Mediation provides an alternative to solving conflicts through court proceedings. Mediation promises sustained conflict resolutions, just results in the interest of all parties involved, a reduction of the case load burden of the courts and cost savings for the parties involved in the dispute as well as the treasury. The European Directive on Mediation, adopted in May 2008, has given mediation in Europe new momentum by establishing a common framework for cross-border mediation. However, the directive also raises the question whether, and if so, how mediation should be regulated at a national level. This book is the result of a study carried out for the German Ministry of Justice. Its aim is to promote the discussion of regulatory issues by presenting comparative research on mediation. In order to do so, the authors of the articles in this volume describe and analyze the law and practice of mediation in 19 countries, for example Austria, France, England, the Netherlands, the U.S. and Japan. Against this background, possible structures of regulation are identified and fundamental regulatory problems are dealt with from both a German and a European perspective.