Settlement and Alternative Dispute Resolution
ADR
Impasse occurs when negotiation stalls with a gap the parties will not close. It may be declared by the mediator or by a party, and may be temporary with negotiation resuming later.
A mediator's proposal is a common response.
Alternative Names:
Mediation Impasse, Deadlock
Why it Matters?
Declared impasse is frequently not final, and a substantial share of mediated cases resolve in the days or weeks afterward once parties reflect on the positions exchanged. Keeping the channel open by authorizing the mediator to continue working matters more than the declaration itself. Where impasse is genuine, understanding what the gap actually represents, whether authority, expectation, or an unresolved factual dispute, determines whether further work is worthwhile.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Is declared impasse final?
What determines whether further work helps?
