Diplomatic mediations

We solve the dispute before it goes to court

In 2023, we conducted 28 mediations between transport companies from Lublin and their contractors from Germany and Belgium. Conflicts most often concerned delays in payments or minor damage to goods during transshipment. When both sides stop answering phones, the situation seems like a stalemate. At Lublin Union Arbitrage, we enter the game as a third, completely neutral party. We do not look for the guilty, because it only unnecessarily prolongs the dispute. We focus on what to do today so that transport starts moving again in a week. Clear rules of the game have been our foundation of action for 8 years.

What a meeting in our office looks like

A typical mediation meeting usually lasts from 3.2 to 5 hours. It takes place in our office at Krakowskie Przedmieście 22 in Lublin. There are no judicial robes, stress, or the rigid atmosphere of a courtroom here. Each party receives 18 minutes to present their view of the situation without interruption by the other person. Then we move on to financial and logistical specifics. Discretion is our standard, so no information about your payment problems will go beyond the four walls of the office. In March 2024, we helped close a difficult dispute over 42,300 zlotys in just one Tuesday afternoon.

Court is the last resort and high costs

Commercial cases in Polish courts last an average of 670 days. That's almost two years of frozen money and nerves. We solve the problem in a few business days. We do not use difficult words or complicated legal language. If the matter concerns an unpaid invoice, we check the debtor's real payment possibilities at that moment. It often turns out that breaking the debt into 3 specific installments saves the liquidity of both companies and allows the contract to be maintained. Last year, 83% of our mediations ended in the signing of a settlement that both sides have voluntarily implemented until now.

Experience in foreign trade

Our mediators perfectly understand the differences in conducting business between Eastern Europe and the West. When communication has completely broken down, we act as an emotion filter. We convey substantive arguments, cutting off anger and mutual claims of the owners. This allows both presidents to save face and return to doing business. We do not judge whose side is more important. We look for a point of contact that will allow you to continue earning money without burning bridges. We solve the problem, we don't look for the guilty, because it simply pays off.

Concrete effects and documentation

Every mediation ends with the writing of a clear protocol. It contains exact dates of transfers, account numbers, and goods collection deadlines. We do not leave room for any guesses or understatements. The cost of mediation is fixed and known in advance. It usually amounts to a fraction of what would be consumed by court filings and paying lawyers for years of trials. If you reach an agreement, this document has legal force after approval by the court, which in Lublin usually takes about 19 days. It is a safe and fast way to regain peace in running a company.

"At first I was skeptical because I thought only a bailiff would recover our 38,000 PLN. A mediator from Lublin Union Arbitrage showed us, however, that the debtor was simply waiting for a VAT refund, which he hadn't told us. We established a repayment schedule in 2 hours and the money arrived as planned in October 2024."
— Robert Małecki, owner of Małecki Transport, November 2024