Commercial Mediation: Process and Stages

When is mediation deemed to have started?

From the moment of the application to the mediator or the transfer of the case to a mediator; at a party's request the mediator issues a confirming document.

Do private and court mediation differ?

Yes: court mediation takes place after a claim is filed, through the court's transfer of the case to a mediator, while private mediation proceeds on the parties' initiative, on the basis of an agreement, without court involvement.

Is there a time limit on mediation?

The duration is not limited unless the agreement or the law provides otherwise; the expiry of a term set by the parties is a ground of termination.

Can a party withdraw from mediation?

A party may refuse to participate at any stage, and applying to a court is not treated as a refusal of the mediation agreement.

5 min·1 Sep 2026

About this service

Resolving a commercial dispute through mediation is often faster and less costly than litigation, but the outcome depends on knowing the process precisely: when mediation starts, what rights each party holds, and how the result must be formalised. Articles 2, 7, 8 and 9 of the Georgian Law on Mediation assemble this cycle in sequence — from definitions to commencement, from conduct to termination. Our service accompanies companies along this entire route and anticipates procedural risks early.