Independent Mediators are very proud to announce that all nine of our members have been listed in tier one of the mediators section in the new edition of Legal 500 released in September 2022. This is a tremendous achievement for all.
We are delighted with the rankings and are extremely grateful to all our instructing solicitors and clients for their support in helping us to both achieve and maintain them.
Full listings for each of our Mediators can be found below. You can also click through to the mediators individual page (click on their name) to download their CV and see more information.
Stuart Chapman is ‘very effective in finding a way to keep temperatures down and get the parties focusing on a way forward, rather than the reasons for the breakdown in the relationship.’ Chapman’s practice covers a broad cross-section of practice areas, including general commercial, construction, insolvency, insurance, partnership, professional negligence and shareholder disputes; and he has conducted over 600 mediations since he began mediating in 2008, including many recent mediations conducted remotely.
Phillip Howell-Richardson is one of the UK’s most experienced and widely-respected commercial mediators. He is an ‘excellent all-rounder for commercial and professional liability disputes‘. With longstanding experience in mediating complex cases in the UK and internationally, Howell-Richardson’s mediation track record includes claims involving fraud, commercial contracts, professional negligence claims, banking, finance and insurance disputes, and international conflicts involving governments, companies and individuals. He is also experienced in mediations involving insolvency, engineering, oil and gas, property, IP, sport, employment, and group actions involving large numbers of claimants.
Kate Jackson qualified as a lawyer both in England and Wales, and New York. Kate ‘displays all the hallmarks required of a first-rate mediator – knows when to listen, when to interject, when to offer guidance/reassurance, and when to leave the parties to make their own choices, while maintaining impartiality‘. A full-time mediator since 2009, ex-Magic Circle litigator Jackson is experienced in mediating high-value, high-profile disputes for large public and international companies, as well as individuals with personal grievances.
Michel Kallipetis KC is former head of Littleton Chambers. Michel is ‘brilliant at building rapport and getting parties to settle‘. Many of Kallipetis’ mediations are multi-party disputes, while others involve international companies and the laws of other countries; and he consistently mediates a broad range of disputes involving banking, partnerships, insurance and re-insurance. Kallipetis is also active in all aspects of employment disputes, including racial and sex discrimination claims and pension rights, solicitors and valuers’ negligence claims, and medical negligence and personal injury matters. Additional areas of expertise include large-value construction, engineering and commercial disputes, including referrals from the Commercial Court and the Technology and Construction Court.
Jonathan Lloyd-Jones is ‘calm, professional and highly intelligent‘. Jonathan is actively involved, not only in practicing as a commercial mediator, but also in the development of mediation practice in the UK. His practice covers a wide range of commercial topics, particularly professional negligence claims against a wide range of professionals, including solicitors, accountants, architects, surveyors and insurance brokers; and Lloyd-Jones additionally handles claims for restitution based on fraud, breaches of restrictive covenants by departing employees, insolvency disputes, and construction and property matters.
Mark Lomas KC has been a full-time mediator at Independent Mediators since 2009, his ‘attention to detail is the best there is for a mediator. On top of that he is measured, persuasive and fair between the parties.‘ For other clients, he is ‘the best mediator out there – hardworking, straight-talking, evaluative and trustworthy‘. An accredited mediator since 2001, Lomas’ mediations frequently concern professional negligence claims against solicitors, accountants, financial advisers, insurance brokers, architects and other construction professionals, but he also handles claims in relation to insurance, probate, property, trusts, commercial law and insolvency.
Bill Marsh is a leading European mediator. Bill’s ‘key skills are being able to distil down complex matters into the key issues facing the parties, and to explore alternative routes to bringing them closer together.’ Active in full-time mediation since 1991, Marsh’s practice covers a broad range of commercial disputes, including commercial contracts, product liability, insurance, reinsurance, professional negligence, shareholder issues, sports, medical negligence, pensions, IT and shipping; and his international practice covers parties from over 30 countries, including disputes in India, France, Canada, US, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, along with Turkey, the Gulf, the Balkans and the Caribbean.
Andrew Paton a former partner at Pinsent Masons LLP, Andrew is ‘one of the best mediators around – straightforward, no-nonsense, and works hard with the parties to deliver an outcome‘. In addition, ‘Andrew is always very well-prepared, and able to grasp the issues (both the legal ones and the commercial ones) very quickly‘. Paton has mediated over 1,300 cases to date, including many recent online mediations. His experience covers professional negligence claims involving legal professionals, accountants, architects, surveyors, engineers, financial advisers and insurance brokers; and Paton’s expertise additionally includes construction-related claims, and property and commercial matters.
Jane Player ‘She is excellent. She manages to get on top of complicated material at very short notice, she settles the parties down, gets them to work out what they really want from the litigation, and manages mediations brilliantly. She is a very good influence on all of us’. Player’s wide-ranging practice focuses on general corporate and contractual claims, fraud and projects disputes, as well as Pharma, energy, technology, IP and media-related claims. Player also has particular experience in international dispute resolution, and is an expert in managing the cross-cultural aspects of joint venture and international shareholder disputes.