23/05/2024
Five Twenty Essex barristers join the ranks of accredited mediators
Five Twenty Essex barristers have recently become qualified in commercial mediation practice, and are accepting appointments as mediators. With the addition of these newly accredited mediators – Simon Milnes KC, Karen Maxwell, Angharad Parry, Colleen Hanley and Belinda McRae – Twenty Essex now has over a dozen barristers and arbitrators accepting mediator appointments.
“Mediation is undoubtedly a useful tool in the dispute resolution toolbox,” says Catherine Reeves, who manages the mediators’ practice. “All parties should consider ADR as a part of their disputes process – with mediation there is the opportunity for creative solutions and outcomes.”
Aled Davies from Mediator Academy says: “Commercial parties see mediation as procedural innovation: the time and cost efficiency, not to mention the opportunity cost of resolving your dispute in a day, makes it a very attractive option, and it’s just one of many reasons behind the steady growth in this market. As an educator it’s very gratifying to train mediators who are intellectually sharp and naturally curious, and this cohort were no different.”
Simon Milnes KC says: “Over my career, I’ve seen parties who had seemed miles apart use mediation to reach solutions they were comfortable with. It puts more control into parties’ hands than litigation or arbitration, and allows greater range and flexibility in outcomes to suit the specific situation. So we increasingly see users of dispute resolution processes choosing mediation, and valuing both mediation advocacy and strategic advice on facilitated settlement.”
Karen Maxwell says: “I have a lot of respect for the mediation process – it has been a game changer in several of my cases. Mediation gives parties – and their lawyers – the space to look beyond their entrenched legal positions and move towards a cost-effective solution. Commercial parties don’t want to spend time and money litigating, and the opportunity to draw a line and move on is obviously highly attractive.”
Colleen Hanley says: “I have long been a proponent of mediation as a user-friendly alternative dispute resolution tool. The increasing use of mediation in large commercial disputes is a positive step. I am delighted to have qualified as a mediator and I am really looking forward to developing this new area of my practice.”
