Gaffney Mediation
A Composed Resolution

SCHEDULE MEDIATION

CALENDAR

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Check dates. Book in real-time.

To reserve a mediation session, please select a suitable time slot from any of the available dates on the real-time calendar below. A quick interactive APPOINTMENT REQUEST will collect contact details and case information. Once submitted, we will be in touch promptly with confirmation and required paperwork.

Notifications and reminders are also set up to ensure participants are well-prepared and informed.

FEE SCHEDULE

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Rates & Cancellation Policy.

Hourly Billing Rates

Two-party mediation: $200 per party, per hour

Three-party mediation: $175 per party, per hour

Four or more parties: $150 per party, per hour

A “party” includes all individuals represented by the same counsel.

BILLING MATTERS

Billing Matters

For a “half day” mediation, the minimum fee is four (4) hours, inclusive of all pre- and post-mediation activity. For a “full day” mediation (i.e., a mediation that is scheduled for four hours or more) the parties will be charged the hourly billing rate outlined below for hours actually spent mediating, with no added charge for pre- or post-mediation activity.

Hourly Billing Rate:
Two-party mediation:  $200 per party, per hour
Three-party mediation:  $175 per party, per hour
Four or more parties:  $150 per party, per hour

A “party” includes all individuals represented by the same counsel

Payment Terms

Following the conclusion of the mediation, each party will be billed for its portion of the fee, unless the parties agree otherwise. Payments should be made in accordance with the payment instructions on the invoice and payment is due upon receipt of the invoice.

Please note, I have accepted and scheduled the mediation based on my business and professional relationship with counsel, but I consider this engagement as being with counsel and your clients, jointly and severally. Accordingly, counsel for each party is financially responsible for ensuring timely payment of all mediation fees.

In the event prompt payment is not received, my office reserves the right to take appropriate actions to collect payment including filing motions with the presiding court. Furthermore, by scheduling this matter, counsel and client agree that my office shall be entitled to collect all our costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, if my office must take action to collect the mediation fees.

CancelLation Policy

If a mediation is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 72 business hours’ notice (Monday–Friday), each party will be charged the minimum fee. This policy ensures fair compensation for reserved time that cannot be filled on short notice.

RESOURCES

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Sample Engagement Letter

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Download our sample engagement agreement for mediation. For further inquiries or more on Gaffney Mediation’s services in general, please do not hesitate to email our case manager, Rachel Kaisler, or call the office directly at 803.266.1519.

ZOOM GUIDELINES

I encourage the parties and counsel to become familiar with the South Carolina Rules of Alternative Dispute Resolution which govern the mediation process.

Also download the Gaffney Mediation Guidelines for additional help to better manage expectations for the commencing mediation process.

SOUTH CAROLINA ADR RULES

THIS FIRM’S MEDIATION GUIDELINES

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MEET AMY

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Amy Gaffney, SC Certified Mediator
Amy Gaffney, SC Certified Mediator
Amy L. Gaffney, Esq.

Professional Profile

For nearly 30 years, I’ve dedicated my career to guiding parties toward resolution in a wide range of legal disputes. As the founder of Gaffney Mediation, my solo practice focuses exclusively on helping people find common ground and achieve lasting outcomes. I bring a unique blend of depth and practical insight to every mediation. I’ve presided over hundreds of mediations at both the state and federal levels, handling complex cases spanning employment, contract, tort, and civil rights claims. My background as a founding partner of GaffneyLewis, LLC—one of South Carolina’s only women-owned, ethnically diverse litigation firms certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council—has given me invaluable experience and a deep understanding of the legal landscape. Throughout my litigation career, I was recognized as a leading employment attorney, representing clients in everything from collective actions to individual claims of discrimination, harassment, pay disparities, and personal injuries. My mediation journey has been the highlight of my legal career. It’s difficult to say exactly what sparked my curiosity about mediation, but I undertook the mediation training only one year into my legal career, in 1995. At that time, mediation was something of a novelty in South Carolina, but the concept of parties collaborating to solve their disputes intrigued me greatly. Mediation became mandatory in South Carolina in 2016, highlighting its importance in empowering litigants to work together, with the aid of a skilled mediator, to find common ground. I am honored to have seen the evolution of mediation in South Carolina during my years of practice and to have been part of its growth and I am excited through my role in Gaffney Mediation to continue the practice, ever honing my skills as a mediator, and assisting litigants in the conciliation process. My approach to mediation is rooted in clear communication, trust-building, and a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape from both the plaintiff and defense perspectives. I meet each party where they are, helping them navigate complex issues and move toward practical, forward-focused outcomes. I believe in focusing on what connects people, not just what divides them, and building resolution from that shared understanding. Effective mediation starts with listening and understanding. By fostering open dialogue and building trust, I help parties find creative solutions that address their needs and lead to mutually agreeable resolutions.

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE – Communication, General
Queens College (now Queens University of Charlotte), Magna Cum Laude, 1991

JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE
J.D. University of South Carolina School of Law, 1994

In addition to my mediation work, I remain actively engaged with the legal community in South Carolina through professional associations and speaking opportunities.

  • Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) – an invitation-only association of the most experienced and respected civil mediators and arbitrators in the United States, selected by both peers and litigation firms
  • Member, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) – a national, invitation-only organization of experienced trial lawyers dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial
  • Member, American Bar Association (ABA) Dispute Resolution Section
  • Member, Employment Law Section of the South Carolina Bar
  • Member, South Carolina Women Lawyers Association (SCWLA)
  • James L. Petigru Chapter, American Inn of Court
  • Frequent presenter at legal conferences, including:
    • South Carolina Bar Annual Convention
    • South Carolina Employment Law Section Annual Meeting

I am honored to have earned the following recognitions in the arenas of mediation and litigation:

  • Certified Mediator since 1995 – Amy has been helping parties resolve disputes through mediation for nearly three decades, earning a reputation for fairness, insight, and results.
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America (since 2012) – A peer-reviewed honor awarded to lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice, specifically in Employment Law and Litigation.
  • Named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers (2019) – Selected for outstanding work in Labor and Employment Litigation, a distinction given to only one lawyer in each practice area per region.
  • Recognized by Super Lawyers – A designation given to no more than 5% of attorneys in each state, reflecting peer recognition and professional achievement in Employment Law.
  • Named to the Legal Elite of the Midlands – A regional honor determined by votes from fellow attorneys in the Midlands of South Carolina, recognizing excellence in specific areas of practice. Also Legal Elite of the Lowcountry in the area of Mediation.
  • AV Preeminent Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell – The highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards, based entirely on peer reviews from fellow members of the bar and judiciary.

WHAT PEOPLE
ARE SAYING

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Amy was a wonderful mediator in a difficult case. She made my client feel at ease and was able to open a productive dialogue about strengths and weaknesses of our case that ultimately helped us reach a resolution.

– Molly Hamilton Cawley –

You have moved to the top of my list for mediations!

– SC Attorney –

I thought you did a great job.  We obviously made a lot of progress.  The client was very complimentary and said you were going to be his go-to person for mediations in South Carolina. – SC Attorney –
I just want to say thank you again. I think you did a fantastic job. I will definitely be reaching out in the future. – SC Attorney –