Dayana Romero
Qualified Mediator
- Registered Psychotherapist
- Qualified Mediator · ADRIO / ADRIC
- 17+ years across conflict resolution and mediation
- Sessions in English and Spanish
Hamilton · Ancaster · Virtual Across Ontario
Civil Mediation in Toronto & Ontario
A faster, private alternative to civil court. Resolve commercial, employment, and property disputes in weeks, not years.
Contract, partnership, employment, property, or debt dispute. Work with a Qualified Mediator who can resolve it privately, without the timeline and cost of litigation. Toronto, GTA, Hamilton, Ancaster, virtual across Ontario.
"Litigation breaks relationships. Mediation often preserves them, and that's usually worth more than the argument itself."
Qualified Mediator (ADRIO / ADRIC)
Two Ontario offices · Hamilton and Ancaster
Free 30-minute consultation
Free Consultation
Get your civil dispute resolved.
Tell us a little about the dispute. We'll reply within 24 hours to schedule a free 30-minute call.
Typical timeline
Litigation: 12 to 36 monthsMediation: 4 to 8 weeks
Typical cost
Litigation: hourly billing plus court feesMediation: flat fee, quoted after consult
Who decides
Litigation: the judgeMediation: you and the other party
Serving Toronto, the GTA, and Ontario-wide by secure virtual session. In-person at Hamilton and Ancaster.
Our Team
A mediation team that brings both legal insight and an understanding of human dynamics to every case.
While most practices offer one or the other, we ensure each conversation is handled with care and every agreement is shaped with a clear understanding of its intended outcome.
Moira Wallace
Qualified Mediator
- Corporate Lawyer
- Qualified Mediator · ADRIO / ADRIC
- Notary Public · Commissioner of Oaths
- 29+ years drafting and reviewing agreements
Robin Dhaliwal
Qualified Mediator
- Registered Psychotherapist
- Qualified Mediator · ADRIO / ADRIC
- English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu
- Trained in high-conflict de-escalation
If any of this sounds familiar:
You don't need a courtroom. You need it resolved.
Most parties who reach out recognize themselves in one or more of these.
Legal fees are mounting and a court date is still months away.
Need this resolved before it disrupts the business or eats another quarter.
A working relationship (partner, employer, neighbour, contractor) is on the line, not just the money.
Want a settlement that is enforceable, not a handshake or an email thread.
Tried direct conversations or back-and-forth letters and the dispute keeps escalating.
A contract, employment, or property issue that lawyers on both sides keep complicating.
Worried the other party will not engage. We can reach out to them neutrally on your behalf so the first move comes from a mediator, not from you.
If any of those landed, talk to a mediator before you sign anything.
The first call is free, private, and 30 minutes. No commitment. We will tell you honestly whether mediation fits your situation.
How It Works
A clear path from first call to signed agreement.
01
Free 30-minute consultation
Private and virtual. We listen, you ask questions, and we tell you honestly whether mediation is the right path for your situation. No obligation.
02
Confidential intake with each party
We meet separately with each party so we understand the full picture before anyone sits at the same table. This is where most civil files save weeks.
03
Joint mediation, written agreement
Typically two to three sessions. Each side has space to be heard. The final agreement is drafted and reviewed with one of our Qualified Mediators.
A Real Ontario Practice
You are not booking a faceless online service.
We are a working mediation practice with offices in Hamilton and Ancaster. Most consultations happen virtually for convenience, but you can sit down with us in person any time during the file. The reception above is where most files begin.
- Two physical Ontario offices, not a virtual address.
- Regulated by ADRIO and ADRIC. Real Ontario credentials.
- Every agreement reviewed by a Qualified Mediator before signing.
Mediation vs Litigation
Why more Ontario parties are choosing mediation over a lawsuit.
Most civil disputes in Ontario have two ways forward: file a lawsuit and let the court process run, or sit with a neutral Qualified Mediator and resolve it privately. Here is how the two approaches typically compare.
| Litigation (typical) | Step Mediated (typical) | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 12 to 36 months | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Cost | Hourly billing plus court filing fees | One flat fee,* quoted clearly after your free consultation. |
| Privacy | Public court record | Fully confidential |
| Who decides | The judge | You and the other party |
| Tone | Adversarial process | Solution-focused, working relationships preserved where possible |
Outcomes and timelines vary by case. Mediation is not legal advice. Independent Legal Advice (ILA) from your own lawyer is recommended before signing any Settlement Agreement. Mediation sessions are confidential except for statutory exceptions.
More Ontario parties are resolving civil disputes through mediation first. Yours can too.
Get a free 30-minute consultation. Walk away with a clear, honest read on whether mediation fits your situation, with no obligation.
Honest Note
When mediation is not the right next step.
We do not take every file. Mediation is not appropriate when there is active abuse, untreated addiction, an active restraining order, or when either party is not safe in the same conversation. If any of that fits your situation, tell us on the first call. We will say so directly and point you to the right resource. Honesty on our end before money changes hands.
Common Questions
You probably want to know.
Is what we agree on legally binding?
The mediation produces a Settlement Agreement drafted by one of our Qualified Mediators. Each party reviews it with their own Independent Legal Advice (ILA) before signing. Settlement Agreements in Ontario are enforceable as binding contracts under Ontario contract law; once properly executed it is enforceable as a domestic contract.
What if the other party will not agree to mediate?
This is one of the most common questions and one we handle for you. One of our Qualified Mediators can reach out to the other party directly with a private, neutral invitation. Many parties agree once they hear from a neutral mediator rather than from you or your lawyer. We cannot predict how they will respond, but the neutral approach changes the dynamic for many civil disputes. The first call is also free for both sides.
How private is mediation?
Mediation in Ontario is confidential. Sessions, notes, and discussions are not part of the public record and cannot be used as evidence in court. The only statutory exceptions are situations involving child safety, elder abuse, or imminent threats of harm. We explain this in plain language at your first call.
Do I still need my own lawyer?
It is highly recommended that each party have their own Independent Legal Advice (ILA) from their own lawyer before signing. That is a separate step from mediation. Our Qualified Mediators draft and review the agreement internally for completeness and consistency, which reduces the back-and-forth at the ILA stage.
What does it cost?
The first 30-minute consultation is free. After that, mediation is quoted on a flat fee rate. Most civil mediation files run two to three sessions, though complex commercial or multi-party files can run longer. Mediation fees are separate from Independent Legal Advice, which each party arranges through their own lawyer if needed.
What kinds of civil disputes do you mediate?
Contract and partnership disputes, employment disputes (workplace conflict, severance, non-compete), property and real-estate disputes (boundary, commercial leases, co-ownership), debt and finance disputes, and personal-injury settlements. If the dispute is between identifiable parties and a confidential, faster resolution would be valuable, civil mediation likely fits.
What if my dispute is already in court?
Mediation is still available, and often more useful at that stage because both sides have a clearer view of what trial would actually cost. Many civil files settle through mediation between filing and trial. We can coordinate with your existing counsel so the Settlement Agreement integrates cleanly with the existing court file.
Can a settlement reached in mediation be enforced?
Yes. The mediation produces a written Settlement Agreement signed by both parties. Once signed, it is enforceable as a binding contract under Ontario contract law. If a court file is already open, the agreement can also be filed with the court so a breach can be enforced through the existing file.
How long until we have a signed agreement?
Most civil mediation files complete in 4 to 8 weeks from intake to signed Settlement Agreement. Contract or partnership disputes can move faster; multi-party, employment, or property disputes can take longer. Civil court files often run 12 to 36 months, so mediation is generally much faster, though every file is different.
Book your free 30-minute consultation.
On the phone or virtual. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and tell you honestly whether mediation is the right next step. No obligation.