How I Work – In Person

Parties or their advisers who are potentially interested in appointing me to act as a mediator are welcome to contact me and have an initial telephone discussion.  I do not charge for preliminary conversations like these.

I prefer to mediate with the parties physically present with me because I think seeing as well as hearing people is the best way of understanding and having insightful conversations with them, but I will consider conducting telephone or video conference mediations if requested. 

At a mediation I try hard to give equal time to each party and/or its representatives to say what they want to say.  I also consider it important that parties to a mediation are polite and respectful to each other regardless of language and comments that may have been previously exchanged and will encourage them to allow the other party and its representatives to express themselves without interruption.  Listening attentively and courteously may reveal points or opinions that have previously been overlooked or not given due attention.  Subject to these ‘ground rules’, I prefer everyone to be as formal or informal as they feel appropriate and to take responsibility to conduct themselves in ways most likely to be beneficial towards achieving a successful outcome.