct read of each party's priorities, non-negotiables, and areas where movement is possible.
3
Perkins meets separately with each party. Parties speak candidly in caucus about real interests, financial constraints, and settlement parameters. Connecticut General Statutes § 52-235d prohibits the use of mediation communications as evidence in any subsequent proceeding, thereby protecting caucus disclosures.
4
Perkins moves between parties, testing proposals and developing resolution options that each side can accept. Commercial background allows Perkins to evaluate financially realistic solutions — not just positional compromises — so parties leave with agreements that reflect the actual economics of the dispute.
5
When parties reach a resolution, they execute a written settlement agreement before the session concludes. A signed mediation settlement is a binding contract under Connecticut law and is enforceable in the Connecticut Superior Court.
Perkins Group, LLC
Commercial mediation through Perkins Group, LLC costs less than AAA commercial arbitration or Connecticut Superior Court litigation for most disputes. The American Arbitration Association publishes commercial arbitration fee schedules based on claim amount, with filing fees, arbitrator compensation, and case service fees that increase significantly as claim values rise.
Connecticut Superior Court litigation adds attorney fees, 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.
Perkins Group, LLC
Yes. 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
Contract and commercial mediation in Connecticut works best for breach-of-contract claims, partnership disputes, business-to-business payment disputes, commercial lease disputes, and financial industry disputes. Any matter in which confidentiality, speed, and the preservation of business relationships outweigh a binding adjudicated ruling is a strong candidate for mediation.
Connecticut law does not universally require mediation before commercial arbitration, but most business-to-business contracts include mandatory ADR clauses requiring mediation as a first step under C.G.S. §§ 52-408 through 52-424. Parties should review their specific contract language before filing any arbitration demand.
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.
A commercial mediation settlement becomes legally binding in Connecticut when parties execute a written settlement agreement at the close of the session. An oral agreement reached during mediation is not enforceable. Perkins ensures parties reduce any resolution to writing before the session concludes.
A neutral who served as a mediator is generally disqualified from serving as an arbitrator in the same matter under the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules. Perkins Group, LLC provides both services but does not serve in dual roles on the same dispute. Parties anticipating both stages should discuss neutral selection with the firm at the outset.
FINRA mediation covers disputes among financial industry participants, including investment agreements, broker-dealer relationships, and claims arising from financial product contracts. Perkins Group, LLC holds an active FINRA panel membership and mediates eligible disputes under established FINRA procedural rules.
A signed mediation settlement agreement is a binding contract under Connecticut law and is enforceable in the Connecticut Superior Court. If a party fails to perform the terms of the settlement, the other party may file a breach of contract action in Superior Court to enforce the agreement.
Yes. Perkins Group, LLC mediates contract and commercial disputes in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York City courts. Parties with multi-jurisdictional commercial agreements or disputes spanning those states should contact Perkins Group, LLC at (860) 204-9168 to discuss whether the firm is the appropriate neutral for their matter.
Perkins Group, LLC resolves more than 85% of commercial mediation cases. Call (860) 204-9168 to schedule a session.
