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ARTICLE · 18 JUNE 2026

Breaking The Deadlock: What Can Disputes Practitioners Learn From Hostage Negotiators?

Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
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Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

Joint managing partners: Jo Farmer, Richard Miskella International offices: Dublin, Hong Kong...

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Drawing on insights from London International Disputes Week 2026, this article explores how crisis negotiation techniques—including stabilizing before solving, building genuine connections, and managing emotion intelligently—can transform...

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Mark Lim
Mark Lim
Nicola Thompson
Nicola Thompson
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What can a hostage negotiator teach you about resolving a commercial dispute? More than you might think. 

At London International Disputes Week 2026, we hosted a panel bringing together Mark Lim, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at Lewis Silkin; Rebecca Clark, a mediator at Independent Mediators; and Kirk Kinnell, a professional negotiator (and former hostage negotiator) from Negotiated Resolutions. With ADR increasingly prominent following the Court of Appeal's decision in Churchill, the skills required to negotiate effectively have never been more relevant. We share some key themes from our discussion.

Stabilise before you solve

The instinct in any dispute is to push for a result. But the first lesson from crisis negotiation is the opposite: resist the urge to solve and focus on stabilising the situation. That means absorbing the stress and pressure rather than reacting to it, and applying calm, measured influence over time. In mediation, this translates into preparation:

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