Someone manages the conversation.
The mediator supports a balanced process, helps identify roadblocks, and encourages productive exchange without taking sides.
When a disagreement affects your family, workplace, business, property, or organization, the way forward begins with a better conversation. VirNet offers structured, neutral online mediation to help people identify what matters, evaluate options, and work toward informed agreements.
Virtual appointments across the United States, subject to suitability and applicable requirements. In-person services by arrangement.
A mediator guides the process; the people involved retain responsibility for their decisions.
Mediation brings people in disagreement into a structured process with an impartial facilitator. Rather than determining who wins, the mediator helps participants identify issues, exchange information, consider different perspectives, generate options, and decide whether terms of agreement are possible.
The mediator supports a balanced process, helps identify roadblocks, and encourages productive exchange without taking sides.
Participants assess proposals, choose which issues to resolve, and decide whether to accept an agreement. The mediator does not impose a ruling.
Agreements may address more than a legal claim: communication, scheduling, payment terms, future expectations, and other shared concerns.
Different disputes demand different preparation and a different balance of relationship, legal, financial, and organizational considerations. Choose an area below to learn what mediation can address.
Separation, parenting, asset and debt division, support discussions, and post-divorce concerns.
Explore family mediation →Employment claims, team conflict, communication breakdowns, and workplace transitions.
Explore workplace mediation →Partnership disagreements, service contracts, payment disputes, and complex negotiations.
Explore business mediation →Landlord–tenant disagreements, property use, neighbor relations, and association disputes.
Explore property mediation →School leadership, boards, institutional decisions, and relationship or governance conflict.
Explore organizational mediation →Facilitated dialogue, communication planning, conflict coaching, and structured conversations.
Explore consulting options →Our process begins with understanding the nature of the conflict and the people affected. These examples are illustrative, not limits on the matters VirNet may consider.
Family mediation can help separating or divorcing partners make decisions about parenting schedules, holidays, education, financial responsibilities, property division, debt allocation, and the practical arrangements that follow a major family transition. We can also assist with post-decree or parenting-plan disputes when mediation is appropriate.
Workplace conflict often involves more than a disputed event. It can affect working relationships, trust, productivity, and organizational risk. VirNet facilitates mediation involving employee–employer disagreements, allegations of discrimination or retaliation, communication difficulties, return-to-work issues, interpersonal tensions, and negotiated workplace transitions where suitable.
VirNet provides neutral dispute-resolution services. It is separate from legal representation, and mediators do not act as counsel for either party.
Discuss a workplace matter →Commercial conflict can derail projects and damage otherwise productive relationships. Mediation provides a forum to examine disputed obligations and performance, cash-flow and payment issues, vendor or customer disagreements, ownership matters, and partnership expectations—while exploring solutions that may preserve business value.
Property disputes may involve continuing obligations long after a meeting ends. We help participants address landlord–tenant concerns, rental terms, association governance, maintenance responsibilities, property access or use, noise and neighbor disputes, and shared ownership questions.
Institutions have responsibilities, relationships, and decision-making processes that can complicate disagreement. VirNet offers facilitated dialogue for educational leaders, staff, boards, families, and organizational stakeholders where a neutral, structured conversation may support progress.
Not every conflict requires formal settlement mediation. Some clients need help preparing for a consequential discussion, mapping stakeholders and interests, facilitating a leadership conversation, or designing a process for negotiating a difficult decision. We can discuss these services separately from a neutral mediation engagement.
Mediation is often worth considering before conflict becomes even more expensive or entrenched. But it is not automatically the right approach for every dispute.
Good mediation begins before the first joint conversation. We tailor the approach to the nature and complexity of the dispute and clarify expectations at each stage.
We learn about the dispute, identify participants, assess initial suitability, and discuss fees and scheduling.
We establish process expectations, consider confidentiality and participation agreements, and identify information needed.
We use joint conversations, separate sessions, or both to clarify interests, evaluate ideas, and negotiate options.
Where agreements emerge, we help document proposed terms for participant and appropriate independent review.
Online mediation can reduce travel and scheduling obstacles while supporting the same careful preparation, neutral facilitation, and practical negotiation that matter in person.
We discuss technology, privacy expectations, accessibility needs, and any legal or court-specific requirements in advance. Participants should arrange a private, reliable connection whenever possible.
Participants do not need to have all the answers before mediation. A little advance preparation can help distinguish essential priorities from negotiating positions and clarify where flexibility exists.
Identify the problems you want to address, the practical outcomes you hope for, and what you need to understand about the other perspective.
Organize contracts, financial figures, schedules, correspondence, or other records relevant to informed discussions. Be prepared to identify disputed information.
Consider realistic alternatives to settlement, including their costs, uncertainties, time requirements, and effects on relationships.
Identify decision-makers, advisers, support needs, and authority to resolve issues. Discuss accommodations or participation concerns before scheduling.
Mediation is built on trust. Meet the professionals who create a structured, respectful space to explore options and move difficult conversations forward.
Legal experience, academic training, and years spent facilitating difficult discussions inform our work—while neutrality and participant choice remain central to every mediation.
Attorney, educator, and mediator whose practice draws on civil rights administration, workplace dispute resolution, negotiation, and organizational leadership. Ben emphasizes thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and durable, participant-driven agreements.
Read Ben's background
Attorney and bilingual mediator who helps individuals, families, and businesses work through emotionally charged and complex disputes. Josh brings a calm, practical approach to communication, negotiation, and the development of workable agreements.
Read Josh's background
Virginia Earwicker is a Certified Professional Mediator with a background in psychology and graduate studies in clinical mental health counseling. As Client Lead Specialist and Mediator, she helps individuals and families navigate difficult conversations with empathy, clarity, and thoughtful guidance. Virginia brings a compassionate, client-centered approach to mediation, emphasizing trust, communication, and practical resolution.
Read Virginia's backgroundEach matter is different. These answers describe our general approach; intake discussions determine the appropriate process for an individual dispute.
Ordinarily, participants need to be willing to engage in the process. Some courts, contracts, or agencies require mediation or an initial attempt to mediate, but a requirement to attend does not generally mean a participant must accept a settlement. The governing rules of your matter may differ.
Often, yes. Online meetings can accommodate parties in different locations. We assess the matter, court or agency requirements, legal constraints, and practical logistics before confirming an engagement.
Not necessarily in every matter. Participants may choose to obtain independent legal advice before, during, or after mediation, and some situations warrant or require attorney involvement. VirNet's neutral mediator does not represent either participant.
Not always. Joint conversation can be useful, but separate video rooms or individual meetings may be more appropriate in some cases. We discuss safety, preferences, and process suitability beforehand.
Confidentiality protections depend on applicable statutes, court rules, participation agreements, and exceptions. We explain the agreed process and encourage participants to obtain independent advice about legal privileges and disclosure obligations relevant to their dispute.
A partial agreement can still be valuable. Participants may document resolved issues, continue negotiating the remainder, or use another process for unresolved questions. No particular result is guaranteed.
Timing and cost depend on the number of people and issues, the amount of preparation needed, the mediator's rate, and whether follow-up drafting is requested. We provide current rate information and a matter-specific estimate during intake. Billing arrangements may be shared where agreed.
Depending on applicable law and the terms and form of a final agreement, mediated settlements may become enforceable. For family or court-connected matters, additional filings, judicial review, or other formal steps may be required. Independent legal review is often advisable before signing.
Tell us the general nature of your dispute and what you hope mediation might accomplish. We'll discuss suitability, scheduling, rates, and an appropriate path forward.
VirNet offers neutral mediation and related conflict-resolution services. A mediator facilitates discussion and does not act as an attorney for either participant. Sending an inquiry does not create a mediation engagement or an attorney–client relationship. Please avoid sending confidential or highly sensitive details until appropriate intake arrangements are in place.
Already represented? Counsel may participate in mediation when appropriate to the matter.