Philosophy
There is no substitute for experiences and hard work. I expect the attorneys to be well prepared and all necessary decision makers to be personally present. I pride myself on understanding the legal issues involved in a matter and I remain current on all employment related statutory and case law, including the substantive law and procedural aspect of class action claims. Although it is likely your matter will settle before day's end, if it doesn't you can rest assured that you have at a minimum gained valuable insight into the merits and defenses of the claim.
A mediator should be more than a go-between or message carrier for the parties. I believe a mediator can provide valuable input to the party litigants which should disclose both the strengths and weaknesses of the case, the risks involved, the probability of prevailing and ultimately - if necessary, an expressed opinion as to the value of a case based on personal experience. During a mediation session, I often ask cross-examination style questions in order to elicit all necessary factual information.