Mediation is an alternative way of resolving disputes without going to court. During mediation, an experienced and trained individual known as the mediator, guides the parties in dispute to reach a private and amicable settlement.

Mediation is a facilitative process which helps parties resolve disputes in a non-confrontational way. As the parties are guided by the mediator to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution, they are usually more satisfied with the outcomes and this helps to preserve their relationship. Mediation is also confidential.

In addition, mediation saves time and money. Unlike going to court which maybe expensive and take months or years, a majority of SMC’s mediation cases are resolved within one working day.

SMC is a one-stop mediation service provider and has a track record since 1997 of successfully resolving disputes. Over 70% of our matters are settled and more than 90% of these were settled within one working day.

From appointing a mediator, to arranging a date and venue for mediation and exchanging of documents, to providing other administrative support, we help to ensure that your mediation sessions are smooth, efficient and stress-free.

SMC also offers other alternative dispute resolution services such as adjudication and neutral evaluation.

SMC is one of four designated mediation service providers under the Mediation Act 2017. This means that mediated settlement agreements administered by us can be recorded and enforceable as a court order with both parties’ consent.

Parties are free to refer a domestic or international commercial dispute to SMC.

During a mediation session, disputing parties will be given opportunities to voice their concerns. The mediator will guide them towards important issues to be resolved, facilitating the negotiation to reach a mutually agreeable solution. Depending on the situation, he or she may speak to each party separately. When an agreement is reached, the terms are recorded and signed by the parties.

All mediation sessions are held in confidence. There are no transcripts or formal recordings of the session. Only the mediator, the parties and/or their authorised representatives and advisors are allowed to be present.

SMC’s mediation fees are pegged to the sum of the claim and counterclaim.

For disputes above $60,000, the fee starts from $981 (inclusive of GST) per party per day. For disputes below $60,000, the fees start from $218 (inclusive of GST) per party for a four-hour session, with an hourly charge thereafter.

There are also various industry mediation schemes which are designed to be affordable. The rates vary from scheme to scheme. For more information, refer to the fee schedules in Our Services page.

You can download the relevant application form here and submit the form by email, fax or mail.

Yes. However, we recommend that you let us appoint a mediator for you. Choosing the right mediator improves the prospects for a successful mediation. We know our mediators well and will select those who are most suitable for your case. If you decide to choose your own mediator, the commercial rates of the mediator will apply instead of SMC’s published fee scales.

It is not compulsory but we encourage you to attend the mediation with your lawyer. Lawyers serve an important role during mediation, especially in drafting the settlement agreement.

No. Mediation can only commence when all parties involved have agreed to it.

If you need assistance in contacting a reluctant party, we can approach his/her on your behalf. Having an independent and neutral institution like SMC broach the idea of mediation with your counterparty may increase the chances of him/her agreeing to it.

Mediation at SMC typically lasts one day. However, the duration of mediation depends on a variety of factors including the complexity of the case and the needs of the parties.

Once parties have agreed to settle, they and/or their legal counsels will record the terms of the agreement. This agreement is a contractual document which will be signed by the parties and is binding on them. It can be converted into a court order which can be enforced even where both parties have not commenced any legal proceedings. This is possible because SMC is one of the designated mediation service providers under the Mediation Act 2017.

Settlement agreements made under SMC’s mediation services are enforceable in a court of law.

CFP is a pre-court collaborative process which allows disputing parties and their CFP lawyers to work together on a solution that suits the family. A distinctive feature of CFP is that if a settlement is not reached during the process and the disputing parties decide to go to court, they will need to instruct new lawyers. This discourages pre-mature termination of the CFP process and disincentivises potential remuneration from litigation for CFP lawyers.

There are no third-party facilitators involved in the CFP process unlike mediation. In CFP, lawyers with specialist training assist their clients in resolving the dispute. If CFP does not result in a settlement, the parties may choose to proceed to mediation.

CFP is a less stressful and hostile process, which is particularly important if the parties have children. It allows them to be civil towards each other as they work with specially-trained CFP lawyers to negotiate an amicable agreement that best suits the family. The process is also confidential.

Most matrimonial disputes are suitable for CFP, except in cases where one of the parties is incapacitated in some way, or there is a history of violence or substance abuse, or there are serious concerns about dishonesty.

SMC’s panel of CFP lawyers are practising family lawyers with specialist training who may also be accredited mediators. They are appointed to work with the parties to negotiate an agreement that best suits the family.

The duration will depend on the number and complexity of the issues. It generally involves four two-hour meetings and additional preparation time.

It costs $436 per hour (inclusive of GST) per party if SMC appoints the CFP lawyer for you.

The initial consultation with CFP lawyers is free. A deposit based on the estimated costs will be collected once the lawyers and parties have entered into a CFP participation agreement.

If a settlement is reached, the Family Justice Courts will prioritise these cases to record the agreement as consent orders.

Parties will need to find new lawyers to represent them in future litigation if the CFP process is terminated.

Neutral evaluation is an adjudicatory process which uses an unbiased third-party known as a neutral evaluator to assess and evaluate a dispute. Parties may use it to resolve entire disagreements or differences in opinions on a single point of law and/or technical issues.

In neutral evaluation, a third-party neutral evaluator will give an evaluation or opinion based on the strengths and weaknesses of the case, which may or may not be used to resolve the dispute between parties. This is unlike mediation where the mediator does not assess or provide an opinion on the dispute. The mediation process also allows parties to reach a settlement through their own negotiations.

Neutral evaluation is a fast and cost-effective adjudicatory process which provides parties with an unbiased evaluation of their case. This gives them a clearer sense of their positions if they want to negotiate a settlement. Should the matter proceed to court, it would help parties streamline issues which need to be resolved as well as give them an indication of the probable outcome. Neutral evaluation is also confidential.

All types of civil disputes are suitable for neutral evaluation, especially those with preliminary issues which can be resolved early, helping parties save time and cost if the matter proceeds to trial. It can also be used to resolve issues with technical or specialised subject matters which require an expert opinion. In these cases, a specialist neutral evaluator can be appointed.

The administrative fee for a neutral evaluation costs between $763 and $2,180 (inclusive of GST), depending on the sum in dispute. Parties will also have to pay the neutral evaluator’s fee which ranges from $500 to $1,200 per hour.

The cost incurred during the speedy process of a neutral evaluation is lower than a court hearing, which may be protracted. In resolving or narrowing disputes through neutral evaluation, parties save time, energy and money. In addition, parties are spared from the emotional stress associated with a highly-charged and adversarial court setting.

In our adversarial legal system, disputing parties often get so firmly entrenched in their positions when trying to secure the best result in a legal case. As such, actual time, cost and effort spent on the lawsuit may end up being grossly disproportionate to the end result.

In these situations, it would be useful to have an independent neutral evaluator who can step in at any stage of the legal case to provide a “reality check”. This allows parties to examine the strengths and weaknesses of their case, as well as give them an advance indication of the possible outcome if the matter is heard before a judge. After an impartial and objective evaluation, they would have a better understanding of the facets of their dispute. They might also want to reconsider going to court and reinvest their valuable and limited resources of time and money instead into other ways of resolving their differences amicably.

Although a wait-and-see approach may seem advisable, the perceived benefits of holding out may fizzle out when the case drags on. Also, evidence will have to be disclosed during the discovery and interrogatories processes of court procedure.

They may choose whether or not to take the neutral evaluator’s opinion as binding when they sign the neutral evaluation agreement at the start of the process. A binding opinion settles the matter in question for parties, helping them to streamline the court process if the dispute proceeds to trial. A non-binding opinion will help parties to understand their case better and focus on the key issues involved. It will also give them a good indication of the probable outcome in a trial.

You must have a recognised diploma or degree.

Yes. You must also complete Module 1 to be eligible for Module 2.

Yes. You have to complete SCMP Module 2 within two years of completing Module 1 and MSA within two years of completing Module 2. You may also do as many reassessments of MSA during the two years after completing Module 2.

SMC trainers and assessors are experienced mediators from different professions. They include district judges, senior lawyers and university professors, as well as other professionals from a broad range of industries.

MSA results are not marked on a curve, hence the passing rate differs from cohort to cohort.

MSA comprises three components:

• Practical assessment – one-hour role-play as a mediator;
• Written assessment – one-hour open book test and;
• Written assignment – self-reflection.

You must pass all three components to pass MSA and obtain accreditation by SMC.

You may want to have your skills internationally recognised by applying to be an International Mediation Institute (IMI) Qualified Mediator*.

IMI is a professional standards body for mediation which does not run training or assessment courses that lead to accreditation or certification. It uses registered partners like SMC who run training and/or mediation services.

SMC is the first institution in Singapore to be recognised under IMI’s certified Mediator Training Programme and Qualifying Assessment Programme.

For more information about IMI, please click here.

*Only participants who complete Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) after September 2019 are eligible to apply.