Legal 500 2022 recognises 24 of our mediators
We are thrilled to see that 24 of our mediators have been recognised by the most recent edition of Legal 500 2022 and that 17 of them are featured in the Hall of Fame which recognises those who have been featured in the rankings consistently for 8 years as leading individuals.
We are thrilled to see that 24 of our mediators have been recognised by the most recent edition of Legal 500 2022 and that 17 of them are featured in the Hall of Fame which recognises those who have been featured in the rankings consistently for 8 years as leading individuals.
Five of our mediators have moved up the rankings or been recognised for the first time and we now have 7 mediators in Tier 1 of the rankings, including new arrival Chris Fitton. Such recognition owes much to the willingness of our clients to act as referees and provide feedback to the researchers – thank you to all our clients and instructing solicitors for their loyal support!
Here’s what the research had to say about our mediators:
is '
a good communicator for opening up the discussions, probing at the issues, and finding alternative paths for unblocking areas of dispute
'. He mediated approximately £70m-worth of disputes in 2020, predominantly focusing on commercial and insurance matters; and his Scottish practice has also continued to grow. The practice areas where Fitton has recently been most active are professional indemnity claims against solicitors, accountants and construction professionals; public sector infrastructure projects; and disputes between shareholders, and claims against shareholders/directors by liquidators and banks.
Head of chambers Mark Jackson-Stopswas 'one of the first professional mediators and so has a CV and a pedigree that no one else has; and he is trustworthy, diligent, empathetic, robust, commercial and intelligent'. Jackson-Stops has mediated over 1,700 cases to date; and is particularly sought out for mediations concerning professional negligence, property, construction, probate/inheritance, financial services, insurance and commercial contracts. Recent highlights have included a dispute between a hedge fund manager in New York and a company in the British Virgin Islands, which was mediated from London.
Following approximately 20 years as a solicitor in private practice, IPOS Mediation‘sJon Langbecame 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.
'One of the most dynamic mediators on the market',Alistair PyeatIPOS Mediationhas the 'ability to grasp the key issues and keep the parties focused on a same-day resolution; and he is direct but pleasant, focused, effective and encouraging'. In a recent 12-month period, Pye conducted a total of 66 mediations, the vast majority of which were via Zoom; instructions covered construction/engineering issues, a range of professional negligence matters, inheritance disputes (often farming community-related proprietary estoppel claims), and insurance coverage.
Full-time and highly sought-after mediatorBeverly-Ann Rogers is 'really excellent in her grasp of detail and quick assessment of a case - she works out the essential and weeds out the irrelevant'. Her main areas of practice reflect her expertise as a chancery barrister, notably trust and estates, property, partnership, company and professional negligence, but her work further extends to general commercial and employment disputes. Recent cases include breach of trust claims involving offshore trusts and the eligibility of persons (as beneficiaries) in a high-value trust.
'Easily the best mediator on the circuit', Stephen Ruttle QC'brings to bear a unique combination of skills - formidable technical expertise, a deep understanding of people and business motivations, and a genuine passion for finding creative ways of resolving disputes'. He ceased practising as a barrister and silk in 2002, and has since worked full time as a commercial mediator. By January 2021, Ruttle had mediated approximately 1,700 cases of nearly every legal type, from both the public and private sectors; and even during the pandemic, he completed over 70 virtual mediations.
A full-time mediator since 2016,IPOS Mediation'sPatrick Walker'gives every confidence that he is in control of the mediation process - he is calm and firm in dealing with the various parties, and in trying to identify areas that could be catalysts for discussions'. Previously working throughout the UK from bases in London and Leeds, Walker now operates exclusively online as a result of the pandemic, serving clients both in the UK and abroad. Typically mediating two or three times a week, his areas of specialism include professional negligence, contentious probate, share purchases and construction.
Establishing her mediation practice in 2015,IPOS Mediation'sRebecca Clarkis 'very personable and quickly builds strong relationships; she is calm and willing to go the extra mile to achieve a settlement'. Clark experienced a 50% increase in instructions in 2020, her recent work highlights including resolving a complex international shipping reinsurance claim between a Nigerian PLC and a UK insurance broker.
'
has a wonderfully empathetic manner that invites open and direct discussions and gains trust quickly - he is notable in his level of follow-up after the mediation
'. A highly rated entertainment, sports and licensing mediator, Hildebrand also conducts mediations concerning disputes between businesses, as well as disputes within businesses, including between partners, shareholders and family members.
Mediating for over 25 years,IPOS Mediation‘sLawrence Kershen QC↓'has a superb manner that is entirely suited to mediation - he focuses on the human and commercial considerations, which are hallmarks of a good mediator'. Kershen is particularly sought out for high-conflict disputes, where there are strong emotions or entrenched positions; and recent mediations include disputes involving a film finance scheme disallowed by HMRC, pharmaceutical-related contract terms, an aviation joint venture, housing development construction defects, and accountants’ professional negligence.
A commercial mediator since 2005,IPOS Mediation'sMark Linnell's 'commercial background can be a distinct advantage in getting deals done with commercial parties'. Linnell's recent mediations include a complex shareholder dispute; a claim for the recovery of a business loan and interest; a contested probate case (involving six families) concerning an estate in Africa; and a possession claim on the basis of a charge secured against property. In 2020, Linnell also mediated pandemic-related breach of contract disputes.
A commercial litigation partner for over 25 years before becoming a full-time mediator in 2007,IPOS Mediation'sCharles Middleton-Smith↓has a successful track record in a broad range of commercial cases, where the sums involved range up to £10m. Typical mediation areas include banking and finance, commercial contracts, employment, IP, and media and entertainment, along with disputes involving M&A, partnerships, shareholders, sale of goods, sport, and trusts and probate.
is '
a mediator for miracles - he just has a knack for settling cases
'. With over 20 years' mediation experience, Powell has conducted over 500 commercial mediations; and specialises in disputes concerning commercial issues, partnerships, professional negligence, property, banking, asset finance, and insolvency.
'Particularly user-friendly and experienced',Rebecca AttreejoinedIPOS Mediation's panel in September 2020. 'Calm, persuasive and fair', she is fully accredited to mediate in the UK, US and online, and consistently conducts a wide range of commercial and workplace domestic and international disputes. She has notable expertise in complex, multi-party matters, in relation to property, family businesses and trusts, contracts for goods and services, directors’ duties, IP issues, and professional fee work.
Mediating commercial and international disputes since 1995,IPOS Mediation‘sElizabeth Birch is particularly focused on the mediation of maritime, commercial, insurance and reinsurance disputes, including cross-border matters that are of high value.
Michael Coveris 'more willing than most mediators to make parties evaluate the weaknesses of their claims - he goes out of his way to engage with clients, so as to bring them together to find resolutions todisputes'. His track record includes the conduct of over 250 mediations, comprising disputes from his core areas of IP, IT and technology, as well as large family business cases.
has established a strong reputation as a commercial and human rights mediator, and has particular expertise in financial services. Flint is '
calm and measured throughout, and able to identify the key issues and facilitate meetings between the parties
'.
The practice of 'highly skilled and extremely bright'Charles GordonatIPOS Mediationwas almost 100% virtual during the pandemic, and comprised both domestic and international work. He handles a broad range of disputes including insurance and reinsurance, energy, professional negligence, property, shareholder, and joint venture matters; his recent experience has included a mediation concerning the collapse of an international airline, and two mediations involving insolvent insurers.
A full-time mediator with approximately 25 years experience in mediating commercial cases,IPOS Mediation'sJane Gunnis 'calm, measured, and with a keen and critical eye to claims; and she has a genuine desire to help clients reach a resolution'. Accredited in 1996, Gunn has mediated hundreds of disputes to date; and she recently conducted several complex, high-profile mediations involving business, partnership, workplace and boardroom issues.
atIPOS Mediation, who qualified as a mediator in 1997 and previously led the commercial litigation team atCMS, is '
patient and prepared to listen to parties to ensure clients feel their voices have truly been heard
'. Recent work has included the mediation of disputes involving supply chain problems, international shareholders, missing trader intra-community VAT fraud, Covid-19-related business interruption insurance, and partnership issues.
The first woman in the UK to become a CEDR-accredited mediator in 1992,Liz RiversatIPOS Mediationis 'authentic, kind and displays integrity in her approach'. A leading mediator for boardroom and senior team disputes, Rivers is typically sought out by GCs and HR departments for the resolution of sensitive senior team conflicts, which threaten to derail the leadership of an organisation, department or team- 'her training as a psychotherapist puts her in a unique position to support employers and employees handling complex issues.'
Practising as a lead mediator since 2017, Andrew Miller QC has 'an excellent and responsive blend of push-and-pull approaches to get the parties fully into settlement mode and to work towards a deal'. Involved in the mediation of disputes for over 25 years, both domestically and internationally, he is particularly noted for major commercial disputes.
Well-regarded for his aptitude for 'ensuring that mediations are kept on track',Blackstone Chambers'Mark Shaw QCis also a panel member atIPOS Mediation. An accredited mediator since 2008, his experience includes mediations arising from contract, tort, costs, immigration, employment, public sector and public procurement disputes.
Accredited as a commercial mediator since 1996, Amanda Bucklow has a significant portfolio of mediated disputes across a range of industry sectors and legal contexts, including commercial law, financial services, IT, transport and employment-related matters.
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