What should parties and counsel bring and prepare to make a mediation session productive?

Come ready to decide, not just to posture. The most useful things to have in hand are: the client or claims professional with real settlement authority actually available for the day; a clear-eyed view of the key liability and causation risks, including any contributory-negligence exposure; the damages and medical documentation that supports your number; clarity on insurance coverage and limits; and any lien, subrogation, or estate issues that will affect a net payout. A short confidential mediation statement to me ahead of time helps me hit the ground running. Just as important is the mindset: parties who arrive treating the day as a genuine opportunity to resolve — rather than a box to check before trial — settle far more often. My commitment is that everything shared with me in caucus stays confidential unless you authorize me to use it.