Harry Spurr

Ranked as one of the UK’s top mediators by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, he is regularly appointed by leading law firms to mediate in complex and challenging cases in the UK and internationally

Mediation clients include high-profile corporations and SMEs, national governments and ministers, national regulators, local government and other public bodies, landowners and occupiers, charities, shareholders and directors, prominent individuals including sports professionals and politicians, and community groups, as well as private individuals such as those in dispute over inheritance and family businesses.  Harry also mediates in group litigation in cases involving large numbers of claimants.

Since February 2025 Harry has been working with the international community and regional leadership on a project to promote the use of mediation in the reconstruction of Gaza, and has spoken at international conferences in Cairo and Amman, and delivered mediation workshops in Cairo and online to Gazan lawyers and other professionals.

Described by lawyers as “one of these top mediators who settles impossible cases”, “outstanding”, “one of the best”, “highly-skilled”, and “at the top of his profession” Harry is regularly commended by parties for his mediation style, and in particular his calming influence and capacity to challenge sensitively but robustly.  His consistently excellent feedback, and high settlement rate, speak for themselves.

Harry’s background as a barrister practising for many years from leading chambers, and as the former owner of two successful businesses, gives him a rare insight into the combination of legal and commercial influences that frame disputes.  He also worked for several years as a volunteer community mediator, helping resolve conflict in disadvantaged communities and mentoring less-experienced mediators.

Harry regularly provides training to teams of experienced solicitors on mediation strategy, teaching them how to engage more effectively in mediation and achieve better outcomes for their clients. He also writes and speaks on the psychology of conflict and its impact on mediation, and is a member of various professional organisations.  He sits on the Commercial Mediation Working Group of the Civil Mediation Council.

Harry’s mediation practice extends across the commercial, civil and property spectrum.  His commercial and civil expertise is extensive and covers:

• boardroom conflict

• company law disputes

• contractual disputes

• corporate and shareholder actions

• defamation

• directors and fiduciary duties

• discrimination

• employment disputes

• financial sector litigation

• insolvency

• insurance matters

• intellectual property

• international disputes

• mergers & acquisitions

• partnership disputes

• professional negligence

• share purchase disputes

• trusts, inheritance and probate disputes

In addition, Harry has extensive expertise in disputes concerning property, land and environmental issues.  This includes:

• agriculture & agricultural tenancies

• adverse possession

• boundaries

• construction and development

• easements

• environmental and other regulatory matters

• family farms and estates

• inheritance

• land ownership

• landlord and tenant – a wide range of matters

• licensing

• nuisance

• options

• overage

• planning

• restrictive covenants

• rights of way

• trespass

• water rights

Harry also offers substantial experience in conflict engaging public bodies, whether acting in a regulatory capacity or otherwise.

Harry mediates for parties from a wide range of sectors, including:

• agriculture and forestry

• aviation

• beneficiaries and other parties in probate disputes

• charities

• community groups

• construction

• crypto-currency

• energy (electricity, renewables, gas, oil)

• education (schools, universities)

• financial services

• government (national and local)

• group actions

• high-profile individuals, including prominent politicians, business people and sports professionals

• insurance

• legal services

• manufacturing, distribution and retail

• media

• medical institutions and professionals, and care

• private individuals, including those in dispute over wills, trusts, probate and family businesses

• public and regulatory sector

• real estate and development

• start ups

• tourism, leisure and hotels

• transport and other infrastructure

These parties include domestic and international organisations and individuals, and range from large corporates and foreign national government to SMEs and individuals, shareholders, directors and partners, professionals and landowners, tenants and other occupiers of land, regulators, councils and other public bodies, community groups and other organisations.

Fundamental to successful mediation is the need to design and deliver the process around the needs and interests of the parties, and a sensitivity to the evolving dynamic of a negotiation.  Harry’s approach is therefore characterised by flexibility, awareness and responsiveness.  This is accompanied by a commercial insight that reflects his other career in business, and a sensitivity to the emotional aspects of conflict that he has developed from his work in the challenging community mediation sector.  Parties often comment favourably about his mediation style, and in particular the calming nature of his influence in difficult disputes, and his ability to challenge robustly but gently.

Harry is particularly interested in the psychology behind the origins and pattern of conflict, and its effect on negotiation dynamics, and regularly exploits his insights in this field to encourage and maintain progress in mediation.

Harry mediates both in person and online in cases involving parties across the UK and internationally. He is always pleased to arrange the format and start / finish times to reflect geographical and time zone constraints.

The most recent legal directories say the following about Harry.

Chambers & Partners 2026:

Harry Spurr mediates at IPOS Mediation and can also be instructed through St John’s Chambers. He mediates cases across the civil and commercial spectrum and has built a reputation for cases pertaining to land, property and environmental issues.

“Harry directs parties really well and pushes when appropriate.”

Chambers & Partners 2025:

Harry Spurr mediates cases across the civil and commercial spectrum and has built a reputation for cases pertaining to land, property and environmental issues.

"Harry is fantastic. He goes above and beyond when dealing with both parties. He quickly understands the sensitive issues and the key areas of dispute that are crucial to focus on."

"He's approachable and well prepared. He quickly builds up a rapport with clients, which is invaluable throughout the course of the mediations. He's balanced and he challenges where necessary."

"He has been very effective. He has a good bedside manner, earning the trust of the parties involved. He thinks creatively about approaching solutions too."

Legal 500 2026:

Mediating both in person and online, Harry Spurr of IPOS Mediation is ‘a capable, thorough and effective mediator. He is patient and has a great way of putting clients at ease in very emotional circumstances’. Spurr regularly conducts complex multi-party mediations, as well as cases with international dimensions; and is well known for mediating in relation to property, land, construction, and corporate and commercial disputes, as well as professional negligence, inheritance, probate, and shareholder and boardroom conflicts. Spurr additionally handles disputes involving defamation, harassment and discrimination, along with employment, financial services, education and public authority-related disputes.

Legal 500 2025:

Harry Spurr ’never gives up, and is excellent at keeping the parties engaged and open minded’. Currently mediating at least once a week, mediator Spurr is sought after for challenging disputes involving property, shareholders, boardrooms, and inheritance matters, as well as corporate and commercial law. He also handles disputes related to defamation, harassment, discrimination, negligence, employment, financial services, and education.

Legal 500 2024:

Harry Spurr ‘has all the skills of an effective mediator. He has an impressive knowledge of the law and an equally-impressive commercial awareness‘. Spurr is widely respected for mediating disputes across the commercial and civil spectrum, and is increasingly known for cases concerning land, property and environmental issues.

Legal 500, 2023:

Increasingly winning instructions from high-profile clients in the UK and internationally, Harry Spurr has particular specialisms in disputes […] involving property, land or environmental issues. Spurr is ‘personable, calming, and not afraid to put forward opposing points of view in the hope it will lead to progress'.

2016 – present: mediator in the commercial, civil and community sectors, accredited by CEDR and ADRgroup

2001 – present: barrister at St John’s Chambers (previously leading sets Landmark Chambers, Francis Taylor Building and leading London law firm Hogan Lovells LLP)

2007 – 2018: business entrepreneur – founder and director of successful businesses in the renewable energy sector and the drinks retail industry

Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, CEDR and ADRgroup

Barrister

Member of the Civil Mediation Council

Lead Mediator for Resolve Community Mediation

Volunteer Community Mediator for Bristol Mediation

Member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA)

Member of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA)

Harry regularly provides training to teams of experienced solicitors on mediation strategy, teaching them how to engage more effectively in mediation and achieve better outcomes for their clients.

Harry regularly writes articles about mediation, and is also the author  of a Podcast channel: Moments in Mediation, offering brief insights into conflict resolution. Aimed primarily at professionals representing parties at mediation, his ultra-short podcasts are filled with valuable tips on strategy and insights into conflict psychology.

Harry is a busy father of two boys, enjoys playing (and sometimes coaching) sport – cricket and skiing in particular – is a (very) amateur pianist and choral singer, and a keen surfer.

"I thought you were one of the best mediators I’ve worked with, and my clients were very impressed too, possibly helped my me stating what a great job you were doing. However, they were also impressed by your understanding of the subject matter, which was certainly not an ‘everyday topic’."

"Just wanted to drop a message to say how thoroughly impressed I was by you. You have a great natural calming presence and combined with your inquisitiveness, it’s perfect for your role."

"Harry was very organised, professional, and meticulous in his approach from the initial enquiry and the familiarisation session through to settlement being reached at mediation. Harry listened and we felt heard, and he very quickly got to grips with not only the legal merits including playing devils advocate and testing the same but the dynamics of the situation as a whole which ultimately lead to a commercial resolution being reached."

"Excellent. Very calm but also direct when needed and a good facilitator. Managed the parties well and enabled a settlement to be reached in what looked to be very unlikely circumstances"

“Harry did an excellent job in very difficult circumstances”

"I don’t think I properly thanked you at the time for your super work on the mediation […] you did an outstanding job and I was really grateful for your hard work and perseverance to get it to where it got too.  I know we are looking to use you where possible since."

"I was very pleased with the end result and appreciative of the hard work Harry did to achieve a settlement."

"Managed the process well and was skilful at facilitating dialogue and negotiation between the parties."

"Clear, level headed and empathetic … I would have no hesitation in putting your name forward for future mediations."

“Very calm, efficient, and effective. It felt almost like business therapy. Can't recommend Harry Spurr highly enough. From speaking over the phone to dealing with him in person, it was clear, he's at the top of his profession.”

“To break the deadlock we had found ourselves in was for me a monumental relief”

“Excellent … remained good-humoured throughout.”

“Thank you for managing to get [us] to reach an agreement. You did a great job!”

“Harry dealt with the mediation in a highly efficient, and helpful manner throughout. The dispute was an unusual, and in many respects delicate, one, which required careful management. Harry established a good rapport with our clients and the parties generally, and was pro-active in managing the parties and the process through to a successful resolution.”

"Harry's patience, clarity of thought and calming influence held the mediation together and kept everyone on board when emotions were escalating.”

“seemed very quickly to grasp the essence of the difficulties, helped everyone stay focused and work towards a very positive and balanced end result for all participants.”

“I would highly recommend his mediation skills."

"Harry Spurr is a highly skilled professional mediator”

"calm and instills confidence”

"Harry was able to quickly build rapport and trust with clients in a dispute that had been ongoing for many years.”

“Very calm, efficient, and effective. It felt almost like business therapy. Can't recommend Harry Spurr highly enough. From speaking over the phone to dealing with him in person, it was clear, he's at the top of his profession.”

“To break the deadlock we had found ourselves in was for me a monumental relief”

“the hugest of thanks for the session … huge progress”

“you’re a fantastic mediator ... It's been a pleasure working with you, I've learned lots.”

“Thank you for facilitating the progress”

“Excellent … remained good-humoured throughout.”

“Thank you for managing to get [us] to reach an agreement. You did a great job!”

“Harry dealt with the mediation in a highly efficient, and helpful manner throughout. The dispute was an unusual, and in many respects delicate, one, which required careful management. Harry established a good rapport with our clients and the parties generally, and was pro-active in managing the parties and the process through to a successful resolution.”

“thanks … and very well done if I may say so”

"Excellent manner. Dealt with sensitive issues well. Put clients at ease. Excellent explanation at the outset."

"Harry's patience, clarity of thought and calming influence held the mediation together and kept everyone on board when emotions were escalating.”

“seemed very quickly to grasp the essence of the difficulties, helped everyone stay focused and work towards a very positive and balanced end result for all participants.”

“I would highly recommend his mediation skills."

"Harry Spurr is a highly skilled professional mediator”

"calm and instills confidence”

"Harry was able to quickly build rapport and trust with clients in a dispute that had been ongoing for many years.”

"inclusive and empathetic, whilst maintaining the focus and keeping everyone on task”

"Harry was exceptionally skilled at identifying opportunities for resolution”

"maintains control of delicate discussions with a gentle unassuming style”

"a capacity to calmly reassure the parties to a dispute”

"demonstrated a thorough understanding of the issues at hand"