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MDRS Fee Schedule

 

Standard Mediation Session or Arbitration Hearing

Our standard fee for a mediation session or arbitration hearing before one MDRS neutral of up to two hours is $625.00 per party, required as pre-payment.  Each additional hour of service will be billed at $250.00 per hour, per party.  Such additional charges include any necessary review of documents, conference calls, emails, and/or other direct case work by the neutral.  The fee for a full day arbitration or mediation is $1,700.00 per party for up to seven (7) hours of service, required as pre-payment.  Pre-payment fees are payable in advance of the scheduled session.  Please inquire about full day discounts for multiple parties of 4 or more.

Divorce Mediation Session or Arbitration Hearing

Divorce mediation or arbitration sessions are billed at $350.00 per hour, the initial half hour being free of charge.  Billable time includes any necessary review of documents, conference calls, e-mails, preparation of Settlement Agreement, and/or other direct case work by the neutral. All fees may be split evenly between the parties, or as agreed.  Please note that for divorce mediations, a retainer will be required upon the scheduling of the session, and applied toward services as they are rendered.  Any balance due after the retainer has been expended will be billed and must be paid upon receipt monthly thereafter, as expenses are incurred.  Any applicable retainer remaining will be refunded to the parties within 30 days of case closure.

Three Member Panel Arbitration Hearing

Where the dispute is heard by a panel of three (3) MDRS arbitrators, an arbitration hearing of up to two hours is $1,875.00 per party, required as pre-payment.  Each additional hour of service will be billed at $600.00 per hour, per party.  Such additional charges include any necessary review of documents, conference calls, emails, review of evidence and preparation of award, and/or other direct case work by the neutrals.  The fee for a full day, 3 member panel hearing, is $4,000.00 per party for up to seven (7) hours, required as pre-payment.  Each additional hour of service will be billed at $600.00 per hour, per party.  Pre-payment fees are payable in advance of the scheduled hearing, and all balances due must be paid in full prior to award distribution.

Small Claims Mediation Session or Arbitration Hearing

Where the amount in controversy between the parties is less than $7,500.00, the basic fee for a mediation session or arbitration hearing for up to two hours is $500.00 per party, required as pre-payment.  Each additional hour of service will be billed at $195.00 per hour, per party.   Such additional charges include any necessary review of documents, conference calls, emails, and/or other direct case work by the neutral. Pre-payment fees are payable in advance of the scheduled session.

Postponement and Cancellation Fees

Same day postponements are subject to full hearing fees payable by responsible party.

For Standard Sessions and (partial day) Divorce Mediation Sessions 

Postponements within 15 business days from the scheduled session are billed $250.00, and postponements more than 15 business days from the scheduled session are billed $100.00.  All postponement fees are billed to the party requesting postponement.

In the event that a session is cancelled within 15 business days of the scheduled session and not rescheduled, the full standard hearing fee of $625.00 is payable by each party.  Cancellations made more than 15 business days from the scheduled session are billed at 50% of the standard hearing fee $312.50 payable by each party.  This applies to both settled and unsettled cases.

For Full Day Sessions (applies to standard case and Divorce Mediation Sessions)

The same postponement rules apply as for standard sessions, with the fees being $500.00 (within 15 business days) and $250.00 (more than 15 business days) respectively, billed to the party requesting postponement.

In the event that a full day session is cancelled within 10 business days, the full fee of $1,700 per scheduled session day is payable by each party.  Cancellations more than 10 business days and less than 20 business days are billed at $850.00 per party, and cancellations more than 20 business days are billed at $500.00 per party.

Inclement Weather Postponements

Your safety is important to us.  Should the parties require postponement due to inclement incoming weather, MDRS will waive postponement fees.  Postponements will be determined by MDRS no sooner than 24 hours in advance of the session.

Travel Fees

Travel time for sessions held outside of the Metro Boston and North Shore areas are billed at $250.00 per hour for Attorney Brian Jerome. Travel fees may be split among the parties, or as agreed.  Travel rates for other MDRS neutrals are billed at various rates per agreement; please inquire.

Incidentals

Conference Room Rental:

When a session is requested to be held outside of our Salem office location, or the number of participants warrant necessity of meeting space beyond our office limitations, the fees for any room rentals will be equally split by the parties.

Luncheon Expenses:

A per-person charge of $20.00 will be added to final billing for luncheon food and beverage when applicable.

Responsibility

If a party is represented by counsel, payment of all MDRS fees is the responsibility of counsel for that party.