Mediation
Why lawyers and businesses trust Tsungai as a mediator
I’m Tsungai Mukushi, a commercial lawyer, accredited mediator, business owner and the Principal of Minerva Law. With extensive experience advising and representing businesses, franchisors, franchisees and professionals, I understand what’s at stake when a dispute disrupts a deal, a franchise system, or a long-standing commercial or personal relationship.
My role as a mediator is not to decide who’s right. It’s to help parties get to what’s next. To move past gridlock and toward resolution. I work best where the law meets commercial reality, where parties are sharp, the stakes are high, and the risks of litigation are real.
Specialisations
What I mediate
Mediation is the space between information and understanding.
Business disputes
Contract, supply, partnership and shareholder disputes between commercial parties.
Franchise disputes
Breach, termination, territory and restraint disputes, including mediation under the Franchising Code.
Professional negligence
Claims against professional advisers, where the technical issues and the relationship both need handling.
Insurance disputes
Coverage and quantum disputes between insurers, insureds and brokers.
Corporate disputes
Director and shareholder disputes, oppression, deadlock and exit.
Interpersonal disputes
Where the commercial problem and the personal one have become the same problem.
What I bring
How I work as a mediator
Commercial expertise that cuts through complexity
From commercial leasing and franchising to intellectual property and insurance disputes, I bring legal and commercial knowledge to the table, not just to understand the issues, but to help parties explore creative, legally sound pathways to agreement.
Trusted by lawyers, valued by clients
I act as a bridge between legal counsel and their clients. I speak the language of litigation, but I am focused on outcomes. I help parties test their positions, reality-check their assumptions and weigh the risks with clarity.
A grounded, personable approach
Clients say I am down-to-earth, approachable and respectful of each party’s journey. I am not there to shame or corner anyone. I create a professional space where parties can think clearly, speak honestly and negotiate intelligently.
Pragmatic and efficient
I have seen how costly, drawn-out disputes erode businesses and relationships. My style is proactive and commercially realistic, focused on durable solutions without unnecessary delay.
Fees
A flat rate, inclusive of preparation
Available for half-day and full-day mediations, online or in person depending on what the parties need. The rate is flat and includes all preparation and pre-mediation intake conferences.
Half-day mediation
$1,500
per party, plus GST
Full-day mediation
$2,500
per party, plus GST
Common questions
Mediation questions, answered
Are you accredited?
Yes, nationally accredited under the Australian Mediator and Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards (AMDRAS), the scheme that replaced NMAS.
Can you mediate a dispute if Minerva Law acts for one of the parties?
No. A mediator must be independent of both parties. Where Minerva Law acts for a party, I cannot mediate that matter, and conflicts are checked before any appointment is accepted.
Do the parties need lawyers at the mediation?
Not as a requirement, but represented parties usually do better, because the positions get tested properly before the day. Where one party is unrepresented I take particular care that the process stays fair.
Is mediation confidential?
Yes. What is said in mediation is generally not admissible in later proceedings, which is precisely why parties can explore options they would not put in a pleading.
What happens if we do not settle?
The parties leave with a much clearer view of the gap and what it is worth, which often produces a settlement in the following weeks. Nothing said in the mediation can be used against either side.
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Next step
Looking to book a mediation?
Tell me who the parties are, what the dispute is about and the timeframe, and I will confirm availability and the conflict position.