Celebrating 30 years of IPOS (happy birthday to us!)

Thirty years ago this month, Mark Jackson-Stops founded In Place of Strife (as we were known back then) to offer a one-stop shop for those in need of experienced mediators.

We’ve come a long way since then – and we thank wonderful clients like you for helping to make IPOS Mediation the success it is today.

As we begin our birthday celebrations, Mark reflects on how it all started – and where we are now.

 

From property adviser to mediator

It took over 20 years in practice as a chartered surveyor before I realised there was another profession – although not recognised as such in 1994 – in which I could find far more satisfaction. Giving expert evidence in valuation negligence work and being in close proximity to litigation, it was obvious to me the pain in terms of cost and stress that parties could suffer in the process.

At that time, mediation was little known on this side of the Atlantic but CEDR was already running quality training, which I eagerly threw myself into, followed by mediation observations in Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. How then to establish a mediation practice – especially without a background in the law? I asked the few active and experienced mediators then in the market if they could see the benefit of joining a panel to perhaps expand their practices and benefit from the greater credibility that being part of a group could provide. The answer was a resolute ‘Yes!’

 And so, 30 years ago, in April 1994, In Place of Strife (now IPOS Mediation) was born.

 

Getting started (slowly but surely!)

Building a mediation practice is never easy but some foresighted insurance claims directors were quick to see the potential in the field of professional negligence in particular and two major insurers of the time invited me to educate and cajole their own panel law firms into using mediation. I was to assist them in persuading claimant law firms to bring their clients to the party in spite of what they may have  perceived as potential loss of fees.

Growing the practice was hard and slow going, but gradually the cases came through the door. Still, it was four years before I felt confident enough to describe myself as a mediator rather than a property adviser.

 

Mediators are like actors…

Today the challenge of building a mediation practice is very different. With the efficacy of the mediation process now largely accepted in the legal world, it’s about standing out in a field crowded with many capable and experienced mediators.

I guess it still takes at least four years (if it’s achieved at all) to build a reputation and a practice that allows ‘mediator’ to be the primary description of their activities. And that will be after many hours of self-promotion through unpaid speaking engagements and seminars, writing articles for learned journals, social media activity and the like, and persuading the gatekeepers of mediation (usually the professional advisers) to try out your mediation skills.

Mediators, like actors (and perhaps barristers), are insecure. Well, I know I was. We’re always wondering where the next case is going to come from and if a couple of cases in a row don’t settle, am I any good at this? Solicitors and chartered surveyors were trained that touting for the business of someone else’s client was improper and this training bred a certain reticence.  But I soon realised that if I was to be a mediator, I had to get out and about, evangelising for mediation where it was unknown or mistrusted.

 

Where we are today

I’m pleased – and proud – to say that hustle paid off.

In the past 30 years, IPOS have mediated for every type of client – from governments to global law firms to litigants in person, and everything in between. As we like to say, we can mediate just about anything!

We’re now home to some of the most experienced mediators in the market – many of whom are consistently recognised in the legal directories.

We’ve conducted over 20,000 mediations and have been ably assisted by a stellar clerking team with a combined experience at IPOS of nearly 50 years.

Of course, we couldn’t do this without clients like you.

Thank you for all your support over the past three decades. We look forward to connecting and celebrating with you during this anniversary year – and to working with you over the next few decades.