When you and your partner can’t agree on what’s next
You built something together. Now you disagree about roles, money, direction, or whether one of you should leave. Mediation gives business partners and co-founders a private, structured way to work it out — without the cost, delay, and public exposure of litigation, and with a better chance of preserving what you’ve built.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839Free and confidential · I reply within 1–2 business days · In person in Northern Virginia or by secure video
Partnership issues I mediate
I work with founders, partners, and owners of small and mid-sized businesses throughout Northern Virginia.
Roles & responsibilities
Who leads what, who has final say, and how to break a deadlock.
Compensation & distributions
Salaries, draws, and profit distributions when partners contribute differently.
Equity conversations
Splits, vesting, and dilution. We talk through options; valuation professionals and your attorneys handle the technical side.
Buyouts & exits
One partner wants out. We discuss timing, price approaches, client transitions, and the handoff.
Dissolution & wind-down
Closing a business in an orderly way: clients, employees, assets, and debts.
Strategy & growth disagreements
Whether to raise money, take on a big contract, hire, or stay small.
Private resolution for a connected business community
Northern Virginia’s business community is close-knit. Founders in Tysons, Reston, Fairfax, and Herndon often share clients, investors, and professional networks, and many small businesses here work in government contracting, technology, and professional services. A public dispute can damage reputations far beyond the partnership. Mediation keeps the conversation private.
Your operating agreement or partnership agreement may already set out procedures for disputes or buyouts. Your attorneys can tell you what those documents require; in mediation, we focus on the practical conversation between the people who have to live with the outcome.
I meet in person in Northern Virginia or by secure video, and I can work around travel, client commitments, and the realities of running a business.
How business partner mediation works
Free consultation
A confidential 15-minute call for each partner to ask questions.
Intake & document review
Private conversations with each partner and a review of key documents, such as the operating agreement and financials.
Joint sessions
Structured sessions focused on interests and options, with private caucuses when helpful.
Written agreement
A written agreement capturing the terms you develop together, for each partner’s attorney to review before signing.
Business mediation pricing
Flat-fee packages, shared however the partners agree:
- Business Clarity Session — $1,400. Up to 4 hours: confidential intake with each party and one 2-hour joint session.
- Full Business Dispute Resolution — $3,200. Up to 14 hours: document review, up to two joint sessions, and a written agreement for each party’s attorney to review.
- Complex Commercial Mediation — $5,000. Up to 22 hours for multi-issue or multi-party disputes.
- Ongoing support retainer starting at $1,500/month for partnerships that want a trusted neutral on call.
Why work with Sara
Before founding Olive Branch Mediation, I spent close to two decades in federal consulting, enterprise technology implementation, and organizational strategy. I’ve worked inside complex partnerships and teaming arrangements, and I understand how quickly a business disagreement becomes personal.
I’m also a business owner myself, so I know what’s at stake. In the room, I’m neutral: I don’t advise either partner or give legal or financial advice.
- J.D., University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law; George Mason University alum
- Close to two decades in federal consulting, legal operations, and organizational strategy
- Mediation training: 40-hour basic mediation, 24-hour family mediation, and a 4-hour Virginia Judicial System orientation
- Neutral by design: I don’t practice law, give legal advice, or represent either side
Business partner mediation questions
Can mediation help if we’ve already hired attorneys?
Yes. Many partners mediate while represented. Attorneys can attend sessions or review the written agreement, as the partners prefer.
How do you handle valuation disagreements?
I don’t value businesses. We can talk through approaches and, with everyone’s agreement, bring in a valuation professional or accountant to inform the discussion.
Is the process confidential?
Generally, yes. Virginia law treats mediation communications as confidential, with limited exceptions. That privacy is a major reason partners choose mediation.
Can we keep working together after mediation?
Often, yes. Some partners use mediation to reset roles and stay together; others use it to separate respectfully. Either way, you decide.
What if there are more than two owners?
Multi-owner disputes are common. The Complex Commercial Mediation package is designed for matters involving several parties.
More answers on the full FAQ page.
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Protect what you built together
Book a free, confidential 15-minute consultation to talk through your options.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839