Kossa Ritter

I work as a judge. In my experience, a strictly legal solution to disputes tends to result in one of the parties feeling like a loser and not being able to deal with the abstract legal reasoning.

I consider a court hearing to be successful if a mutually agreeable, future-orientated solution is reached. If I manage to transmit during the discussion that I am genuinely interested in the concerns of the parties involved, they will feel heard. Then the parties no longer have to defend their positions and can enter into a dialogue with the other side. The path to an independent solution is then usually not far away.

This experience made me realize that I wanted to become a mediator. One of the methods used in mediation is give space to the feelings of the conflicting parties, even in legal disputes. This can lead to clarity, which makes it possible to reach an agreement on a rational level.

Thanks to my many years of experience as a mediator in court, I act calmly and relaxed, yet confidently. I am open to the personalities of the parties involved and I am curious to explore the background to their conflict. I encourage the conflicting parties to come up with creative solutions and remain open and flexible myself.

Family mediation – including inheritance, separation and divorce mediation

In the emotionally stressful situation of a separation, family mediation aims to establish a successful and organised co-parenting relationship, disentangle the economic situation and bring the relationship to a dignified conclusion.

Family mediation is exemplary:

Agreements on the consequences of separation and divorce

• Division of finances
• Arrangements for residential property rights
• Separation and post-marital maintenance

Arrangements for children and young people

• Future place of residence of the children
• Organisation of the alternating model for the care of the children
• Educational issues: choice of daycare centre and school, medical issues

Mediation for inheritance conflicts:

• Division of an inheritance
• Dissolution of a community of heirs
• Implementation of a last will and testament

The results achieved are finally recorded in a written contract, which is then binding and can be presented to the court in divorce proceedings by mutual agreement.

Shortly after a separation, when it is difficult to commit to long-term decisions, temporary arrangements can also be made.

Primarily, I am a judge at the social court and an arbitrator.
I do voluntary work in public legal counselling, including mediating, and run a collegial case supervision for judges.
I have two grown-up children and live in Hamburg.