Common use of Reasonable Best Efforts to Resolve Disputes; Mediation Clause in Contracts

Reasonable Best Efforts to Resolve Disputes; Mediation. It is the intent of the parties to use their respective reasonable best efforts to negotiate and resolve expeditiously any dispute, controversy or claim between or among them that may arise from time to time on a mutually acceptable negotiated basis. The parties may, by mutual consent, retain a mediator to aid in any attempt to informally negotiate resolution of any dispute, although any opinion expressed by a mediator shall be strictly advisory and shall not be binding on the parties, nor shall any opinion expressed by the mediator be admissible in any arbitration proceedings. Costs of a mediation shall be borne equally by the parties involved in the matter, except that each party shall be responsible for its own expenses. Mediation is not a prerequisite to a demand for arbitration under Section 10.03.