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Mediation & Negotiation

Resolving conflicts alternatively
Negotiating with strategy
Creating win-win situations
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Mediation

Mediation is much more than an alternative to court proceedings – it is a way of resolving conflicts in a humane, efficient and forward-looking manner. Maintaining a basis of trust is invaluable, especially when the parties will continue to have dealings with each other in the future, for example in family, club or company contexts. A legal dispute often leaves only losers – mediation, on the other hand, opens up avenues for sustainable cooperation.

The focus is not on assigning blame, but on working together to find solutions. Neutral mediation enables the parties involved to reveal their actual interests, resolve misunderstandings and develop new perspectives. This results in an agreement that is not based on coercion, but on insight, understanding and mutual respect. Those who opt for mediation retain control over the process, the content and the costs – and often gain more than a court ruling can ever offer: clarity, positivity and a solid foundation for the future.

Mediation follows a clear structure: first, the framework and ground rules are agreed; then the parties collect the open issues and explain their interests and needs. On this basis, possible solutions are developed, jointly evaluated and finally recorded in an agreement that can, if required, also be made legally binding. If the mediation is conducted by a mediator registered under the Austrian Civil Law Mediation Act, it also suspends limitation periods and other deadlines for asserting the claims concerned. Sitting down at the mediation table therefore does not mean putting your rights at risk while an amicable solution is being sought.

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Negotiation

Negotiations are emotionally charged situations. They involve interests, often power and money – and always attitude and character. Whether selling a company, renegotiating a contract or dealing with a sensitive family matter, a professional negotiator can make all the difference at crucial moments.
An outside expert brings distance and experience where emotion and pressure would otherwise cloud the view. They analyse tactics, maintain an overview and negotiate with the necessary mix of psychological sensitivity, rhetorical precision and strategic clarity. While others get lost in details, they keep their eye on the goal – a result that is convincing both economically and personally. This turns uncertainty into strength and risk into opportunity.
In German-speaking countries in particular, it is still unusual to seek professional coaching or even representation prior to negotiations, whereas in other countries, specialists in negotiation have long been the norm. But if you want to assert your position with confidence, you need more than just arguments: you need strategy, empathy and a cool head.
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Reasons for Schmelz lawfirm

Those who choose our consulting services gain more than just legal input – they gain a partner who resolves conflicts with structure, empathy and experience.

Our partner Eva Schmelz is a trained mediator and has many years of experience in handling conflicts that require particular sensitivity. As an independent mediator, she knows how to defuse tensions, build trust and open up avenues for those involved that they would hardly have seen on their own in the dispute. Mediation offers the opportunity to avoid long and nerve-wracking court proceedings and instead create win-win situations through alternative conflict resolution methods. Our goal is to achieve not only a factual result, but also a sense of fairness, understanding and sustainability.

Dorian Schmelz contributes his knowledge of professional negotiation, which he gained at top Anglo-American universities, among other places. He advises and coaches you before important negotiation situations or acts as your representative in these situations.