Straight-talking, down-to-earth mediation for difficult disputes
I am a CMC Associate Mediator. I can be appointed as the independent mediator in disputes involving property, inheritance, estates, trusts, co-ownership, family assets and related civil disputes.
Many of these disputes are not just about money or legal rights. They often involve family history, grief, broken trust, long-running resentment, or the fear of losing a home, inheritance, business or important relationship. By the time parties reach mediation, they may feel exhausted by the dispute and unsure whether settlement is still possible.
My role is to help create the conditions in which a sensible resolution can be explored. I am straight-talking, practical and down to earth. I will not dress things up unnecessarily, but I also understand that people need to feel heard before they can make clear decisions. My approach is warm, direct and focused on helping parties move from entrenched positions towards workable solutions.
My mediation style
I believe mediation works best when it feels human.
People do not usually settle because someone gives them a lecture about the law or tells them what they ought to do. They settle when they have had the chance to say what matters, understand the risks, think clearly about their options and decide for themselves whether an agreement is better than continuing the dispute.
As mediator, I do not decide the case. I do not impose an outcome. I do not act for either side. My job is to help the parties have the conversations that have often become impossible by the time lawyers, correspondence and court proceedings are involved.
That may involve listening carefully. It may involve asking difficult questions. It may involve reality-testing positions, challenging assumptions, or helping parties think about what the dispute is really costing them – financially, emotionally and practically.
The kinds of disputes I mediate
I am particularly interested in disputes where there is a personal or family dimension as well as a financial or property issue. This reflects my practice as a barrister.
I can mediate disputes involving:
Wills, probate and estates
Including disputes between executors, beneficiaries and family members about wills, estate administration, inheritance, lifetime promises, capacity, undue influence or the division of assets.
Trusts and family wealth
Including disagreements between trustees and beneficiaries, disputes about control, disclosure, accounting, administration or the proper use of trust property.
Inheritance Act claims
Including claims by spouses, former spouses, partners, children, dependants or others seeking financial provision from an estate.
TOLATA and co-ownership disputes
Including disputes between former partners, relatives, friends or business associates about who owns what, whether a property should be sold, who should remain in occupation, and how the proceeds should be divided.
Property, land and boundary disputes
Including disagreements about land, rights of way, boundaries, easements, occupation, landlord and tenant issues, and property arrangements that have broken down.
Family asset and succession disputes
Including disputes involving family businesses, farms, inherited assets, informal promises, shared property, intergenerational wealth and arrangements that were once based on trust but are now contested.
Why appoint me?
Some mediators are very formal. Some are very facilitative. Some are very evaluative. My own style is practical, personable and direct.
I am likely to be a good fit where the parties need someone who can build trust quickly, speak plainly, and keep the process grounded. I understand that many people come to mediation feeling defensive, angry, hurt, anxious or simply tired of the dispute. I do not expect people to arrive at mediation already ready to compromise. Often, the point of the day is to help them get there.
I am comfortable working with strong personalities, emotional disputes and parties who feel they have not been listened to. I am also comfortable saying what needs to be said, provided it is said with care.
My aim is not to force settlement. It is to help parties make better decisions than they may be able to make from the middle of a dispute.