Legal

The first hint that a mediation might go sideways often appears long before anyone enters a conference room. It usually arrives when a consultant or advisor is still deciding whether to accept the case, squinting at the intake notes and wondering whether the parties want a calm conversation or a referee with a whistle. Facilitative

The Sound of Agreement, Fading There’s a special kind of silence that follows a sentence like “But you *said* you’d cover the rent if I handled the groceries.” It’s the silence of two people, blinking, rewinding the tape in their heads, and realising the tape is blank. Or at least garbled beyond repair. Verbal agreements

When people talk about falling in love, they don’t usually bring up spreadsheets, projected earnings, or Aunt Marjorie’s future inheritance. And yet, if you’re stepping into marriage with a decent salary, a business on the rise, or a trust fund that sounds like a Bond villain’s retirement plan, it might be time to talk prenups—not