CEDR

Commercial Mediator Barrister (non-practising)

Stephen’s background is complex commercial litigation and arbitration. Formerly, partner at international law firms Eversheds and Reed Smith. Historically rated for Commercial Litigation as: “Hard working and highly intelligent"; “An extremely good litigator with an astute business mind”; "A-list player ... good legal brain ... brings incredible energy to his cases.". Stephen is sought after as one of the UK’s leading Commercial Mediators. He has mediated full- time since 2012 and is acknowledged as a leader in his field by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal. He has a very high settlement rate. Stephen works tirelessly with the parties to guide them to a deal. If settlement cannot achieved on the day, he will often keep the process open until the settlement can be signed-off. He mediates the full range commercial disputes, internationally and domestically. Stephen has settled many highly complex disputes requiring a firm grasp of the facts and an eye for detail. He also recognises that sometimes the simplest of cases are the hardest to crack. Whether a case is large or small, complex or straightforward, Stephen will bring the same focus and energy to work with the parties to find a mutually acceptable lasting solution. He has particular expertise in mediating professional negligence claims, insolvency, and shareholder/partnership disputes, alongside an established practice in commercial contract, IT and construction mediation. Alongside Stephen’s busy mediation practice he acts as English Legal Counsel to a German automotive manufacturing company.

Award-winning Mediator Senior Mediator, CEDR Panel of Lead Mediators Lead Trainer, CEDR Faculty Teaching Fellow in ADR, School of Law, SOAS Gillian has been a practising mediator since 2004, with hundreds of successful interventions across both public and private sectors mediating conflict between two parties and as many as 40. Her strong settlement rate reflects her professional expertise, interpersonal skills, dedication to clients, and passion for helping parties find resolution. Key sectors: Commercial, Employment, Workplace, Probate, Clinical Negligence, Ecclesiastical

Eileen Carroll KC (Hon)

Principal Mediator & Co-Founder of CEDR, Full time Commercial Mediator

Fiona Colquhoun

Fiona has mediated since 2004 and conducted 500 plus mediations and other neutral interventions in the private, public and voluntary sectors including; commercial, employment and workplace, IT telecoms, healthcare, NHS partnerships and funding, clinical negligence, disability, pharmaceuticals, retail, banking, financial services, police, education, ecclesiastical, utilities, property, partnership and pensions. Experienced in online video, face to face and ‘hybrid’ mediations .Fiona is very commercial with a strong business background in top FTSE companies and has frequently mediated high-value, complex and multi-party disputes over a number of days. Mediates naturally and flexibly, and also works with parties throughout extended periods on a sessional basis Fiona has gravitas with warmth and many cases are highly emotional and sensitive. Some cases have taken place in the public domain, including, for example, the Sheffield trees dispute, the hospital treatment of severely disabled young person, NHS funding disputes and involve detailed negotiations. All mediations can be delicate in different ways and Fiona is particularly experienced in relationship breakdowns in partnerships and employment cases, and in sad and traumatic clinical negligence matters. In both her corporate and mediation career Fiona has strong global experience with M&A activity and major restructuring and downsizing programmes, Board and executive settlement arrangements She also undertakes other independent interventions, mediations with recommendations, neutral Chairing, facilitating sensitive discussions, conducting reviews and investigations, and coaches on conflict between individuals or groups

Emma is a former Magic Circle litigator with Allen & Overy (London) and Herbert Smith Freehills (Hong Kong). Accredited as a mediator in 2008, Emma has a busy civil & commercial and employment/ workplace mediation practice, currently mediating 35 - 40 disputes a year. In addition to her general commercial mediation practice, Emma specialises in disputes with a technology or media focus. An accredited executive coach specialising in coaching abrasive leaders, Emma is adept at dealing with difficult parties and a frequent choice for sensitive and high conflict mediations. Her international experience also means she is a natural choice for cross-cultural mediations and disputes with an international element. Parties often comment on Emma’s natural warmth and ability to quickly build rapport with the trickiest of mediation participants, as well as her ability to get quickly to the issues at the heart of a case

CEDR Mediator and member of CEDR’s Training Faculty. Undertaking training of mediators in the UK and internationally.

Senior Mediator (retired Solicitor). Alan has over 40 years dispute resolution experience. He is a former partner with a high street claimant clinical negligence & personal injury law firm, then with DLA Piper & finally with Mills & Reeve. A highly respected practitioner widely recognised as a leader for mediating clinical negligence and personal injury claims.

CEDR Chambers Civil Justice Council (ADR member)

Mandy Lenton is a full-time commercial mediator known for resolving complex disputes with clarity, calm authority, and insight. Mandy’s mediation practice spans a wide range of commercial disputes, with particular depth in real estate, professional negligence, and high-value contractual matters. She is regularly instructed in cases involving multiple parties, emotionally charged dynamics, and sensitive matters where commercial pressure, reputational risk, or strained relationships need careful handling. Her clients include FTSE 100 companies, government bodies, family businesses, and private individuals - and she is equally at home facilitating pragmatic, boardroom-level settlements as she is supporting small businesses or high-net-worth individuals navigating breakdown or loss. Mandy is frequently asked to mediate disputes that require not only technical competence but also presence, empathy, and the ability to adapt to complex interpersonal and commercial dynamics. She is known for her ability to unlock deadlock in entrenched matters, and for creating the kind of environment where participants can think clearly under pressure - whether the context is contractual breakdown, misrepresentation, professional negligence, or commercial fallouts within families or partnerships. Her casework includes disputes arising in the hospitality, property development, finance, government services, and professional services sectors, as well as landlord and tenant, construction, and private wealth matters. Mandy also brings experience in managing cross-border elements, and works with international clients or counsel where language, cultural nuance, or jurisdictional overlap may add complexity.

Civil & Commercial Mediator Civil Mediation Council Fellow & Board Member

Full time CEDR commercial mediator. CEDR accredited in 2007, Eve joined the CEDR commercial panel in 2009 and CEDR Faculty in 2012. Highly experienced commercial mediator working across a broad range of sectors, including property, construction, shareholder, insolvency and general commercial as well as contentious probate, Wills and Trust disputes. Experience includes international and multi-party commercial disputes. Eve has a busy commercial practice, working on an average of 40 mediation cases a year. She is sought after for her ability to engage with clients, her commercial approach and persistence in helping the parties reach settlement. Eve is a frequent speaker on mediation related topics and seminars.

Caroline Sheridan

Caroline has built a sophisticated and highly regarded mediation practice. She particularly focuses on the workplace and employment arena where she deals with highly sensitive and complex cases involving multi-party/ multi-cultural stakeholders, but she has a broad commercial and civil practice too which further adds to her credibility. As a highly skilled executive coach with a deep belief that ‘everything is possible’, Caroline brings hope where parties have often had none. In her role as CEO of Sheridan Worldwide, Caroline has won numerous awards from Mediator of the Year to HR and Lloyd’s Market L&D Supplier of the year. Caroline frequently mediates highly emotional and contentious cases concerning allegations of breach of contract, race/sex discrimination, bullying and victimisation, professional negligence, management and union relations, relationship breakdown, partnership disagreements, sales of businesses between two or more individuals to teams and groups, and multi-party complex disputes with regulatory/ international implications. Her sector experience includes partnerships; finance, insurance and banking; cross-border; family businesses; public sector/ healthcare; media and hospitality; the voluntary sector; education; trade unions; and private industry. She has been influential more broadly in creating awareness of the importance of mediation globally. In 2025 she has lectured to the Mediation Institute in Mumbai at its specific invitation. Former Board Director for the Civil Mediation Council (CMC), she now sits on its Mediation Standards Board where she remains instrumental in commissioning content to ensure mediators are trained in mental health/neurodiversity as part of their registration application. Sheridan Worldwide is a regular sponsor of and speaker at mediation-related conferences for a variety of organisations including the CMC and Acas, and provides mediation-related training to clients and their advisers.

Felicity Steadman

Dispute resolution professional (Mediator, Facilitator, Trainer)

Accredited & Registered Mediator – CEDR 2001. Since accreditation Patrick has been involved in approximately 200 mediations, over 100 of which as lead Mediator. He is regularly appointed by Solicitors throughout the country to assist in resolving civil and commercial disputes. Patrick is comfortable dealing with all types of individuals including litigants in person through to senior executives and board members. Patrick is an experienced commercial litigator and mediator with over 25 years’ experience of handling a wide range of cases to a high level. After 20 years admitted as a Solicitor, Patrick came to the Bar to join Chambers Mediation Group to dedicate himself further to mediation practice. As a solicitor, Patrick has acted for a vast array of clients from Plc’s to individual private clients. He has experience of most UK tribunals including High Court (TCC, Chancery Division, QBD) Court of Appeal, County Court, and private arbitrations both in the UK and in Europe. He has acted for clients in many different countries and enjoys experiencing different cultures. Patrick has unique experience and understanding of legal costs and funding.