Session: Why mediation can benefit both lawyer and client.
Profile: Jonathan qualified as a commercial mediator in 1991 in England. Until May 2012 he combined his mediation practice with that of a commercial litigator in his 100 partner law firm, of which he was for many years, Chair. Since May 2012 he has practiced exclusively with Independent Mediators Ltd as a commercial mediator. He has been appointed in over 600 full day mediations in his time at Independent Mediators and over 900 in his mediation career.
Jonathan served for 6 years on the ADR Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales. He has acted as judge and mediator in competitions in the UK, Paris, Vienna and India. He has spoken on mediation topics in the USA, South Africa, Holland, Brazil and
Estonia. In 2013 he was elected a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and he is currently Vice-President. He is accredited by the International Mediation Institute and a member of the Advisory Board of the Standing Committee of Mediation Advocates. In 2018 Jonathan was selected to feature within the Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’ for mediators and is listed as a leading mediator in the current editions of The Legal 500 (Band 1) and Chambers and Partners (Band 1). In 2011 he was included in the first edition of the international directory Who’s Who Legal which lists the world’s top mediators and he has been listed as such every year since then. Jonathan is also an original signatory to the Mediator’s Green Pledge
His practice covers a wide range of commercial topics and in particular negligence claims against professionals including solicitors, accountants, architects, surveyors, IFA’s and insurance brokers. He is often involved in insolvency disputes, breaches of restrictive covenants by departing employees and has continued to develop his expertise in construction and property matters. He has also mediated many family disputes concerning legacies, farms and family companies. Jonathan has 3 sons and 3 grandchildren. He lives in Oxford.