My Mediation Style

In my legal practice (principally construction, insurance and commercial litigation) I appointed many Mediators over the years and, like most lawyers, I had my favourites. I developed a clear understanding of what skills I expected the Mediator to demonstrate. In no particular order, a good Mediator will be honest, honourable, reliable, adaptable, persistent, creative, likeable, patient, assertive, energetic and wise. They will understand on an intuitive level the dynamics of a negotiation; read people well; know when to speak and when to stay quiet; and have a mastery of the anatomy of the conflict: legal, commercial and psychological. Above all, the Mediator must be completely neutral and must continually demonstrate that neutrality.

I believe the personal qualities of a Mediator are more important than particular areas of legal specialism. I am comfortable mediating almost all kinds of civil or commercial dispute. By the time a case comes to mediation, the issues have generally crystallised sufficiently for an experienced and competent lawyer-neutral to understand them, regardless of subject-matter. But, much more importantly, mediations are not about issues. They are about interests. In almost every mediation, the sooner the disputants stop talking about the issues and start focusing on their interests, the sooner we all go home.

I would describe my style of mediating as "relaxed but focused". I like to engage with participants on a personal level and find out what is influencing them in the context of their dispute. Rapport-building is essential for me, and I try to achieve this quickly, usually during the first private session, because it establishes the trust that enables me to go deeper into exploring positions, assumptions, risk and cost. I do not shy away from tough reality-testing, unless it would clearly be counter-productive. I am direct in the way I explore the issues, but I never seek to embarrass or undermine anyone present. That does not mean tough conversations do not take place; they frequently do.

I accept mediation appointments throughout the UK and internationally. I am a Member of the Civil Mediation Council and subscribe to the European Code of Conduct for Mediators. I carry professional indemnity insurance, details available on request.

My note The Mediation Day: What to Expect explains a typical mediation and how I generally conduct it. I always ask for feedback on my performance; it helps my professional development and keeps me on my toes. For recent feedback from disputants, see my testimonials.

Style and approach

Alistair is known for his relaxed, approachable manner alongside a depth of experience honed over 30 years as a litigation lawyer (originally a solicitor advocate, latterly a barrister) at the highest levels. These attributes, combined with meticulous preparation, enable him to win the trust and confidence of the participants right from the start of the mediation process.

As a skilled negotiator, Alistair understands the psychology of conflict and its resolution, and is quickly able to identify both the barriers to and the opportunities for advancing the negotiation. Once the framework of the dispute has been digested and understood in the opening sessions, the process for Alistair then becomes almost intuitive.

Never afraid to reality-test through tough probing questions, while remaining tuned in to the sensitivities of the participants, Alistair is able to offer a new perspective on the dispute that is focused firmly on the parties' wider interests. He is highly adaptable in his approach based on the dynamics at play in each room, and participants appreciate his straight talking and tenacity.

If there is no settlement on the day, Alistair is always keen to continue working with the participants over the following days, so that the momentum towards settlement is not lost and resolution is achieved.