Successful seminar introduces new mediation opportunities

The commercial mediation division of Focus Mediation hosted seminar at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Milton Keynes on 15th September. Senior commercial mediator and trainer, Paul Randolph, addressed the seminar which was attended by over 40 local lawyers and members of the business community.

Paul talked about the radical changes to the mediation landscape in prospect for the resolution of disputes, and the new Court pilot schemes. Paul has travelled the world to speak on the topic of mediation, and sits on the board of the Civil Mediation Council and the Bar’s Alternative Dispute Resolution committee. He is a member of the Focus Commercial Mediation team.

Paul explained that under Ministry of Justice proposals currently out for consultation, the small claims limit will increase to £15,000 or even more, from its current £5,000 limit. Most of these cases will be referred automatically for mediation. Disputants in larger cases will hear about mediation from a commercial mediator. Experience from similar pilots in Family court disputes demonstrates that many more disputants will choose to mediate as a result. Preliminary results from the early pilot schemes in civil and commercial mediation indicate success rates in excess of 90%.

Focus MD Mary Banham-Hall outlined the growth of the company from 1999. She went on to explain how skilled mediators move parties away from entrenched positions poles apart, to concentrate on their essential needs and thus facilitate amicable settlement.

Michael Rowan and Martin Banham-Hall, both Focus panel mediators, spoke about workplace mediation and how mediation can work well alongside legal advice to produce good results for clients.

A lively question-and-answer panel session was followed by a buffet, where guests and ten members of the Focus Commercial Mediation panel mingled over wine and canapés.

Filed: 20/09/2011 10:42:33