Financial and operational expertise most mediators don’t have.
Lighthouse professionals serve as neutral third parties in complex commercial disputes, bringing decades of financial and operational expertise to mediation and special master appointments. Our background in turnaround and restructuring gives us the context to evaluate claims, assess viability, and help parties reach resolution grounded in financial reality.
How we serve in neutral engagements.
1. Commercial Mediation: We serve as neutral mediator in disputes involving business dissolution, partnership disputes, creditor-debtor conflicts, and other complex commercial matters where financial expertise accelerates resolution.
2. Special Master Appointments: Courts appoint Lighthouse professionals to oversee specific aspects of complex litigation — including asset discovery, distribution plan development, business operations management, and financial reporting.
3. Dispute Resolution Advisory We advise parties and counsel on the financial dimensions of disputes — helping translate complex financial data into frameworks that facilitate negotiation and settlement.
4. Valuation & Financial Analysis: We provide independent financial analysis to support mediation proceedings — including business valuation, cash-flow modeling, and solvency assessments.
5. Surplus & Deficiency Administration: We manage the distribution of sale proceeds, handle surplus payments to junior creditors or the debtor, and document any deficiency for the lender’s records.
The best outcomes start with early action.
The sooner we're at the table, the more options remain available. Reach out for a confidential conversation with our team
How our expertise changes the outcome.
Most mediators are attorneys. Lighthouse professionals bring financial and operational expertise from decades of turnaround and restructuring work. In disputes involving business performance, valuation, or financial distress, that background allows us to evaluate claims and facilitate resolution in ways a purely legal mediator cannot.
We focus on commercial disputes with significant financial complexity — business dissolution, partnership breakups, creditor-debtor conflicts, earnout disputes, and matters involving distressed or underperforming businesses where financial analysis is central to resolution.
A special master is appointed by the court to handle specific tasks within a litigation proceeding — such as overseeing asset distribution, managing a receivership accounting, supervising business operations, or resolving discovery disputes. The special master reports directly to the court and operates with delegated judicial authority.
Mediation fees are typically billed hourly and split between the parties. We discuss estimated scope and cost structure before the engagement begins so there are no surprises.
Generally, no. Neutrality is essential to our mediation and special master work. If Lighthouse has previously advised one party in the dispute, we would typically decline the neutral role to preserve the integrity of the process. We’re transparent about potential conflicts from the outset.
