Mediation Services
Marina Akchurina serves as a commercial mediator
Marina Akchurina offers commercial mediation services, drawing on extensive experience representing clients in settlement negotiations and serving as an arbitrator. Her 17 years of navigating complex international disputes provide a practical understanding of what drives parties toward resolution and how to facilitate productive negotiations.
A member of the ADR Institute of Ontario (ADRIO) and the ADR Institute of Canada (ADRIC), Marina has completed specialized training in mediation and alternative dispute resolution at NYU School of Law, as well as the Practical Ethics for Working Mediators course. As a mediator, she helps parties craft business-focused solutions while preserving important relationships.
Benefits of Mediation
Mediation offers significant advantages over litigation and arbitration:
- Cost and Time Efficiency
Mediation typically resolves disputes faster and more economically than litigation or arbitration, avoiding the delays and expenses of formal court or arbitration proceedings - Party Control and Flexibility
Unlike litigation or arbitration, where a judge or arbitrator imposes a decision, mediation allows parties to retain full control over the outcome. Parties actively participate in crafting settlement terms tailored to their specific needs and business objectives, often resulting in more creative and mutually beneficial solutions. 
- Confidentiality
Mediation proceedings remain entirely confidential, with no public record. This protects sensitive business information, preserves reputations, and allows parties to negotiate candidly without fear that their statements will be used against them later. 
- Relationship Preservation
The collaborative nature of mediation helps preserve business relationships that might otherwise be irreparably damaged through adversarial litigation. This proves particularly valuable for parties with ongoing commercial relationships, such as joint ventures, long-term supply agreements, or partnerships. - Business-Focused Solutions
Mediation enables parties to reach solutions that address commercial realities and business interests beyond what courts can order. Parties can structure creative resolutions involving future business dealings, modified contract terms, or other arrangements that litigation cannot provide. 
Why Choose Marina as Your Mediator?
Marina brings a unique combination of practical experience, cultural and psychological competence, and commercial insight to mediation. Her background positions her to understand the full context of disputes and guide parties toward workable solutions.
Real-World Negotiation Experience
Marina brings extensive hands-on experience in structuring and negotiating settlement agreements in complex disputes. Her background as both counsel and arbitrator enables her to assess litigation and arbitration risks with precision, understand each party’s true alternatives and leverage points, and identify creative solutions grounded in business reality.
Cross-Cultural Bridge-Building
Professional fluency in English and native fluency in Russian, combined with having lived and worked across Toronto, New York, London, and Moscow, positions Marina to bridge different business cultures and legal traditions. She navigates cross-cultural dynamics with ease and ensures effective communication among parties from diverse backgrounds.
Commercial Sophistication
With 17+ years of navigating complex international disputes involving energy, infrastructure, construction, and cross-border transactions, Marina brings intimate knowledge of commercial contexts. Her experience from both party and neutral perspectives enables a nuanced understanding of business realities that drive settlement.
Effective Facilitation
Marina recognizes and addresses factors that may impede settlement, efficiently resolves negotiation impasses, and creates a safe space where all voices are heard. Her mediation practice serves businesses of all sizes navigating commercial disputes, including cross-border matters involving parties from different legal and business cultures.
Mediation process
Before Mediation
Initial Consultation. Marina begins with preliminary discussions to understand the dispute, assess whether mediation is appropriate, and determine the approach most likely to succeed. Parties discuss logistics, timing, and any specific needs or concerns.
Pre-Mediation Preparation. Parties submit mediation briefs outlining key facts, legal issues, positions, and settlement history. Confidential statements may address perceived barriers to settlement or sensitive strategic concerns. These materials help Marina enter the session fully informed.
During and After Mediation
The Mediation Session. Sessions typically begin with private caucuses, during which each party presents its perspective and strategizes. Depending on the case, Marina may facilitate joint sessions to foster collaborative dialogue or maintain separate caucuses for candid discussions and exploration of settlement options. Marina helps parties gain a deeper understanding of all positions and interests as they work toward a practical resolution.
Confidentiality and Settlement. All mediation proceedings remain strictly confidential. Successful mediations result in binding settlement agreements drafted to reflect the parties’ negotiated terms.
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