Independent Mediators > London, England > Firm Profile

Independent Mediators > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 1

Andrew Paton – Independent Mediators Andrew Paton at Independent Mediators is 'particularly good at understanding the drivers and personal motivations, and targeting them to resolve the issue'. A former partner at Pinsent Masons LLP, Paton has mediated approximately 1360 mediations to date; and during 2022 he handled over 65 cases, more than half of which concerned professional negligence claims against solicitors, barristers, accountants, architects, engineers, surveyors, financial advisors and insurance brokers. An accredited mediator since 1990 and former chairman of the Association of Midland Mediators, Paton is also highly active in relation to construction disputes, with the balance of his practice split between disputes over insurance, property, shareholders, torts, Trusts, and commercial issues.Bill Marsh – Independent Mediators Independent Mediators' Bill Marsh has the 'ability to engage with difficult personalities and maintain a pragmatic and holistic approach'. A full-time mediator since 1991, Marsh's busy mediation practice covers a broad range of commercial disputes, including commercial contracts, product liability, insurance, professional negligence, and shareholder issues. His experience further extends to sports, medical negligence, pensions, IT and shipping-related mediations. Marsh also maintains a robust international practice that incorporates parties from over 30 countries, including India, France, Canada, US, Switzerland and Spain; and he is founding director of consulting firm Conflict Management International, through which he has worked with over twenty governments on dispute resolution issues.Phillip Howell-Richardson – Independent Mediators Independent Mediators ' Phillip Howell-Richardson 'has great empathy with the parties. He is able to convey to them that he is invested in the outcome of their dispute, building trust and confidence'. A full-time independent mediator since 2005, Howell-Richardson's recent experience includes the mediation of commercial contract claims, and international disputes involving governments, companies and individuals, as well as finance, banking and insurance disputes. Additional areas of strength include professional negligence claims, and mediations concerning insolvency, engineering, oil and gas, IP, and property. Of the cases that Howell-Richardson mediated during 2022/23, claim values ranged from tens of thousands of pounds, to tens of millions of pounds, along with a mega-value claim for between $3bn and $4bn.Stuart  Chapman – Independent Mediators  Stuart Chapman at Independent Mediators 'shows a high degree of empathy, but with sufficient steel to challenge views in order to get the parties to accept the reality of their respective positions'. Chapman's practice covers a broad range of practice areas, including general commercial, construction and insolvency disputes, along with insurance, partnership, professional negligence and shareholder claims. A former partner and head of litigation in Pinsent Masons LLP' Leeds office, Chapman has handled over 650 mediations since he began mediating in 2008, including several remote mediations.Mark Lomas KC – Independent Mediators  Appointed in approximately 1105 mediations since joining Independent Mediators as a full-time mediator in 2009, Mark Lomas KC has the 'ability to grasp the key issues quickly and encourage the parties to consider both the strengths and the weaknesses of their case'. Other clients appreciate Lomas for being 'thorough, calm, personable, and hugely experienced'. An accredited mediator since 2001, Lomas averages approximately 70-80 mediations a year; and his recent mediation work includes disputes involving professional negligence claims against solicitors, accountants, architects, financial advisers, and insurance brokers, as well as claims concerning insurance, probate, property, trusts, commercial matters, and insolvency.Michel Kallipetis KC – Independent Mediators  Averaging approximately 80 mediations a year and appointed in approximately 1430 mediations since joining Independent Mediators, Michel Kallipetis KC is ‘practical and has the gravitas to compel clients to consider the upsides and downsides of litigation seriously. This is invaluable in mediation settings, particularly when emotions are running high‘. The former head of Littleton Chambers, Kallipetis mediates a wide range of disputes, in relation to partnerships banking, insurance and re-insurance, employment claims and pension rights, and solicitors and valuers’ negligence. Other areas of strength are medical negligence, personal injury, and construction, engineering and commercial disputes; and several of Kallipetis’ mediations are multi-party disputes, while some involve international companies and the laws of other countries.Jane Player – Independent Mediators  A mediator since 2001, Independent Mediators' Jane Player's 'manner is perfect for making parties see the sense in settling a case. She is not overbearing, but she does emphasise the real issues inherent in the parties' respective cases'. Appointed directly by corporations and in-house counsel, as well by approximately 30 law firms that repeatedly instruct her, Player's practice covers general corporate and contractual claims, fraud and project-related disputes, as well as Pharma, energy, technology, IP, and media-related claims. With notable experience in international dispute resolution, Player is also widely respected for her management of the cross-cultural aspects of joint venture and international shareholder conflicts.Kate Jackson – Independent Mediators  'One of the very best mediators around', Kate Jackson at Independent Mediators 'quickly gains the trust of parties with her friendly approach. Her calm manner, keen intellect and common-sense pragmatism, mixed with quiet steeliness (when necessary), help resolve disputes that appear intractable'. Qualified as a lawyer both in England & Wales and New York, Jackson recently mediated over 40 high-value, complex commercial mediations, including multi-party and multi-day mediations. In addition to her thriving commercial mediation practice, Jackson mediates specialist areas, such as media, sports, art, aviation, trusts and online gambling; and of the cases that she mediated in 2022/23, the claim values ranged from hundreds of thousands of pounds to £800m.Jonathan Lloyd-Jones – Independent Mediators  Qualified as a commercial mediator in 1991, Independent Mediators' Jonathan Lloyd-Jones 'earns the trust of parties quickly and retains warmth and humour. He doesn't give up'. Lloyd-Jones has been appointed in over 850 mediations during his mediation career, his practice particularly focused on professional negligence claims against solicitors, accountants, architects, surveyors, IFAs and insurance brokers. He is also experienced in claims for fraud-based restitution, breaches of restrictive covenants by departing employees, insolvency disputes, and construction and property matters. Lloyd-Jones' career also includes serving on the ADR Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales for six years.Rebecca Clark – Independent Mediators  Rebecca Clark is described as ‘tenacious, energetic and articulate in encouraging the parties to narrow the gaps between them and reach an agreement‘. Clark mediates a wide range of commercial disputes, but is particularly well known for her financial services expertise and disputes involving SMEs. In addition to being appointed as a member of the Court of Appeal specialist mediator panel in October 2021, Clark became the Chair of the Civil Mediation Council in June 2022, the first female mediator and non-judicial holder of such office.