What authority must the representative attending the mediation conference on behalf of the Southern Steer franchisee have?

According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a dispute arises that requires mediation, each party, including the franchisee, must send a representative to the mediation conference. This representative must have the authority to enter into binding contracts on behalf of their respective party.

This requirement ensures that the mediation process is productive and efficient, as the representatives present have the power to make decisions and commit to agreements during the mediation. Without this authority, the mediation could be stalled or rendered ineffective, requiring further negotiation or dispute resolution methods.

For a prospective Southern Steer franchisee, this means that if a dispute arises with Southern Steer and mediation is required, the individual attending the mediation on behalf of the franchisee must be authorized to make legally binding decisions for the franchise. This could be the franchisee themselves, or another individual within their organization who has been granted the necessary contractual authority.