Monday, September 16, 2013

Marriage, Mediation and Business Divorce

Very often we have mediated cases where not only the parties are partners in marriage, they are also business partners.   More often than not, one party retains the business and one party leaves.  This is usually creates problems for both parties.  I was intrigued by the December 6, 2012 article in the New York Times by Bryan Borzykowski entitled, “When Couples Divorce But Still Run A Business Together.”  See the entire article at
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/business/smallbusiness/when-couples-divorce-but-still-run-the-business-together.html?smid=pl-share  This was even more the case because one the businesses in the article was a law firm.    These are ideal cases for mediation.  The advice given in the article is the same advice we give in every mediation.  The importance of respect.  Open communications. Keep anger in check.  Have a written agreement.  Time makes things better.  I found the comparison of employees to children and how they should be handled the same way, as a touch amusing.
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