Mediation and Mediation Consulting

Mediation is an alternative to litigation. Most mediated cases settle with the assistance of an experienced, impartial and trained mediator who facilitates the mediation process. Divorce is often an emotionally charged and highly complex process. If you are considering mediating your divorce case it is essential that you hire a mediator who knows all aspects of family law, is sensitive to potential power imbalances between spouses and sensitive to cultural differences and is up to date with trends in family law courts. You also want a mediator who you feel completely comfortable with. In the divorce context you want to hire a mediator who is trustworthy and compassionate. Mr. Blum’s trustworthiness and compassion is evidenced by the fact that he has been an attorney in good standing for many years, a long time member of the local community and a volunteer in the local schools and elsewhere, including as a commissioner on the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission for 6 years.

Where possible and where the parties will have an ongoing relationship with one another notwithstanding the fact they are divorcing, such as if they have children together or will continue to own a business or property together, Mr. Blum applies his transformative mediation skills. A goal of transformative mediation is to improve the relationship between divorcing spouses. Where it is appropriate to apply it, transformative mediation can work in conjunction with the facilitative mediation process which focuses on resolving the underlying divorce related issues such as concerning the division of property, child custody issues and support related issues. Transformative mediation emphasizes the concepts of empowerment and recognition.