Mediation for difficult, sensitive and high-stakes disputes.
Michael Rodrigues provides mediation and family dispute resolution for people who need a structured, practical and confidential process to address conflict. His background as a lawyer, accredited mediator, Registered Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and advocate assists with disputes involving legal complexity, strong emotions, financial consequences or ongoing relationships.
When engaged as mediator or Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Michael acts independently and neutrally. He does not act as solicitor for either party and does not provide either party with independent legal advice.
Initial enquiries are ordinarily handled by telephone. In-person mediation and intake appointments are arranged by prior appointment only. We do not accept walk-ins.
A practical pathway before conflict becomes more expensive, entrenched or uncertain.
Mediation is a structured dispute resolution process. It helps parties identify the real issues, understand competing positions, test legal and practical risks and consider whether a workable agreement can be reached.
Parenting Mediation and FDR
Structured family dispute resolution concerning parenting arrangements, communication, decision-making, relocation and other child-related issues.
Property and Financial Settlement
Mediation involving property division, liabilities, disclosure, businesses, companies, trusts, self-managed superannuation funds and complex asset pools.
Lawyer-Assisted Mediation
A structured process for parties represented by lawyers where litigation risk, evidence, negotiation dynamics and court realities require careful management.
Workplace Disputes
Mediation for suitable workplace conflict, communication breakdown, professional disputes and conflict affecting an ongoing working relationship.
Commercial Disputes
Mediation for selected business, shareholder, contractual and partnership disputes where negotiation may preserve time, cost and control.
Family and Personal Disputes
Mediation for suitable family, personal or community disputes where confidentiality, structure and careful communication may assist resolution.
Resolution-focused, legally informed and built around preparation.
Michael’s mediation style is calm, direct and structured. The process is designed to help parties identify the real issues, understand risk, explore options and make informed decisions about whether settlement is possible.
In family law matters, the process may involve parenting arrangements, property and financial settlement, disclosure, risk, safety, urgency and the practical consequences of continuing litigation.
In commercial or workplace matters, the focus may be on evidence, cost, business disruption, damaged relationships and the practical value of reaching an agreed outcome.
Mediation does not guarantee agreement. It provides a controlled process in which parties can test their positions, consider compromise and potentially resolve the dispute before further cost, delay and uncertainty are incurred.
Standard mediation fees and payment terms.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the fees shown below are GST-inclusive and charged per party. A written proposal or mediation agreement will confirm the applicable fees and arrangements for each matter.
Intake Session
- Separate intake and assessment appointment
- Preliminary discussion of issues and suitability
- Intake preparation and administration
- Assessment of whether mediation is appropriate
- Section 60I or Section 66H certificate where legally applicable and appropriate
Half-Day Mediation
- Up to four hours of mediation time
- Includes up to one hour of reading time
- Suitable for focused parenting, property or other defined issues
- Additional time may be charged where the session exceeds the allocated time
- Designed for disputes capable of being narrowed efficiently
Full-Day Mediation
- Up to eight hours of mediation time
- Includes up to two hours of reading time
- Suitable for complex parenting, property, commercial or multi-issue disputes
- Additional time may be charged where the session exceeds the allocated time
- Appropriate where substantial documents or multiple issues are involved
These are standard fees only. Complexity, urgency, the volume of documents, additional conferences, extensive preparation, travel, administration or additional mediation time may affect the final fee. Any variation should be discussed and confirmed in writing before the work is undertaken.
Parenting Mediation and Certificates
Parenting mediation may include invitations to participate in family dispute resolution, separate intake appointments with each party, attendance with parties and legal representatives where appropriate, and the issue of a Section 60I certificate or, in some Western Australian parenting matters, a Section 66H certificate where legally applicable and appropriate.
Intake appointments may be conducted by telephone, secure video or in person, depending on suitability, safety, availability and the nature of the dispute.
Payment Terms
- Unless otherwise agreed in writing, mediation fees must be paid in full no later than seven days before the scheduled intake or mediation.
- The mediation will not proceed unless the required funds have cleared into the nominated account or another arrangement has been confirmed in writing.
- Additional time beyond the included hours may be invoiced separately and is payable within seven days unless otherwise agreed.
- The half-day fee includes up to one hour of reading time. The full-day fee includes up to two hours of reading time.
- Where extensive material is provided, additional reading or preparation time may be discussed and charged separately.
- Invoices and receipts may be issued electronically.
Cancellation and Rescheduling
- Payment or a booking amount may be required to secure the mediation date.
- Cancellation, non-attendance or late rescheduling may result in fees being retained or further fees becoming payable, depending on timing and preparation already undertaken.
- Rescheduling is subject to mediator availability.
- Additional preparation or administration charges may apply where new dates or substantial new material are introduced.
- If a mediation is adjourned because of incomplete disclosure, late material or a party’s unreadiness, reasonable additional fees may apply.
- If Michael cancels a mediation, unused fees will be refunded or the matter will be rescheduled where appropriate.
A clear process from first enquiry to mediation session.
Each matter is assessed separately. The format, participants, timing and preparation requirements depend on the nature of the dispute and the circumstances of the parties.
Initial Enquiry
Provide a short summary of the dispute, the parties involved, any urgent date and the type of mediation being considered.
Separate Intake
Each party may be spoken to separately so that suitability, safety, urgency, capacity to participate and process issues can be assessed.
Mediation Session
The mediation may involve joint sessions, separate private sessions, proposals, reality testing and structured negotiation.
Outcome and Next Steps
Where agreement is reached, the next steps are identified. Where no agreement is reached, the parties remain free to consider their legal options.
Mediation is confidential, but it is not a substitute for independent legal advice.
When engaged as mediator or Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, Michael does not act as the solicitor for either party. He does not determine who is legally right, provide independent legal advice to either party or impose an outcome.
Parties should obtain independent legal advice before, during or after mediation where appropriate, particularly before signing binding documents or finalising significant parenting, property, financial or commercial arrangements.
Mediation may not be suitable for every dispute. Suitability can depend on safety, urgency, capacity to participate, family violence concerns, power imbalance, disclosure, court deadlines and whether the parties are ready to engage in the process.
Mediation can be conducted across Australia, online or in person.
Michael conducts mediation for parties across Australia, including where participants or lawyers are in different locations. Mediation may be conducted by secure video or in person, and where attendance is required outside the firm's established office locations, appropriate arrangements can be made.
Office attendance by confirmed prior appointment only. No walk-ins.
Office attendance by confirmed prior appointment only. No walk-ins.
Office attendance by confirmed prior appointment only. No walk-ins.
Please do not attend an office without a confirmed appointment. The appropriate arrangements for intake and mediation are determined after the initial enquiry, having regard to the dispute, participants, location and any practical or court-related requirements.
Want to check mediation availability?
Call or complete the confidential enquiry form with the names of the parties, the general nature of the dispute, whether lawyers are involved and any preferred or required timeframe. Do not send detailed confidential submissions or documents until requested.