Jon Lang

Jon Lang is one of the most sought-after commercial mediators in the UK. A calm and measured approach, combined with wide-ranging experience at all levels of the judicial system and across a variety of industry sectors, has earned him a reputation as one of the UK’s most experienced mediators. Jon has been listed in the first tier of mediator rankings of both the Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 directories for a number of years.  He is also recognised in The International Who’s Who of commercial mediators.

Whilst in private practice, Jon acted for clients at all levels of the judicial system (including in a number of reported cases), in domestic and international arbitration and mediation. He has represented clients from a wide variety of industry sectors, from aviation to underwriting and in most types of commercial dispute, from shareholder actions to professional negligence. Whilst in-house counsel at LIFFE, Jon advised on matters relevant to the then financial services regulatory regime as well as looking after Exchange related arbitrations and disciplinary investigations.

Jon is instructed in a wide variety of disputes both in the UK and overseas, from multi-party international trade cases involving proceedings in various jurisdictions to cases involving multiple and diverse claims between members of partnerships.  Many of Jon’s cases increasingly require a significant element of ‘process design’ beyond the norm, and he is always very pleased to assist in developing a process best suited to the parties and dispute being mediated.

Jon has acted as an expert in mediation and is a former Chair of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association, a former Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Mediation Committee and a member of CPR’s Panel of Distinguished Neutrals. Jon is also the author of the book, ‘A Practical Guide to Mediation in Intellectual Property, Technology & Related Disputes’ published by Sweet & Maxwell in 2006.

With twenty years litigation practice behind him (and having mediated on a full-time basis for over twenty years since leaving private practice), Jon draws on his extensive experience of not just mediating, but also (whilst in private practice) negotiating settlements on behalf of his clients and representing them at mediation.

Jon has a calm and measured approach and works hard with the parties to reach a deal.  He mediates in the practice areas listed below and representative examples of cases in each of those areas can be provided on request.

• Academia

• Aviation

• Banking

• Boardroom

• Charities

• Commercial Fraud

• Competition

• Confidential Information

• Construction & Engineering

• Copyright & Database Rights

• Counterfeiting

• Cryptocurrency

• Defamation

• Design Right

• Employment

• Energy

• Entertainment, Gaming and the Arts

• Financial Instruments

• Healthcare & Pharma

• Insolvency

• Insurance, Reinsurance (including Coverage)

• International Trade, Distribution

• IT & Technology

• Mergers & Acquisitions

• Motor and Motor Sport

• Oil & Gas

• Online and Cyber

• Outsourcing, Franchising and Leasing

• Partnership

• Patents, including FRAND

• Pensions

• Private Equity

• Product Liability & Sale of Goods

• Professional Negligence

• Property including Landlord & Tenant

• Public Sector including Regulatory and Public Procurement

• Shareholder (including Joint Ventures)

• Sport

• Tax

• Telecoms and Satellite

• Trade Marks, Passing Off & Comparative Advertisement

• Trusts and Probate

• Waste Management / Environmental

Further details and Case Examples can be found at http://jonlang.com/

The most recent editions of the legal directories say the following about Jon:

Chambers and Partners, 2026 – Band 1:

Jon Lang of IPOS Mediation possesses a sterling reputation as a mediator and is eminently capable of handling property, professional negligence and banking disputes, as part of a broad offering. He regularly mediates multiparty cases.

“Jon is excellent. He does a really good job and is on top of his brief. He knows how to get deals done and always reads the room well. He is a go-to for mediations.”

“Jon has a very hands-on approach and a very well-rehearsed style. His experience can pay huge dividends in matters.”

Legal 500 2026 – Band 1:

IPOS Mediation’s Jon Lang ‘quickly establishes trust with all parties because he reads people so well. A seasoned and excellent practitioner, he focuses on reaching a settlement while listening to parties’ concerns’. A former chair of the IBA’s Mediation Committee, Lang is a full-time mediator who regularly mediates two or three cases each week, and between 80 and 90 cases every year. Also a former disputes partner at White & Case LLP, Lang’s mediation appointments ranges from professional negligence, insolvency, property and shareholder disputes, to conflicts involving cryptocurrency, data protection, IP, IT, and trusts and probate. Lang also regularly mediates matters involving parties in different jurisdictions, such as the US, Middle East and Australia, as well as all over Europe.

Chambers and Partners, 2025 – Band 1

Jon Lang of IPOS Mediation possesses a sterling reputation as a mediator and is eminently capable of handling property, professional negligence and banking disputes, as part of a broad offering. He regularly mediates multiparty cases.

“He is very good in the most complex cases.”

Legal 500 2025 – Band 1:

A former disputes partner at White & Case LLP, Jon Lang ‘gets to the crux of a case really quickly, while keeping the parties focused on the economics of the dispute (rather than letting them get bogged down in the legal arguments)’. Mediating regularly since 2001, and full-time since 2005, Lang is routinely appointed in matters involving parties from different jurisdictions, including the US, Middle East, Australia, and throughout Europe. He mediates across the gamut of commercial matters, including professional negligence, property, insolvency, procurement and banking, as well as partnership, shareholder, aviation, and trust and probate disputes. A former chair of the IBA’s Mediation Committee, Lang mediates between 80 and 90 cases each year.

Chambers and Partners, 2024 – Band 1

Jon Lang of IPOS Mediation possesses a sterling reputation as a mediator and is eminently capable of handling property, professional negligence and banking disputes, as part of a broad offering. He regularly mediates multiparty cases.

“His interpersonal skills and preparation are really impressive, allowing him to resolve a case.”

“Jon Lang is the best of the best.”

“Jon is an exceptional mediator who works hard for the parties and is proactive from the start of mediation throughout the process, whether on the actual day or beyond.”

“He is extremely sensible, very practical and works hard to get the deal done. He’s no-nonsense and tells you how he sees it. Those who use him have nothing but the highest praise for him

Legal 500 2024 – Band 1:

Jon Lang ‘clearly works incredibly hard from the beginning, and is prepared to continue that approach until settlement, whether during or after the mediation day. This sets the standard for the approach for the parties to follow‘. A full-time mediator since 2005, notable growth areas for Lang, a former chair of the IBA’s Mediation Committee, range from professional negligence, property, and insolvency, trusts and probate, to procurement (particularly Covid-related disputes), banking, partnership, construction and shareholder claims. Lang is also increasingly instructed in complex multi-party and multi-jurisdictional cases, as well as matters involving hundreds of claimants and several defendants.

Chambers and Partners, 2023 – Band 1

Jon Lang of IPOS Mediation possesses a sterling reputation as a mediator and is eminently capable of handling property, professional negligence and banking disputes, as part of a broad offering. He regularly mediates multiparty cases.

“He’s very engaging and quick to read into a case. He looks at disputes in a commercial way and he’s good at getting the parties talking.”

“Jon is a very clever, pragmatic mediator who listens to the parties. He’s a very calming presence in a mediation.”

“He is approachable, empathetic and well prepared. He gets to the nerve of the issue quickly and is engaging and creative.”

Legal 500 2023 – Band 1:

A full-time mediator since 2005, Jon Lang is appreciated for his ‘commitment and drive to achieve settlement in the knowledge that it is invariably in the parties’ best interests, together with  his ability to adapt to a changing landscape as a mediation develops and the parties’ true positions become clearer‘. Conducting over 50 mediations each year, Lang (a past chair of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association) is instructed in a wide variety of disputes both in the UK and overseas, from multi-party international trade cases comprising proceedings in various jurisdictions, to mediations involving multiple and diverse claims between partnership members.

Chambers and Partners, 2022 – Band 1

Jon Lang of IPOS Mediation possesses a sterling reputation as a mediator and is eminently capable of handling property, professional negligence and banking disputes, as part of a broad offering. He regularly mediates multiparty cases.

Legal 500 2022 – Band 1:

Following approximately 20 years as a solicitor in private practice, Jon Lang became a full-time mediator in 2005. One of the UK’s busiest mediators, Lang is ‘a go-to mediator, who is well prepared, in control, and most importantly effective‘. He regularly mediates two or three cases each week; and as a result of the pandemic, Lang’s international practice has expanded to include greater numbers of mediations involving parties from the US, Middle East, Russia, Australia and across Europe. Lang has recently been particularly active in relation to professional negligence, property, insolvency, public sector procurement, banking, partnership and shareholder disputes.

Who’s Who Legal 2022

Jon Lang is deemed a “fantastic and professional mediator” thanks to “his succinct manner throughout the mediation and his ability to get to the heart of the dispute.”

Chambers and Partners, 2021 – Band 1

Jon Lang of IPOS Mediation possesses a sterling reputation as a mediator and is eminently capable of handling property, professional negligence and banking disputes, as part of a broad offering. He regularly mediates multiparty cases.

“He’s a very good mediator. He’s well prepared and picks up on the nuances of the personalities.“

Legal 500, 2021 – Band 1

IPOS Mediation’s Jon Lang became a full-time mediator in 2005, after almost 20 years as a solicitor in private practice. Lang mediates approximately two or three cases each week. Recently he has been particularly active in mediations involving professional negligence, trusts and probate, property, public sector procurement, insolvency, banking, and partnership and shareholder disputes (especially minority shareholder actions). Lang is also increasingly instructed in complex multi-party and multi-jurisdictional cases, many of which necessitate process design, such as pre-mediation meetings with parties alone or jointly, and site meetings. In addition, Lang has acted as an expert in mediation and is a member of CPR’s Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, as well as being a past chair of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association.

Chambers and Partners, 2020 – Band 1

Jon Lang is considered by interviewees to be “very commercial” and “very good at bringing people together and focusing them on what really matters.” His broad commercial mediation practice is highly capable of handling property, professional negligence, banking and probate disputes, among others.

Legal 500 2020 – Band 1

Jon Lang became a full-time mediator in 2005, after almost 20 years as a solicitor in private practice. Regularly mediating two or three cases each week, Lang mediates across the gamut of business and commercial matters. His practice has seen particular growth in the areas of property, professional negligence, trusts and probate, public sector procurement, insolvency, banking, partnership and shareholder disputes.

Chambers and Partners, 2019 – Band 1

Jon Lang  is a foremost mediator who is frequently appointed in multiparty disputes in a broad range of areas including property, professional negligence, insolvency and banking. One source reports: “Jon quickly got to the heart of the matter, and knew where to push both parties gently towards common ground. His authoritative grip on the facts and figures really helped.”

Legal 500 2019 – Band 1

Jon Lang is ‘fully engaged, prepares well and is able to assist in unlocking the difficult position of certain parties; he is also not deterred by lack of progress and perseveres with parties to consider alternative settlement offer structures to break deadlocks – through his hard work settlements are achieved‘. Lang regularly mediates across the full spectrum of commercial matters, but mediation work involving property, professional negligence, insolvency, banking, partnership and shareholder disputes (particularly minority shareholder actions) were recent growth areas. Lang is also increasingly instructed in complex multi-party and multi-jurisdictional cases, many necessitating pre-mediation meetings with parties alone or jointly.

Who’s Who Legal 2019

Jon Lang is renowned for his top-tier mediation practice. He has nearly 20 years’ experience of working as a full-time mediator covering a variety of complex disputes.

Chambers and Partners, 2018 – Band 1

The “adroit and inventive” Jon Lang is a highly regarded mediator with experience across a broad spectrum of commercial areas, including banking, insolvency, partnership and property. One observer comments: “Jon has an unassuming demeanour, but this belies his toughness and resilience. He works hard to ensure the parties maximise the opportunity to settle.” His mediation practice is seeing an increase in multiparty and multi-jurisdictional cases.

Jon has also been recognised in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for 2018.

Who’s Who Legal, 2018

Jon Lang is “consistently good”, he impresses with his strong experience and excellent work when it comes to both domestic and international disputes.

Chambers and Partners, 2017 – Band 1

“Commercially astute and proactive” mediator Jon Lang has substantial experience in a number of fields including IT, professional negligence and contract disputes. He has recently been instructed on a number of complex multiparty disputes that span multiple jurisdictions. He receives plaudits from market sources for his handling of “very emotional” disputes.

Legal 500 2017 – Band 1

A full-time mediator since 2005, Jon Lang of In Place of Strife is ‘a heavyweight mediator, who has an unassuming demeanour, but this belies his toughness, resilience, and commitment to the mediation process; he always works hard to ensure the parties maximise the opportunity to settle and his approach is very effective’.

Who’s Who Legal 2017

Jon Lang provides longstanding expertise of the mediation process and keen skills in resolving conflicts across numerous industry sectors.

Chambers and Partners, 2016 – Band 1

The “tenacious and patient” Jon Lang is a highly experienced practitioner. He attracts praise from market sources for his excellent communication skills and ability to “understand the case and commercial needs of the clients”. His expertise spans a broad range of areas, including banking and financial services, fraud, employment, insurance and professional negligence.

Legal 500 2016 – Band 1

“Among the best of the best”. He “brings to the commercial mediation table a very particular and highly effective combination of commercial astuteness, deftly placed humour, and unerring ability to read a room”.

Chambers and Partners,  2015 – Band 1

Regularly instructed on heavy-duty disputes in a wide array of disciplines, Jon Lang is described by one source as being on the “A-team – he’ll be one of the top mediators for years to come”. In addition to formidable expertise in commercial areas such as IP and IT, Lang is renowned for his handling of disputes in fields including construction, probate and partnership, with sources commenting that “he’s able to really get to the bones of a matter then hold a mirror up to both parties about what their case really looks like”.

Legal 500 2015 – Band 1

The “extremely hard working and well-prepared” Jon Lang at In Place of Strife takes a “constructive, diligent and focused approach to securing settlement”. He is lauded for both his “gentle manner, which encourages compromise” and “incredible persistence in reaching a deal”. A further strength is his ability to “develop a relationship with each of the parties …”

Legal 500 2014 – Band 1

Jon Lang at In Place of Strife is “a premier league mediator” who is “highly efficient and effective in a wide range of disputes”. Lawyers appreciate the fact that “he doesn’t pull any punches if clients are being silly, and cuts through all the game-playing”. Despite having a broad practice, he “has particular experience of disputes with an IP angle”, and “has an outstanding record of settling cases that appear intractable”.

Chambers and Partners, 2013

Sources note that he quickly builds ” a good rapport with both clients and lawyers” and provides “creative suggestions when the parties are running out of ideas. He keeps the momentum going throughout the day”. “Most of all, he is singled out for his ‘ability to get a deal done in even the most difficult of circumstances’…” Repeatedly noted as a first choice for disputes in the world of intellectual property, he also practices widely in relation to IT and commercial matters.

• May 2005 to date: Independent Commercial Mediator

• 1999 to May 2005: Partner, White & Case

• 1996-99: Partner, Llewelyn Zeitman

• 1988-96: Solicitor, McKenna & Co

• 1987-88: In-house counsel, London International Financial Futures Exchange, LIFFE

• 1986-87: Solicitor, Elborne Mitchell

• CEDR accredited

• Past Chair of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association

• Former Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s International Mediation Committee Member of CPR’s Panel of Distinguished Neutrals

• Author of the book, ‘ A Practial Guide to Mediation in Intellectual Property, Technology & Related Disputes ‘ published by Sweet & Maxwell 2006

Walking (slowly), skiing (badly), coral reef keeping (enthusiastically), gin making (unsteadily).

"Jon had a very good grasp of commercial agency law and the issues in dispute. The mediation resulted in the parties reaching a settlement - which was a great success." (Solicitor, Dec 2018)

"Jon Lang did an excellent job. He engaged with the detail of the claim, and conveyed both parties' positions accurately and clearly. We could not have wished for a better result on behalf of our client". (Associate, City Law Firm Oct 2018)

"we really appreciate Jon’s work on the mediation.  He went above and beyond to get a difficult case settled, and did a really great job. It is very good that this case is settled." (client, March 2018)

"Jon was excellent and seemed to quickly work out the best way to move towards an agreement" (Partner, City Law Firm February 2017)

“…thank you for your assistance in resolving this dispute. It’s a bit of a cliché to say it, but I really didn’t think it could be done! I have already passed your name on, and would recommend your services without hesitation.” (Solicitor)

“I was really impressed by Jon. He read the room well and worked hard to get the parties to see each other's points of view. It was a difficult mediation and emotions were running high, and Jon worked proactively to bring the parties to a space where a deal could be made.”

“Jon Lang is an excellent mediator. Kept this one alive when others would have given in. Retains a nice affable manner ….. a nice understated nature which really works.” (Solicitor)

“Brilliant. Clearly wanted to do what he could to make it settle and I felt that he was really looking for a solution to the sticking points (even when at one point it seemed there was no way around them!).” (Solicitor)

“Was happy to test and push back on some legal arguments without being overly evaluative. Explained the process well to the lay clients and won their trust. The mediation worked well.” (Solicitor)

“Jon Lang is excellent, cheerful, consistent, professional and persistent!” (Solicitor)

"Parties found Jon to be a mediator they could work with , someone who could keep up momentum, even at difficult times..." (Solicitor)

"We liked his style of reality testing and his robust but friendly and equable manner, which ensured that the mediation was not just managed properly with no time being wasted, but that the parties became more focused as the day went on, culminating in settlement" (Solicitor)

" It was extremely important that he was able to build a rapport with the individuals on each side and so diffuse what might otherwise have been an extremely volatile situation. I would not hesitate to recommend him as a mediator"

"impressed by your genuine dedication  to the process and by the fact that it was such a pleasure to deal with you"

"Your appreciation of the personalities and subtle approach to getting the best out of them made all the difference, not only bringing settlement but bringing it in much earlier than might otherwise have happened"

These comments represent a fair and balanced summary of the responses received.