Mediator Profile

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Susan Bellan

Susan Bellan
11 Cedar Avenue
Toronto, Ontario   M4E 1K1

(416) 999-2304
susanbellanmediator@gmail.com
www.bellanmediation.ca
Degrees/Designations - BA (Economics), Certificate Programs in ADR & Advanced Mediation, York University
Practice Areas - Business/Commercial, Construction, Employment, Family, Human Rights, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Personal Injury and Real Estate
OMMP Roster Mediator - Toronto
Practice Description - Area of Practice
My primary area of practice is commercial and civil mediation and I have two years of training in interest based negotiation and mediation at York. I am an Ontario Roster Mediator-Toronto, have been a full time mediator for the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and ADR Chambers and have 30 years of experience in business.

Mediation Expertise: Insurance (accident benefits, bodily injury, liability, residential and commercial property)* Employment * Construction*Commercial Leasing*Mortgages*Banking*Real Estate*Directors-Shareholders-Partnerships Disputes*Trademarks*Defamation*Professional Negligence*Franchising*Condo*Sexual Harassment

My settlement rate is high because parties feel that I really understand their situations and listen to my advice. I often have a lot of insight into situations because of all my diverse business experience.

My Style
I always research the legal precedents before every case, but feel that this is just the beginning. It's important to get to the bottom of why the conflict happened. Settlement is not just about resolving the immediate conflict, but must also make sense for parties in terms of the big picture and their long term interests. I try to identify the obstacles to settlement such as cash flow, tax issues, setting a precedent, and emotions to help parties and their counsel come up with solutions that work for each side, addressing their needs and constraints.

Mediation Space
I have access to neutral meeting space which would be at no cost to the parties, provided it is available on the day of mediation. Alternatively, I can arrange to rent meeting rooms or conduct mediations at counsel's offices
Background - I worked for the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) from 2014 to 2016 and for ADR Chambers FSCO Project mediating statutory benefit motor vehicle accident disputes and have mediated over 1600 of these cases by telephone and in-person. In addition, I have had my own mediation practice and have been an Ontario Roster Mediator-Toronto since 2010.

I owned and managed a prominent import/retail business in downtown Toronto for many years and this has given me a lot of insight and experience in areas such as employment, commercial leasing, partnerships, insurance, trademarks, transportation, buyer-seller disputes, taxation, accounting, construction, banking, and mortgages. In the 1990s, I was Chair of Banking Issues for the Canadian Organization of Small Business and have advised various governments on access to capital for small and medium sized companies and banking regulation. I originated the idea and lobbied for the creation of a national banking ombudsman. Within two years, the Canadian Bankers Association established this office and each chartered bank created their own in-house position of ombudsman. I wrote a book called Small Business and the Big Banks, Lorimer Press 1995. I have worked as an investigator for ADR Chambers Banking Ombudsman and investigated banking complaints and as a Dispute Resolution Agent for the Department of National Defense Conflict Solutions and Services.

I believe that community is very important and was on the board of the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Business Improvement Area, St. Lawrence Works, and a member of the Toronto Small Business Support Organization.

I love to travel and am very interested in other cultures. I lived and worked in Botswana for two years through CUSO and have visited and/or worked in about 25 African countries when I was an economic consultant for international organizations or buying goods for my own business. I have also been to India many times for business and tourism and have also visited Pakistan, Afghanistan, most of South East Asia, and Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.

In 2002, I initiated and launched Breaking Bread for Women in Afghanistan, which has raised over $6.5 million to date for teachers' salaries for the education of Afghan girls and women.

I speak French, have worked in French when I was consulting in Francophone Africa, and could mediate in French if required.
Fees - OMMP Mediation Rates.
- $600 for half day mediation (3 hours mediation plus 1 hour preparation)
- $1,000 for full day of mediation