Co-Mediation Services

Divorce Co-Mediation With Two Mediators

What Two Mediators Bring to the Table →

Some conversations benefit from having more than one neutral professional at the table.

Co-mediation brings two mediators into the process to help couples work through divorce and family-related decisions. By collaborating throughout the conversation, the mediators can offer complementary perspectives, recognize different concerns, and help keep discussions balanced and productive.

CEL & Associates provides divorce co-mediation for couples in Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, northwest Illinois, Southeastern Wisconsin, and communities throughout both states.

What Is Co-Mediation?

Co-mediation is a collaborative process in which two neutral mediators work together with both participants. The mediators do not represent opposing sides, decide the outcome, or advocate for one person against the other.

Instead, they share responsibility for guiding the discussion, identifying the issues that need to be addressed, and helping both participants evaluate possible solutions.

This approach can provide additional support when couples are navigating several interconnected decisions or simply value the perspectives of both a male and female mediator.

What Happens During a Co-Mediation Session

What Happens During a Co-Mediation Session?

Both participants meet with Brian and Ellen, generally online, with in-person sessions available by arrangement. Both mediators attend every session and work jointly on preparation, document review, and follow-up materials.

During each session, Brian and Ellen help participants identify the decisions that remain, review relevant information, discuss priorities and concerns, and explore possible parenting and financial options. They also help the couple understand how individual decisions may affect other parts of the agreement while documenting areas of progress and any issues that still require discussion. The mediators guide and organize the conversation, while the participants remain responsible for making the final decisions.

When Co-Mediation May Be Helpful →

Co-Mediation or a Single Mediator?

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Both approaches are built around the same principles: neutrality, informed decision-making, respectful communication, and participant control.

Working with one mediator may provide everything a couple needs. Co-mediation offers the perspectives and participation of two experienced professionals at the same cost as working with one CEL mediator. There is no additional charge for Brian and Ellen to serve together.

Clients typically request co-mediation when they contact CEL. You do not need to decide which approach is right before reaching out, however. An initial conversation can help clarify the differences between working with one mediator and working with Brian and Ellen as a team.

Brian James and Ellen Barron Feldman, co-mediators at CEL & Associates
Brian James and Ellen Barron Feldman, co-mediators at CEL & Associates

Meet Your Co-Mediation Team

Brian James and Ellen Barron Feldman work jointly throughout co-mediation while remaining neutral to both participants. Brian has mediated divorce and family matters since founding his private practice in 2005, while Ellen is a trained mediator and licensed attorney with a background in commercial litigation.

Together, they bring complementary experience and perspectives to each conversation. Both attend every session and collaborate on preparation, document review, and follow-up materials, giving participants the benefit of two experienced professionals working together throughout the process.

Meet Brian James →

Meet Ellen Feldman →

Frequently Asked Questions About Co-Mediation

These frequently asked questions explain how Brian and Ellen work together, what co-mediation costs, and why clients may prefer two neutral mediators. They also address who can benefit from co-mediation and how to determine whether it is the right approach.
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Do the two mediators represent different participants?

No. Brian and Ellen are both neutral and work with both participants. One mediator is not assigned to each person, and neither mediator serves as an attorney or advocate for either side.

The purpose of having two mediators is to provide greater support and awareness not to place additional pressure on the participants. Brian and Ellen work collaboratively to create an organized setting in which both people have an opportunity to be heard.

No. CEL provides co-mediation with Brian and Ellen at the same cost as working with one mediator. There is no additional charge for having both mediators participate.

Yes. Brian and Ellen participate in every session and jointly handle preparation, document review, and follow-up materials.

No. Co-mediation is not limited to divorces involving children. It may be used to address a range of divorce and family-related decisions.

Clients often choose co-mediation because they value both male and female perspectives, Ellen’s background as a licensed attorney, or the involvement of two neutral professionals. CEL can explain both approaches and help you consider the right fit.

It may. Mediation can clarify the terms, address the underlying disagreement, and help the parties create clearer expectations. A mediator cannot enforce an order or compel compliance, so legal advice or court involvement may still be necessary in some situations.