Anyone who has mediated even a few disputes is likely to have experienced the magic in mediation, and would very much like to do so again. Kenneth Cloke, "The Magic in Mediation" Needless to say, there is no actual magic to mediation; though I am often told after one party or the other takes an impossible position to “go do my magic.” In my experience, mediation sometimes feels like magic because we find a solution that has previously alluded the parties and their counsel. So, what is it that allows parties to find an acceptable settlement in mediation that could not be reached without it? In some mediations, I think the neutral plays a small part in the outcome and in others a much more significant role. An experienced mediator brings real value to the negotiation but ultimately the negotiation and its outcome belong to the parties. The Value