Legal 500 2021 recognises 25 of our mediators

We are delighted that 25 of our mediators have been recognised by the most recent edition of Legal 500 2021 and that 15 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.

Seven of our mediators have moved up the rankings or been recognised for the first time and we now have 7 mediators in in Tier 1 of the rankings. 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:

Mark Jackson-Stops is 'one of the most experienced and highly-thought of mediators. Heis a superstar who demonstrates intellect, determination, sensitivity, patience and humour, and his efforts are appreciated by all involved'. Having mediated over 1600 cases, Jackson-Stops is consistently sought out as a mediator, particularly in relation to professional negligence, property and construction, insurance, probate and inheritance, financial services (including mis-selling) and commercial contract disputes. Examples of recently mediated cases include a group action by over 30 occupiers of a block of flats against the manufacturers of machinery, which was alleged to have caused a fire; and a professional negligence claim by steel fabricators against a firm that was retained to test weld quality.

Jon Lang became a full-time mediator in 2005, after almost 20 years as a solicitor in private practice. Lang mediates approximately two or three cases each week. Recently he has been particularly active in mediations involving professional negligence, trusts and probate, property, public sector procurement, insolvency, banking, and partnership and shareholder disputes (especially minority shareholder actions). Lang is also increasingly instructed in complex multi-party and multi-jurisdictional cases, many of which necessitate process design, such as pre-mediation meetings with parties alone or jointly, and site meetings. In addition,Lang has acted as an expert in mediation and is a member of CPR’s Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, as well as being a past chair of the Mediation Committee of theInternational Bar Association.

Charles Middleton-Smith is one of the UK’s leading independent commercial mediators, with a track-record of success in a wide variety of business contexts. Middleton-Smith was a commercial litigation partner for over 25 years before becoming a full-time mediator in 2007. Recently, his mediation roster involved disputes in specialist areas including web-based marketing, fundraising for the Alternative Investment Market, a valuable collection of antique silver, and automotive-related disputes involving supercars.

Alistair Pye 'combines the skills of his legal background with a calm but authoritative manner. He understands the legal and commercial implications of a case, as well as the importance of carrying the lay client and is able to handle a full range of mediations, including complex ones with multiple parties'. In 2019, Pye conducted71 mediations, and has experienced an increase in appointments involving challenged wills, succession issues and claims for proprietary interests in land, as well as agricultural disputes. Additional areas of expertise include construction and engineering, IT, general commercial, property, and professional negligence-related mediations. Work examples include a claim by a holiday park owner against an architect for defects and delays in the development of an indoor swimming pool and leisure facility; and a claim by a restaurant against its insurer’s decision to decline indemnity for a flood damage-related claim.

Beverly-Ann Rogers 'has a deservedly high reputation, particularly in private client, trust and family provision cases. She is very adept at making clients trust her and is highly sensitive to what the parties' real concerns are'. Shehas mediatedhundreds ofdisputes across a broad spectrum of issues, and her mediations, although commercial in nature, frequently touch on emotive family matters. Rogers' experience also includes multi-party and cross-cultural disputes.

Stephen Ruttle QC is 'an exceptional mediator, who is easily at the top of the list for any difficult dispute. This is because he is passionate about resolving disputes and creative in the way he does so, always tailoring his approach to the precise circumstances of the case'. He ceased practising as a barrister and silk in 2002 and has since worked full time as a commercial mediator. By early 2020, he had mediated over 1500 cases; heis increasingly active as a mediator of community and faith-based disputes. He practises predominantly in London, but also mediates regularly in other parts of the UK and Ireland, and in several overseas jurisdictions. In late 2019, he successfully co-mediated the group litigation between over 550 sub-postmasters and the Post Office.

Patrick Walker is ‘a particular favourite and go-to mediator for property disputes. He goes above and beyond, and directs the parties skilfully to the heart of the dispute‘. Working from bases in London and Leeds, and as a full-time mediator since 2016,Walker typically mediates two or three times a week, with his workload increasingly including two-day mediations and high-value disputes. He has a significant property and commercial background, and mediates in a wide variety of matters that frequently concern professional negligence, contentious probate, share purchases and construction issues. Examples of Walker’s mediations include a contested long lease for a chapel and the wing of a stately home, marina and boating rights work, partnership issues for dentists and doctors, and multimedia and advertising hoarding lease disputes.

Elizabeth Birch has been mediating commercial and international disputes since 1995, with a particular emphasis on maritime, commercial, insurance and reinsurance matters. She has also successfully conducted a substantial number of mediations that involve cross-border disputes.

Chris Fitton is 'always very well prepared and has a very good manner, as he facilitates the discussion'.Fitton mediated over £50m of disputes in 2019, focusing on commercial and insurance disputes. Highlights include a dispute between two food processing companies as to the relative responsibility for alleged contamination of foodstuffs destined for livestock use; and a claim by a government agency against a contractor and design consultants, who were instructed to build a marine research centre in Scotland.

Lawrence Kershen QC has mediated for over 25 years and is regularly appointed in high-conflict disputes. Recent mediations include disputes relating to a film finance scheme that was disallowed by HMRC; the facilitation of workplace communication between a clinical director and a psychiatrist; the terms of a pharmaceuticals supply contract; housing development defects, insurance and indemnity issues, and an aviation joint venture involving private jet sales.

Jane Player is 'a particularly strong and impressive mediator. She gets to the heart of a matter quickly and effectively, and her style is authoritative and tenacious, yet calm and balanced. She also handles difficult personalities very well'. Player accepts over 60 mediations a year, with herpractice focused on corporate and commercial matters, predominantly corporate fall outs, joint venture breaches and shareholder complaints. She also has notable expertise in IP, IT and media-related mediations.

Charles Powell is 'an excellent mediator; he is hardworking, pragmatic and determined to find the right resolution. He is also creative at unlocking offers'. Others praise Powell's 'really good mediation style, for engaging well with the parties, and approaching the mediation in a pragmatic and sensible way'. Powell has over 20 years' mediation experience and has conducted over 500 commercial mediations. He specialises in disputes involving commercial law, partnerships, professional negligence and property claims, and banking and asset finance disputes.

Rebecca Attree is 'a professional, efficient and very approachable mediator. She has an effective and adaptable approach, and is always prepared to keep up efforts to get the deal done'. Fully accredited to mediate in the UK,US and online,Attree regularly mediates a wide range of commercial and workplace domestic and international disputes. She has particular expertise in complex and multi-party matters, which involve cross-cultural, international and relationship issues. Thesefrequently relate to contracts for goods or services, directors’ duties, property, family business and trusts issues, IP matters and professional fee work.

Rebecca Clark 'is the perfect fit for a mediation requiring sensitivity; her calm and methodical approach sets the correct tone'.Clark established her mediation practice in 2015; she recently successfully mediated a significant claim for losses (by a company and its directors) against a major UK lender, which allegedly withdrew banking facilities without authorisation.

Michael Cover's key areas cover IP, IT and technology matters, as well as insurance and reinsurance, public procurement and maritime disputes. Recent mediations concerned shareholders, pharmaceuticals devices, telecoms services, partnerships, and the misuse of confidential information. Cover also conducted a two-day mediation in the UAE, which related to a complex joint venture shareholder and valuation-related dispute.

Charles Flint QC has established a strong reputation as a commercial and human rights mediator. He is also particularly noted for his expertise in financial services matters, and has experience mediating employment, fine art, insurance, professional negligence, public procurement, and sports law disputes. He has mediated in the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Jane Gunn is a full-time mediator with 24 years’ experience in mediating commercial cases.She has mediated hundreds of disputes, and is frequently chosen for complex cases. In 2019,Gunn mediated cases involving phishing fraud, partnership, workplace and boardroom issues. Her mediation clients include a global financial market organisation, a mid-sized law firm and a Leeds-based legal practice.

Tim Hardy qualified as a mediator in 1997 and isCMS' former commercial litigation head. Hardy is 'an excellent mediator, who brings to bear his many years of experience as a senior litigator. He has a good manner with clients and is a good listener. He can also be firm when he needs to be, but is energetic in trying to bring parties together'. Hardy has conducted over 150 mediations with a notable focus on commercial disputes.

Andrew Hildebrand is 'always very calm and takes all the upset of disputes in his stride - the consummate professional'. Hildebrand is widely respected for his mediation of entertainment, media and commercial disputes. He has mediated high-profile cases involving Hollywood studios, broadcasters, agents, managers, licensors and distributors, as well as producers, financiers, event organisers, franchises, brands and rock bands.

Mark Linnell has been a commercial mediator since 2005. Linnell's recent mediations included handling an exit from a company, where one of the parties was the founder, CEO and a significant shareholder. He also mediated a matter involving a senior company director, who claimed he was owed significant bonuses; and a family dispute concerning a large director loan account.

Liz Rivers is a highly regarded mediator for boardroom and senior team disputes, and is typically brought in by GCs or HR departments to resolve conflicts. Rivers' mediation highlights include a dispute involving the managing partner and finance director of a professional services firm; and a dispute between team members of a renewable energy organisation over working practices.

Amanda Bucklow was accredited as a commercial mediator in 1996. Her mediated disputes cover a range of industry sectors and legal contexts, including commercial law, financial services, employment issues, IT and transport.

Charles Gordon is 'a standout practitioner with a wealth of experience; he is always sensible, proactive and commercial'. Gordon is particularly focused on mediations involving insurance, financial services and insolvency. He also has a broad commercial practice that is frequently international in nature.

Mark Shaw QC the mediation experience ofMark Shaw QC includes disputes arising from contract, tort, costs, immigration and public procurement issues. Recent work has included mediating a high-value dispute, which concerned the decision of an NHS Trust to abandon a public procurement process for a large hospital redevelopment scheme.

Andrew Miller QC The 'energetic and engaging 'Andrew Miller QC is 'adept at both getting to the nub of the issues in dispute and reality-testing challenging clients'. Practising as a lead mediator since 2017, he...is particularly noted for heavyweight, high-value commercial disputes.