IPOS Mediation > London, England > Firm Profile

IPOS Mediation > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 1

Alistair Pye – IPOS Mediation  Consistently appointed by both leading law firms and large UK and international companies, Alistair Pye of IPOS Mediation is ‘very good at identifying the key issues that require addressing, in order to progress as quickly as possible towards a commercial settlement. He is persistent, energetic, and imaginative in his will to find solutions‘. Conducting 69 mediations in 2023, Pye is particularly well known for high-value, multi-party construction and engineering disputes. He has recently also mediated disputes in the sports and entertainment industries, such matters frequently involving high-profile household names. Pye is additionally sought out for appointments in commercial disputes, professional negligence, and inheritance and shareholder conflicts.Charles Powell – IPOS Mediation A former Freeths LLP partner, IPOS Mediation‘s Charles Powell is ‘amiable, professional and mild-mannered, such qualities enabling him to build a rapport with the parties and their legal representatives easily’. Retiring from private practice in May 2023, veteran mediator Powell specialises in high-stakes commercial disputes and partnership issues, as well as professional negligence matters, property claims, and banking and asset finance conflicts. CEDR-accredited since 1996, Powell, who has conducted over 600 mediations to date, is also a founder member of both Hexagon Mediation and The Association of Midlands Mediators.Chris Fitton – IPOS Mediation  Chris Fitton at IPOS Mediation is ‘always well prepared and shows clear insight into each party’s position, getting to the nub of the dispute and enabling parties to resolve their differences. He is also particularly determined and robust in his efforts to achieve settlements‘. In 2023, Fitton mediated over 60 high-value cases in relation to professional indemnity claims involving solicitors, accountants, and construction professionals. He also recently mediated property-related conflicts, as well as cases that were brought against shareholders and directors by liquidators and banks. Highlights include a recovery claim of approximately $30m, commenced by the liquidators of 15 overseas companies that were allegedly involved in laundering the proceeds of a $1bn banking fraud.Jon Lang – IPOS Mediation  A former disputes partner at White & Case LLP, Jon Lang at IPOS Mediation ‘gets to the crux of a case really quickly, while keeping the parties focused on the economics of the dispute (rather than letting them get bogged down in the legal arguments)’. Mediating regularly since 2001, and full-time since 2005, Lang is routinely appointed in matters involving parties from different jurisdictions, including the US, Middle East, Australia, and throughout Europe. He mediates across the gamut of commercial matters, including professional negligence, property, insolvency, procurement and banking, as well as partnership, shareholder, aviation, and trust and probate disputes. A former chair of the IBA’s Mediation Committee, Lang mediates between 80 and 90 cases each year.Patrick Walker – IPOS Mediation  A longstanding commercial mediator, IPOS Mediation‘s Patrick Walker is ‘quickly able to establish a rapport with parties and build up trust in the room with his confident and assuring manner. His no-nonsense attitude means that both sides take a realistic approach when it matters’. Walker conducts mediations within both his specialist area of property law and a range of commercial disputes. Examples include mediations concerning IP, statutory undertakers, personal injury, nuisance, and family and trust matters. Working at national levels, Walker is also experienced in multiparty disputes, and additionally sits part-time as Recorder and Deputy High Court Judge.Mark Jackson-Stops – IPOS Mediation  ‘One of the most experienced and best mediators in the market’, IPOS Mediation‘s chambers leader and founder Mark Jackson-Stops has ‘a winning manner that encourages dialogue. He is well organised and diligent in moving discussions forward, rather than allowing things to drift’. Mediating approximately 2000 cases to date, Jackson-Stops has longstanding experience in mediations concerning professional negligence, insurance, property, construction, and probate and inheritance. He is also appointed to assist with financial services disputes, including mis-selling and commercial contract claims. Jackson-Stops recently mediated a subrogated recovery case, which involved an industrial building that was destroyed by a fire, allegedly caused by a neighbouring occupier.Andrew Hildebrand – IPOS Mediation  One of the UK’s most sought-after mediators, Andrew Hildebrand of IPOS Mediation is ‘an exquisite mediator – a go-to for anything tricky. He is the ideal mix – inherently commercial, he finds creative routes to settlement, and is interested in what makes people and businesses tick. Absolutely at the top of his game’. In addition to mediating commercial and civil cases, Hildebrand, who is also a Fellow of the Civil Mediation Council, specialises in mediating disputes involving multiple international parties, as well as business partners, shareholders, supply chains, and family businesses. In the entertainment industry, he is particularly well known for film, TV, music, sport, fashion, and brand management.Lawrence Kershen KC – IPOS Mediation  Lawrence Kershen KC of IPOS Mediation conducts mediations with ‘skill and commercial awareness‘. A longstanding CEDR-accredited mediator, Kershen’s mediation experience encompasses commercial contracts, banking, financial services, construction, defamation, engineering, inheritance, IP, and insurance. He is also experienced in mediating disputes involving manufacturing, media, partnerships, professional negligence, property, shareholdings, and voluntary organisations. Kershen additionally handles workplace and employment mediations, as well as cross-cultural matters. Recent highlights include a film finance scheme that was disallowed by HMRC; an aviation joint venture for private jet sales; a pharmaceutical-related supply contract; and a construction claim concerning housing development defects and insurance and indemnity issues.Jane Gunn – IPOS Mediation  Particularly focused on complex and emotional matters, IPOS Mediation‘s Jane Gunn is ‘very open minded, gets deeply involved in her subjects, and constantly energises the parties in order to improve their relationships with each other’. Accredited as a commercial mediator in 1996, Gunn’s mediation track record encompasses commercial, business, partnership and boardroom disputes. He is experienced in professional negligence and conflicts concerning joint ventures, family businesses, trusts, and employment and workplace issues. Gunn’s specialism also covers diversity and inclusion, medical negligence, personal injury, and property and construction.Rebecca Attree – IPOS Mediation Rebecca Attree of IPOS Mediation is ‘extremely thorough in her preparation and approach to mediation. She brings a deep sense of empathy and care to her cases, and her clients respond by trusting her to help them resolve their disputes’. Active in disputes in the UK and internationally, Attree handles mediations involving property, construction, commercial contracts, shareholders and corporate matters. She is also appointed to mediate conflicts concerning partnerships, family businesses, trusts, aviation, financial institutions, including insurance and insolvency matters, and workplace and employment issues. Attree is additionally experienced in mediating disputes between parties from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.Tim Hardy – IPOS Mediation  IPOS Mediation‘s ‘commercially savvy and hard-working’ Tim Hardy is ‘very experienced, which comes across in his considered approach. He is very adept at working his way around any problem and taking the parties with him’. A former CMS commercial litigation head, Hardy is regularly appointed to mediate a range of complex commercial, corporate, investor and partnership disputes. Receiving his first mediation appointment in 1998, Hardy also conducts financial, insolvency and insurance coverage-related mediations.Mark Linnell – IPOS Mediation  Mark Linnell of IPOS Mediation has the ‘ability to build rapport with all parties prior to the meeting and manage the mediation meeting or day in a cordial and effective way’. CEDR-accredited in 2005, Linnell’s track record includes a range of commercial, agricultural, financial and family mediations. In a recent 12-month period, he mediated a property dispute involving a freeholder’s management company; a conflict over the breach of a shareholder purchase agreement; a breach of contract and trade mark patent and copyright matter; and a commercial and business management dispute within a family. Linnell is also an expert consultant at dispute resolution company Moot Hill, which he co-founded in 2016.Charles Gordon – IPOS Mediation Charles Gordon of IPOS Mediation is ‘very good at bringing parties together. Patient, but prepared to force the pace if needed‘. Focused on insurance and reinsurance, Gordon is particularly experienced in international disputes and mediations involving offshore jurisdictions. His recent experience includes mediations concerning insurance coverage for pandemic losses, as well as claims against insurance brokers for failing to advise on appropriate pandemic-related insurance cover.Harry Spurr – IPOS Mediation  IPOS Mediation‘s Harry Spurr ‘never gives up, and is excellent at keeping the parties engaged and open minded’. Currently mediating at least once a week, mediator Spurr is sought after for challenging disputes involving property, shareholders, boardrooms, and inheritance matters, as well as corporate and commercial law. He also handles disputes related to defamation, harassment, discrimination, negligence, employment, financial services, and education.Michael Cover – IPOS Mediation  IPOS Mediation‘s Michael Cover has significant expertise in information and communications technology disputes, as well as IP-related conflicts. Cover also has notable experience in international and cross-cultural disputes. In addition to his CEDR accreditation, Cover is accredited as a mediator by the International Trade Mark Association, and as a family and family business mediator.Liz Rivers  – IPOS Mediation  Specialising exclusively in workplace and employment disputes, IPOS Mediation‘s Liz Rivers has notable expertise in cases involving sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Also a qualified psychotherapist, Rivers is regularly mandated by HR professionals to handle sensitive team issues, such as the breakdown of key working relationships.Arabella Murphy – IPOS Mediation  Arabella Murphy at IPOS Mediation is ‘an extremely clever and experienced litigator, such background meaning she understands the value of a mediated settlement’. Murphy specialises in mediating disputes over trusts, inheritance, family businesses, and other wealth-related disputes.Peter Crossley – IPOS Mediation  IPOS Mediation‘s Peter Crossley is ‘a problem solver, taking a hands-on approach to mediation and expertly managing some very difficult personalities and dynamics‘. A mediator for over 25 years, Crossley’s experience covers fraud, contractual warranty claims, international sales of goods and distribution agreements, and professional negligence, as well as shareholder, director and partnership disputes.