By Farley Tolpen, CEO. In the past year, I have mediated several matters involving multiple parties and complex issues. I recently mediated a complex matter involving multiple parties and their lawyers. There was a long history and complicated facts involving international law, deep rooted emotional issues and multiple agreements, both written and oral. If the matter did not resolve, the matter would most likely have proceeded to trial with huge and long lasting implications. The mediation lasted several days with multiple private sessions and conferences. There was a breakthrough about halfway through the mediation, when several of the parties were able to listen to the other parties underlying issues. They were able to discuss those issues and proceeded to negotiate a resolution to the entire matter. The parties signed the settlement papers prepared by myself with assistance from the lawyers. The parties were happy and relieved that the matter had been resolved and they could move on with their lives. I was satisfied with the way I managed the process and assisted the parties in resolution. In followup the agreement has been finalised and the matter is now completely resolved.