Resolving a dispute through mediation is an extremely satisfying experience. Whether a settlement is reached at noon or at midnight, individual parties often experience an almost overwhelming feeling of relief that the long-standing dispute that has been consuming their lives for years is finally a thing of the past; they have their lives back. For a business, it means a return to making money rather than spending it on increasingly expensive litigation. Settlement puts an end to uncertainties regarding the outcome, cost and duration of the dispute that previously impeded business planning.