accreditations & partnerships
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We are thrilled that Legal 500 recognised 24 of our mediators in its most recent publication of the leading mediators in the UK.
It is testament to the depth and breadth of our panel that so many of our mediators have been recognised. Our thanks have to go to our clients and instructing solicitors who continue to appoint our mediators and provide feedback to the directories on their performances.
In Place of Strife’s head of chambersMark Jackson-Stops'has a wonderful way of putting clients at their ease; he gets to grips quickly with the relevant issues, tests points in an incisive but not threatening manner and guides parties towards a resolution'. One of the UK’s most experienced mediators, Jackson-Stops has conducted over 1,400 mediations; hefrequently acts in cases involving the insurance market, including coverage issues, breach of conditions, professional negligence, property damage and business interruption. Other areas of strength includeconstruction and financial services, whilehis 'knowledge of land and agricultural matters is a particular asset when dealing with disputes involving such matters or parties with that background'.
At In Place of Strife, Jon Langis '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'. A former disputes partner atWhite & Case LLP,Lang regularly mediates two or three cases each weekacross 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 alsoincreasingly instructed in complex multi-party and multi-jurisdictional cases, many necessitating pre-mediation meetings with parties alone or jointly.
AtIn Place of Strife,Charles Middleton-Smith's 'style is of quiet persistence and urbane professionalism; he remains calm and polite at all times, but he gets his point across with a combination of blunt analysis and an ability to get people to focus on commercial priorities'. Middleton-Smithis focused on media and entertainment, family business and trusts (including offshore trusts) as well as financial services, property, insurance and education. He recently mediateda case involving disability discrimination.
'Playing out his role very articulately, fairly and confidently',Patrick Walker is 'a very professional mediator who is measured and well versed in legal principles and he fully appreciates and delivers to the client the commerciality of settlement over litigation'. Typically mediating two or three times a week, Walker'sclients include PLCs, developers, government departments, statutory undertakers, banks, professional indemnity clients and a cross-section of corporate and private clients; he mediatesin a rangeof disputes, includingprofessional negligence, contentious probate, share purchases and construction.
Serle Court's Beverly-Ann Rogersis also a member of In Place of Strife. Her recent case examples include a breach of trust claim involving a Lebanese estate and trusts, American corporations and Canadian real estate;state and probate claims including disputed wills, Inheritance Act claims and proprietary estoppel; and professional negligence claims against solicitors and dentists. Rogers also mediated property claims, including joint residential property and commercial property investment disputes; partnership matters concerning farming partnership and land disputes; and company and shareholder cases.
Brick Court Chambers's Stephen Ruttle QC, whois also a member of In Place of Strife,'brings the experience that clients would expect from one of the top mediators in the business and clients are left impressed'.Ruttlepractisespredominantlyin London, but also mediates regularly in other parts of the UK and Ireland and in several jurisdictions abroad; and he is increasingly active as a mediator of community and faith-based disputes. Recent highlights include mediating a large construction dispute between high-profile Asian entities; healso mediates a high proportion of large shipping disputes.
3 Verulam Buildings’ Elizabeth Birch,who is also at In Place of Strife,is 'an outstanding mediator; her style is one of warmth and understanding but allied to a steely determination and willingness to persevere, which means that she enjoys a very good success rate, even in the apparently insoluble case'. Birch has successfully conducted over250 mediations in commercial and cross-border disputes; shespecialises in international and commercial disputes involving shipping,oil and gas, insurance and reinsurance, international distributorship andfranchise, banking and finance, joint ventures, IT and telecoms.
In Place of Strife's Stuart Chapmanis 'very impressive in the way in which he handles difficult mediations; he not only understands the legal and factual issues in dispute but what each party needs from the day and he works hard to get a deal done'. Mediatingfull-time since 2008, Chapman has mediateddisputes involving contracts, pensions, probate,banking and finance, and employment issues.
With 'a user-friendly and commercial style that is well received',In Place of Strife's Chris Fittonis 'a reliable mediator whosegenuine and personable approach during mediation is very useful for bridging the gap between parties'. In 2017, Fitton mediated cases involvingprofessional indemnity, pensions, financial services, public sector disputes and insolvency.
In Place of Strife's Lawrence Kershen QCis 'wise, concerned, committed, astute and fully wins the confidence of clients and fellow professionals'. Kershen'smediation experience includes commercial contracts, banking and financial services, construction, defamation, engineering, inheritance, insurance, IP and manufacturing. He also has experience in mediating media, partnership, professional negligence, property and shareholding disputes.
'handles mediations exceptionally well; he establishes a good relationship with parties and assists in achieving results; he also has a good grasp of the facts and the law and explores the strengths and weaknesses of cases in a sensible manner'. Powellhas over 25 years’ experience as a mediator, has now conducted over 450 mediations, and is a commercial litigation and professional indemnity specialist
In Place of Strife's Alistair Pyeis 'extremely well prepared, direct and down to earth, yet also highly professional'. Others praise Pye for being 'entirely focused on making progress with intractable matters'. He undertook 74 mediations in 2017 and is a construction, engineering and insurance specialist, although his recent mediation experience also includes land disputes, inheritance cases, trust, landlord and tenant disputes, commercial contract cases, employment law, company law, and agricultural disputes.
mostly mediates onfinancial services and banking disputes, includinga large number of interest rate swap cases; he also mediates interesting environmental claims, sports disputes and fine art disputes, and has mediated internationally in Thailand, Hong Kong and Africa.
In Place of Strife's Andrew Hildebrand'works hard to understand the emotional aspects of cases and clearly establishes parties' trust; he is alsovery well prepared, thorough and quietly persuasive without resorting to browbeating'. Hildebrand recently handledover 30 commercial mediations in a 12-month period; hemediates a wide range of commercial and contractual cases but specialises in entertainment, sport and IP; and partnership, family business and private client.
'An extremely competent mediator with a unique style',In Place of Strife's Mark Linnell'has a very engaging manner which quickly wins trust and confidence; he isable to bridge the gap between difficult parties during intense mediations when things seem lost'. A commercial mediator since 2005, Linnell's practice includesdisputes involving commercial agreements, contested probates, financial services, insurance, media and construction, as well as insolvency, professional negligence and property.
atIn Place of Strife'
has a fantastic manner and comes across as a great listener, while at the same time discreetly moving parties to the areas they need to focus on
'. Player is nowa full-time mediator, having left King & Spalding LLPin2017,undertaking over 30 appointments in her first nine months. She actedas mediator in relation to a shareholder dispute arising out of a property project that involved allegations of an undervalue of assets; and mediatedin relation to an international pharmaceutical collaboration and distribution agreement.
Working full time as a mediator since 1997,In Place of Strife’s Liz Riversis 'a very experienced and skilful mediator; shehas training not just as a mediator, but also as a lawyer and a psychotherapist, and she brings to bear an unusually wide-ranging skill-set in her mediations. She is particularly adept at dealing with highly emotional cases and difficult or vulnerable individuals'. Riversspecialises exclusively in workplace and employment disputes.
In Place of Strife's Amanda Bucklowis experienced inmediating commercial disputes and employment-related matters, including discrimination and dismissal-related cases; Bucklow also has expertise in transport, IT and financial services claims.
A full-time mediator since 2015,In Place of Strife's Rebecca Clark 'very quickly gets to grips with the headline and underlying issues, and takes time to speak with the parties and understand their commercial positions and hurdles to proposed settlements'. Clark is particularly sought after for her expertise in financial services and small and medium-sized enterprises.
In Place of Strife's Michael Coverhas been a full-time mediator since 2008 and has been involved in around 225 mediations. Cover'spractice includes both commercial and family business disputes, and he isparticularly well known for IP, technology and insurance mediations.
In Place of Strife's Jane Gunnis 'trusted by clients and is very approachable'. Gunnspecialises in complex and highly emotive cases in areas such aspartnership, joint ventures, trusts and employment cases as well as medical negligence, and property and construction.
isCMS' former commercial litigaition head. Hardy is '
very effective; he shows skill, intelligence, common sense and patience in dealing with very tricky and challenging situations
'. Hismediation experience predominantly arises out of corporate transactions, finance and commercial contracts.
'smediation practice focuses on reinsurance, restructuring and insolvency, financial services, and joint venture, shareholder and partnership disputes.
In Place of Strife's Mark Shaw QCis also a member ofBlackstone Chambers. Shawacts in mediations that compliment his significant public law background.Other mediations include partnership, property and land development, professional negligence and commercial disputes.