Celebrating one year since Rebecca Clark joined Independent Mediators. The members of Independent Mediators were delighted when Rebecca accepted their invitation to join the team with effect from August 2023. Her first year with IM has been fantastic.
Rebecca is a talented, well-respected mediator and was also until June this year Chair of the Civil Mediation Council. Listed in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 as a Leading Mediator, Rebecca is particularly commended for her calm and empathetic style, combined with robust legal or commercial challenge where needed. Described as “a superstar and a powerhouse for the progress of mediation,” “superb”, “outstanding”, Rebecca is “a credit to her profession”. She encourages parties to take a risk-based approach to actively manage conflict and disputes, whilst managing difficult conversations with sensitivity and insight.
The range of work undertaken by Rebecca in the last year has increased and diversified whilst still showing a strong recognition for her banking and finance skills and knowledge. Rebecca has had several significant appointments, using her mediation skills to resolve issues in sectors and practice areas including general commercial, construction, professional negligence, property, IT, finance, aviation, public sector, manufacturing, energy, supply chain and logistics, insolvency, insurance, group action, care home and shareholder disputes.
Almost without exception the matters which Rebecca has mediated over the last year have been of high value or highly complex. Her settlement rate has been exceptional and praise widespread. The value of claims mediated by Rebecca since joining IM is over £200m.
As a full-time mediator Rebecca actively promotes mediation and is regularly asked to speak on the subject. Rebecca ensures she stays up to date with the latest mediation techniques and methodologies and is actively engaged within the mediation community.
Professional Background
Prior to becoming a mediator, Rebecca was Head of Litigation at a so-called “bad bank” where she was awarded Legal Counsel of the Year 2013, partly as a result of her novel approach to resolving classes of disputes by mediation. As a result, Rebecca’s insight into mediation as a mediating party is unparalleled. Before working in-house, Rebecca set up and managed her own retail business from set up to sale, giving her a genuine understanding of the pressures of owning and managing your own business and the impact disputes can have on the financial management of a company. She has also worked as a solicitor in private practice.
Rebecca mediates a wide range of commercial disputes including shareholder, insolvency, warranty claims, breach of contract and breach of duty. Because of her previous employment, Rebecca is particularly experienced in financial services, professional negligence and regulatory litigation. She is also sought after for her SME and family business mediation experience, where her ability to connect inter-generationally with parties to a dispute, combined with her own business experience, helps move parties towards resolution. Most recently, Rebecca has worked with parties to develop dispute avoidance strategies, facilitating discussions and devising processes for projects in the investment fund management, manufacturing and recruitment industries. She is also on the Court of Appeal mediation scheme panel.
Rebecca is very interested in the psychology of mediation and negotiation generally and regularly speaks at seminars and conferences on the subject.
Some quotes from solicitors who have worked with Rebecca
“Rebecca was all over the detail and well prepared. Rebecca was personable and listened to all points being made without judgment, whilst putting forward comments to test the positions adopted. I would thoroughly recommend Rebecca and would be happy to use her for future mediations.”
“She controlled the sometimes heated meetings very well. It was good to get a resolution to a protracted and entrenched dispute”
“The mediator was excellent and kept momentum and dialogue going to an agreed outcome”
“Rebecca is measured and a skilled mediator.”
“The mediation ran very smoothly and as efficiently as it could have done. Rebecca frequently reiterated the need for constructive thought processes.”
“Really got the emotion on the day and handled that extremely well in what was a particularly sensitive and emotional dispute”.
“Very understanding of the delicate emotional circumstances of this case.”
“She listened when needed, she moved things forward when needed. She was collaborative and problem solving focused. She made it a team effort. She was devoid of ego. Mediator superb”.
More information on Rebecca including her CV can be found by clicking here.