In my December 18, 2017, blog post, I wrote about “choosing the right path” to settle complex insurance claims and emphasized the benefits of private structured negotiation, a type of negotiation undertaken without the assistance of mediators. At that time, I identified mediation as “a good potential next step.” Since 2017, the world has suffered through a pandemic, and it has become apparent to me that private settlement discussions can sometimes become discoverable in litigation, even if compromise communications are not permitted in evidence. In the wake of these developments, what I previously counseled as a good potential second step is now in my view the proper first step in most cases. Notwithstanding, while mediation has many benefits, its efficacy depends on identifying the right mediator, selecting the right timing and format (now, likely virtual), and making sure that any settlement reached in mediation does not later unravel.