Private Caucuses with Mediators

What happens in a mediation caucus? Answers from one mediator's caucuses in a study by Daniel Klerman and Lisa Klerman.

One paragraph from Inside the Caucus: An Empirical Analysis of Mediation from Within:

Parties in Lisa Klerman's mediations were always represented by lawyers. At least a day before the mediation, the lawyers ordinarily gave Ms Klerman “mediation briefs” summarizing the facts and legal issues. Lisa Klerman would typically begin the mediation by discussing the facts and underlying legal issues of the asserted claims in separate private caucuses (meetings) with each side. These communications were confidential in order to encourage the parties to be candid with the mediator. Ms Klerman would explore the strengths and weaknesses of the case with each side in order to set the stage for the parties to adjust their settlement expectations. In some cases, Ms Klerman would recommend an attorney caucus (a meeting between the mediator and the attorneys representing both sides, without their clients) to discuss disputed facts or novel legal arguments. It might be several hours before settlement numbers were discussed. Toward the end of the day, the parties may have stalled in their negotiations. If so, Ms Klerman would frequently make a “mediator's proposal” to settle the case. A mediator's proposal is a settlement proposal that comes from the mediator—not from either side—and is the number that the mediator believes both sides are most likely to accept. Although mediations are sometimes classified as facilitative or evaluative, Ms Klerman uses both approaches, as she thinks is most appropriate for each dispute. Because of her experience as an employment litigator, her evaluation of a case had substantial credibility with lawyers and their clients.

Mediation in Hong Kong

Mediation in Hong Kong SAR by Shahla F. Ali &  A. K. C. Koo, both of the University of Hong Kong

According to this article, the Hong Kong Mediation Ordinance came into force on 1 January 2013. "It aims to provide a regulatory framework for promoting the use of mediation as a dispute resolution process and protecting the confidential nature of mediation communications... it prohibits disclosure or admissibility of mediation communications unless in exceptional circumstances or with leave of the court."

"At present, Hong Kong has not adopted legislation based on the Model Law on International Commercial Conciliation of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (the ‘Model Law’). Its adoption seems unlikely"