While the circumstances surrounding a high-net-worth divorce do not remove the possibility of utilizing mediation, it would be wise to retain a lawyer and contact an accountant, due to the weight of the assets at hand. Moreover, if you are trying mediation as your first route, and a resolution is not made in mediation, you can have those same attorneys represent you in court. This way, if mediation is not the last stop, the attorneys that represent you in court will already be familiar with your case, and you will not be required to retain new counsel.
Just because high-net-worth divorces have more intricacies and more assets to deliberate over, it does not mean that mediation cannot incorporate all of the factors and lead to an amicable agreement. On the contrary, mediation allows for the same in-depth analysis that would occur in a courtroom, but in an environment that may be more preferable. Moreover, with the high number of asset-related issues as is typical for a high-net-worth divorce, it is wise from a financial standpoint to litigate as little as possible. Asset disagreements are often the lengthiest, and the drawn-out process of asset valuation and subsequent divisions can take months, leading to large billing totals for attorneys.
The confidentiality, along with the high rate of success, makes mediation a very useful and appealing tool, for any divorce. High-net worth divorces do not require a swarm of attorneys for both parties in a courtroom in order to fairly divide the assets. Consult an attorney and accountant to prepare for your first meetings, and request that they be present at further mediation appointments so they can stay familiar with the case.