Jonathan Lloyd-Jones

Jonathan has been a commercial mediator for 30 years. His mediation practice has covered a wide variety of areas but in particular he has considerable knowledge of professional negligence disputes, construction disputes, property disputes (particularly those arising out of disputed wills and probate), partnership, employment, financial services, as well as more general commercial, company and contractual matters.  This has included more recently many mediations conducted online. He has lectured on mediation and ADR in the USA, South Africa and in Estonia. He is currently Vice President of the International Academy of Mediators (IAM).

Jonathan is willing to adopt an evaluative approach to his mediations. Whilst recognising he is not there to determine the issues, he is not afraid to engage with the parties on the strengths and weaknesses of their claims. His experience as a commercial lawyer and litigator of over 30 years, and a mediator for 30 years, has given him a good insight into the realities of dispute resolution.

He believes that settlements tend to emerge as a consequence of the parties taking a realistic look at the prospects of success or failure of the whole or aspects of their case and then taking a similar approach when looking at the case of their opponents. In addition he looks to give the parties an opportunity to consider options other than simple win or lose. Whilst many disputes are primarily claims about money, there are often other issues that need to be addressed before a constructive discussion about financial settlement can take place.

However, at the end of the day, he recognises he is there to help the parties achieve their settlement of the dispute that they have brought to mediation and works with them to achieve the settlement they want.

Jonathan features in the top bands of both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. The current editions of the directories state:

Legal 500 2025

Jonathan Lloyd-Jones Practising exclusively with Independent Mediators since 2012, Jonathan is ‘unflappable – determined to do all that he can to help achieve resolutions, he is able to gain the trust of different types of client’. Lloyd-Jones’ caseload covers a wide range of commercial areas, including negligence claims against a range of professionals, from solicitors, accountants, IFAs and insurance brokers to architects and surveyors. He also mediates insurance industry disputes and is experienced in claims for fraud-based restitution, breaches of restrictive covenants by departing employees, insolvency disputes, and construction and property matters. A qualified commercial mediator since 1991, Lloyd-Jones has been appointed in over 900 mediations to date.

Chambers & Partners 2025

“Jonathan has a very easy manner with people and works hard to achieve settlements.”
“He helps build momentum, even when difficult issues are in play.”
“Jonathan is approachable, commercially focused and empathetic.”
“He is number one in his field, in my view, and is fantastic with clients.”

Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2024

Listed as one of the World’s top mediators in this International Directory.  Jonathan Lloyd-Jones “is a standout mediator” and is “always very prepared and on top of the details.” “Jonathan is commercial, personable and fair.” “He is an extremely experienced mediator and a pleasure to work with.” “He is a strong supporter of other professionals.”

Who’s Who Legal: Global Elite Thought Leaders Mediation 2024

WWL Thought Leaders is a new section launched in 2017. Jonathan features on the list of less than  twenty individuals from around the World. Who’s Who Legal explain this new feature as ‘bringing together for the first time the expertise and wisdom of some of the world’s foremost practitioners. They state that these practitioners obtained ‘the highest number of nominations from peers, corporate counsel and other market sources in their most recent research.’

“One of the best mediators I have ever seen / used.”

“I must say that having been at many mediations, I thought that your conduct and skills were superb in bringing together a settlement.”

“Jonathan was excellent. Very good with the clients, approachable, patient and clear helping to bring the settlement together.”

“As well as having mastered your brief you were skillful, polite and well structured. You made powerful friends yesterday who I hope and believe will instruct you again. I also had a masterclass in the role of a mediator.”

“Very well, he understood the issues in dispute from the outset and also understood that both parties were there with the definite intention of settlement, offers were therefore made at a very early stage which resulted in the mediation being concluded in a relatively short period of time.”

“Excellent at explaining process and working with both parties”

“Jonathan delivered an excellent professional service and worked extremely hard to finalise the deal. We would have no hesitation in recommending him in the future.”

“We were very happy with the performance of the mediator. Good contact before the event. Good flexibility. Kept pace with developments. Good humour. Excellent appreciation of the issues. We would be delighted to work with JLJ again.”

“The mediator explained the process fully to my client. He clearly understood the issues and inspired confidence in the client who trusted him to ensure that everything that could possibly be done to achieve a deal was done.”

“Jonathan was a very able and experienced mediator. He quickly recognised that both parties were experienced in mediating and set about driving the parties to settlement figures at an early juncture, which eventually resulted in a timely and successful settlement.”

“Jonathan was particularly well prepared considering that he was a last minute replacement for Philip. We had exchanged voicemails on the Friday before the mediation but did not manage to speak until the day of the mediation. He had read in very well and quickly got to the issues. His pace on the day was very good. He worked well between the parties and we felt that he was making the other party really think about their case.”

“There was considerable work for the mediator to do to persuade the Claimant to accept the difficulties with his case and the mediator achieved this successfully by dividing his time and efforts appropriately, sensibly and fairly between the parties”

“Jonathan handled both the clients, the lawyers and the Claimants very well. This was a claim with a lot of emotion (disappointed beneficiaries) and Jonathan allowed the claimants their say but did not allow it to spiral out of control which would have prevented settlement discussions. Jonathan set exactly the right pace.”

“Brilliant. Jonathan is one of the best around. He is well prepared, with an eye for the detail where important and a charming, easy manner during mediations.”

Jonathan Lloyd-Jones qualified as a solicitor in 1979 and as a mediator in 1991 and since then has been actively involved not only in practicing as a commercial mediator but also in the development of mediation practice in the UK. Until 2012 he combined that practice with his own practice as a solicitor specialising in commercial litigation. He was described in The Legal 500 (2011) as one of the best solicitors, he has an extraordinary grasp of facts and a remarkable analytical mind and knowledge of the law.

Jonathan started his legal career in London training with Stephenson Harwood and then becoming a partner in a West End practice where he remained until 1988.

Jonathan was Senior Partner of Oxford law firm (Linnells) from 1998, leading it into a merger with the larger regional firm of Blake Lapthorn (now Blake Morgan) in 2003. He was Chairman of Blake Lapthorn from 2005 until 2011 and left the firm in 2012. During his time as Senior Partner and Chairman he acquired wide experience of partnership matters and the challenges of running a business, which means he understands, probably to a greater degree than many legal advisors because of his personal experience, the need for practical and commercial solutions to problems.

Additionally from 2004 – 2012 he represented the firm all over the world as part of its international network.

Jonathan speaks regularly on mediation topics both in the UK and abroad. He also provides training courses in preparation and presentation at mediations. He has trained lawyers, business people and other professionals in mediation skills and in the skills of using mediation effectively for their own disputes. He also conducts training in-house for law firms, insurance companies and others.

He was Chair of Trustees of The Art Room, a charity that, by using art as therapy, encourages the reintegration into main stream schooling of children that have been or are at risk of exclusion. The charity has the Duchess of Cambridge as its Royal Patron and is currently expanding significantly.

Whilst at Blake Lapthorn, he was closely involved with encouraging a greater understanding of environmental issues in Oxfordshire. He set up the Green Breakfast series at the firm, which raises amongst local business leaders and others an understanding of the wider environmental concerns that will shape our world in the future.

Jonathan loves to travel when possible and in 2012 spent 2 months in Argentina trying to learn Spanish and to tango at the same time.

Qualified as solicitor: October 1979
Trained as mediator: October 1991

1977-1980 Stephenson Harwood – City of London Corporate practice

1980-1988 London West End litigation practice
Partner and Head of Civil Litigation Department

1988-2012 Blake Lapthorn – Top 60 law firm
Chairman 2005 -2011
Former Head of Commercial Dispute Resolution Practice Group