Douglas D. Nichols - Attorney and Mediator

Mediation

Attorney Douglas Nichols practices Collaborative Law, Divorce, Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate, Civil Litigation, the Administration of Probate Estates, Wills and Trusts. He practices in both Hampden and Hampshire counties of Massachusetts. I have always enjoyed doing mediation. I find it to be very satisfying work.

Using mediation, I have resolved disputes between (among others) parents and their children, neighbors, general contractors and their sub-contractors, parties to real estate transactions and between former spouses.

I go out of my way to try to make all of the parties to a mediation feel that they are being heard, that they are empowered to take control of the problem being mediated and that they feel that they are negotiating on an equal footing with the other party.

Mediation is a very effective tool for resolving disputes between parties who will have a continuing relationship with each other after the dispute is resolved. For example, there may be continuing relationships between family members, business partners, neighbors or employers and employees.

Mediation is usually less expensive than litigation or even Collaborative Law because there may be only one mediator required to help the parties settle the dispute. It also makes it possible for the parties to resolve their dispute in private, as opposed to doing so in a court room that is open to the general public. A skilled mediator can help the parties to a dispute resolve their differences in a small fraction of the time that it would take to reach a result through court proceedings.

In mediation, the task of the mediator is not to solve the dispute for the parties, but to help the parties resolve the dispute themselves. It has been proven that if the parties come up with their own solution to a dispute, they are much more likely to be satisfied with the result and to abide by the terms of any settlement agreement. If, on the other hand, the dispute is resolved by a third party, be it a judge or an arbitrator, it is possible that none of the parties will be satisfied with the resulting solution.

Areas of Mediation Practice

Commercial Contract DisputesCommercial Lease Disputes
Commercial Real Estate Disputes
Commercial Construction Disputes
Corporate and LLC Disputes
Divorce
Municipal Law Disputes (Zoning, etc)
Probate Estate Disputes
Real Estate Subdivision Disputes
Residential Lease DisputesResidential Construction Disputes
Residential Real Estate Disputes
Trust Disputes

112-114 Sewall Street • Ludlow, MA 01056-2797 • Phone: (413) 583-2414 • Fax: (413) 583-2067 • dn@DouglasNichols.com

Advertising. In accordance with rules established by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, this website must be labeled "advertising." This website is designed to provide general information for current and potential clients and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion regarding any specific facts or circumstances. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented on this web site should not be considered to be formal legal advice nor does this website create a lawyer/client relationship. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your particular situation.

Attorney, Douglas Nichols practices law in both Hampden County and Hampshire County, Massachusetts. As a Collaborative Law attorney, Douglas Nichols is skilled at handling disputes in a manner that usually allows the opposing parties to be on good terms with each other after the dispute has been resolved. This outcome is beneficial in situations where the parties will remain in contact with each other after the current dispute is behind them, such as in the cases of divorces with children, disputes between neighbors or disputes between business associates. As a lawyer, Douglas Nichols is experienced in the areas of residential real estate closings, commercial real estate closings, the purchase and sale of businesses, and real estate subdivision development. If you have legal needs in the areas of divorce, guardianship, estate planning, the administration of estates, wills or trusts you will find attorney, Douglas Nichols to be both knowledgeable and easy to talk to. As a mediator, Douglas Nichols has successfully resolved disputes within families, between business associates, between buyers and sellers of real estate and between construction contractors. Douglas Nichols has mediated both private disputes and matters that were referred for mediation by judges while those matters were pending in court. The office of attorney, Douglas Nichols is conveniently located near the center of the business district of Ludlow, Massachusetts and is an easy drive from Springfield, Palmer, Belchertown or Northampton.