PETRA SOFIA HORNAKOVA
Mediator
Registered with the Czech Ministry of Justice
Explore whether mediation fits your situation.
MEDIATION IS A CONFIDENTIAL, VOLUNTARY WAY FOR PARTIES TO CRAFT PRACTICAL AGREEMENTS WITHOUT COURT INTERVENTION.
HOW IT WORKS
WHEN MEDIATION IS APPROPRIATE
Mediation is highly recommended in situations where the parties to a conflict, for various reasons, wish, need, or are required to continue their relationship (for example, family members, business partners, neighbors, etc.), but are no longer able to resolve the dispute on their own due to strong emotions, deep personal involvement, or limited communication skills.
If court proceedings are already underway, the judge may, in appropriate cases, order an initial meeting with a mediator. The purpose of this first meeting is to inform the participants about mediation and how it could specifically benefit them. The participants then decide for themselves whether to proceed with mediation or to leave the matter for the court to decide.
Parties do not have to wait for the court to order an initial session with a court-appointed mediator; they may also propose on their own initiative that the proceedings be suspended or adjourned in order to attempt an out-of-court settlement through mediation.
BENEFITS OF MEDIATION
The ideal outcome of mediation is the resolution of the conflict through the conclusion of a mediation agreement. Such an agreement may cover any matters the parties to the conflict consider essential. Because a mediation agreement reflects the free will of the parties, there is a high likelihood that it will be performed voluntarily.
The parties may also request the court to approve the mediation agreement as a judicial settlement, which renders it enforceable. Alternatively, the parties may agree to secure enforceability of the mediation agreement by means of a notarial deed.
Even in cases where, for any reason, a mediation agreement is not concluded, mediation can still assist the parties in identifying their real needs and interests, reducing negative emotions, and laying a solid foundation for future communication.
PRICE
Court-Mandated Initial Meeting with Mediator- Paid equally by both parties, unless agreed otherwise
- Exempt from court fees
- Each party pays half, unless agreed otherwise
- Average session length: 3 hours
- Paid by the organisation, or as agreed between the parties
- Average session length: 3–4 hours
MEDIATION vs. COURT PROCEEDINGS
Unlike court, mediation is private, significantly faster, and much more cost effective.
Mediation allows you to reach creative solutions that would not be possible in a courtroom.
In court, the outcome is decided authoritatively by a judge based on lawyers’ arguments. In mediation, the result is a mutual agreement shaped by all parties involved.
WORKPLACE MEDIATION
Restore cooperation and resolve tensions to create a healthier and more productive work environment.
Mediation helps resolve conflicts between colleagues, or between managers and their team members. It can address disputes related to team changes or company processes, and it is also effective in overcoming poor collaboration or lack of cooperation between teams and departments.
Mediation is the most effective and cost-efficient way to resolve disputes between a company and an employee—whether concerning the validity of a termination, compensation claims, or other workplace conflicts.
BUSINESS MEDIATION
Find practical solutions that protect business relationships while avoiding costly legal disputes.
Have you found yourself in a dispute with a supplier or customer over goods, deadlines, pricing, or a complaint? Mediation can help you resolve the conflict quickly and to the satisfaction of both parties.
Do you need to reach an agreement, but the talks are stuck? A professional mediator can identify the friction points and guide both parties toward a mutually acceptable solution.
NEIGHBOUR MEDIATION
Reach agreements that make everyday living easier and preserve good neighbourly relations.
For co-owners, mediation can address matters such as settlement of co-ownership shares or overuse of common property. For members of homeowners’ associations, mediation can help resolve disputes over shared spaces or unpaid service fees.
Have you run into problems with boundaries between plots, noise, dampness, lighting, or unpleasant odors? Mediation can also help with disputes over trees or changes made to common areas—offering a practical path to agreement.
FAMILY MEDIATION
Handle sensitive issues with care to achieve sustainable outcomes for all family members.
For parents going through separation, mediation can help arrange child custody, child support, and handovers. It can also clarify grandparents’ contact, holiday and illness care, and the sharing of extra expenses.
For separating partners or divorced spouses, mediation provides a structured process to address the division of jointly owned property or marital assets. It also supports extended families—for example after inheritance proceedings—in reaching their own agreements on co-ownership
Mediation can help family members resolve disagreements following inheritance proceedings, such as the division of property, distribution of assets, or future use of inherited property.
About me
2018 Master’s in Economics, University of Economics in Prague
2022 Facilitative Mediation Training, Association of Mediators of the Czech Republic
2023 Registration by the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic
2023 Visiting Researcher, Department of Motivation Psychology, University of Vienna
2023 Visiting Researcher, Institute of Work Psychology, University of Sheffield
2025 PhD in Managerial Psychology, University of Economics in Prague
I have been practising mediation independently since 2022 and, since 2023, have been registered as a court-appointed mediator with the Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic.
Alongside my mediation practice, I work as a researcher in managerial psychology, focusing on emotion regulation and decision-making in demanding contexts. I publish on how people manage emotions under pressure and how this influences communication, judgement, and outcomes.
With an international background, I offer mediation in both Czech and English.
This background shapes how I work as a mediator. I use a facilitative approach to help parties clarify information, understand each other’s perspectives, and reach agreements that are workable in practice and aligned with the legal framework.
Online mediation
Mediation doesn’t always have to take place face-to-face. If meeting in person is not convenient, I also offer online mediation. You can join from the comfort of your home or office, saving time while still having the same safe and confidential environment as in a traditional session.
The session is conducted via a secure video call. The mediator facilitates structured dialogue between the parties, just as in an in-person meeting.
Yes. Mediation led by a registered mediator is valid even if it takes place online. Any written agreement reached has the same effect as if the session had been held in person.
A stable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and a quiet private space where you can talk without interruptions.
COURT MANDATED MEETING WITH MEDIATOR
Important to know
The court can require you to attend an initial meeting with a registered mediator. This meeting lasts up to three hours and is meant to give you information about mediation and the chance to ask questions. The court cannot force you into mediation itself. Mediation can only begin if all parties agree and sign a mediation agreement. Whether you continue with mediation after the first meeting is entirely your choice. Detailed informations are here.
Legal Status of Mediators in the Czech Republic
Only a mediator registered with the Czech Ministry of Justice (“zapsaný mediátor“) has a statutory duty of confidentiality under Act No. 202/2012 Coll. (the Czech Mediation Act) and must conduct mediation personally, independently, and with due professional care. Registered mediators are subject to supervision by the Ministry of Justice.
Persons who are not registered with the Czech Ministry of Justice, are not subject to such supervision, are not bound by that Act, and have no statutory duty of confidentiality or statutory qualification requirements under it.
Out-of-Court Consumer Dispute Resolution
In accordance with Act No. 634/1992 Coll., on Consumer Protection, consumers are entitled to seek out-of-court settlement of disputes arising from service contracts. The competent authority for such resolution is the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (Česká obchodní inspekce), with its registered office at Štěpánská 15, 120 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Further information is available at www.coi.cz
Do you have any questions?
Do you want to schedule a meeting?
info@petrahornakova.com
+420 775 949 901
Prague Office
Revoluční 8, 110 00 Praha 1
Contact Details
Petra Sofia Hornakova
☏ +420 775 949 901
✉︎ mediator.hornakova@email.cz
Situations from practice
This section helps you assess whether mediation is appropriate for your situation, based on common patterns from mediation practice.
You keep talking, but nothing is actually being resolved.
Conversations repeat. Arguments circle around the same points. Everyone feels unheard, even though a lot has already been said.
You may notice:
- Misunderstandings that don’t clear up
- Defensiveness or withdrawal
- Growing frustration on all sides
What helps in this situation
A structured, neutral conversation that slows things down, clarifies what actually matters, and helps people listen beyond positions.
A decision needs to be made, but every option feels wrong.
Something has to change, but agreeing how feels impossible.
You may be:
Postponing decisions, stuck between several unsatisfactory options, pressured to choose quickly, without clarity.
What helps in this situation
A process that separates emotions from decisions, maps real constraints, and allows options to be explored without committing too early.
The situation is escalating, and you want to stop it before it gets worse.
What started as a manageable disagreement is becoming more serious.
You may notice:
Communication turning formal, hostile, or indirect; threats of legal action or withdrawal; a sense that control is slipping away.
What helps in this situation
Early intervention that de-escalates tension, addresses underlying interests, and creates alternatives to adversarial outcomes.
You cannot simply walk away from the other person.
The relationship continues, by choice or necessity.
This may involve:
- Shared responsibilities
- Children or family ties
- Long-term cooperation or coexistence
What helps in this situation
A way to redefine the relationship so it becomes workable again, even if it cannot be close or easy.
Emotions are high, but practical arrangements still need to be made.
Strong feelings are present (anger, grief, disappointment, fear) yet concrete decisions are unavoidable.
You may feel:
- Torn between emotional reactions and rational needs
- Worried about saying the wrong thing
- Unsure how to protect yourself while staying constructive
What helps in this situation
A process that acknowledges emotions without letting them dominate decisions, and keeps discussions focused on what comes next.
You are unsure what the right next step actually is.
You don’t know whether you need:
- Mediation
- Legal advice
- A facilitated conversation
- Or simply clarity
What helps in this situation
A professional assessment of the situation (including when mediation is not appropriate) and guidance on possible next steps.
What started as a manageable disagreement is becoming more serious.
© 2025 by Petra S. Hornakova