Mediation

Mediation is the modern, practical way to resolve disputes. It’s faster than going to court. It costs less than going to court. It can produce better results than going to court.

Leathes Prior is able to offer the services of the following mediators. (For more details please go to www.mediation-1st.co.uk.)

MARTIN PLOWMAN
Mediation-1st (Norwich)

CEDR Accredited Mediator
ADR Group Accredited Mediator
Member of the BFA National Mediation Panel
Member of the Norwich Court Mediation Scheme Steering Committee
Director of Mediators in East Anglia
Rated as "The best Mediator in East Anglia" by the leading independent guide to the legal profession, The Legal 500
Ranked by Clerksroom as having achieved “Elite” Mediator status
Has mediated cases from £50 to over £5,000,000
Appointed to mediate throughout the UK and Europe
Solicitor
Partner in Leathes Prior, Solicitors
Head of Leathes Prior Litigation Department for fifteen years
Over twenty years’ experience of litigation in the County Court, High Court, Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal, House of Lords, and European Commission
Founded mediation-1st in 2003
As senior partner of mediation-1st, one of the few solicitors to specialise in mediation work, mediates regularly, up to three times a week
Specialist in commercial litigation, inheritance disputes, property disputes, boundary disputes and employment law
A regular speaker to other solicitors, accountants, other professionals, and for Chambers of Commerce and Business Links, on the subject of negotiation and mediation
Chosen by Her Majesty’s Court Service to supply the case studies for the Mediation training provided by HMCS to the judiciary nationally
Accredited by the Law Society as a provider of CPD points for seminars to other solicitors on mediation
Offers ideal premises for Mediation at mediation-1st in the Cathedral Close, Norwich, free of charge

Recent Mediations include:

Multi lingual Mediation in Brussels of an international Master Licence dispute
Dispute between the joint shareholders in a joint venture utilising one of the world’s most recognised brands involving allegations of misrepresentation, breach of contract and bad faith
Resolution of four year old boundary / neighbour dispute
Mediation of Inheritance Act claim involving competing claims of spouse and four siblings
Mediation of commercial lease dispute and claim for possession
Mediation of claim to renewal of business tenancy
Mediation of sex discrimination claim against major international finance house in the City of London
Mediation of negligence claim against solicitors
Dispute between professional firms claiming damages for breach of contract re; liability of surveyors and architects
Mediation between directors and shareholders of deadlocked company
Mediation between the partners in a ten partner professional firm to agree a new profit sharing structure
Dispute between a multi national Franchisor and a Franchisee Action Group about the terms of the franchise agreement, misrepresentations and restrictive covenants
Boundary dispute between property owner and local authority
Construction dispute involving five figure claim and counterclaim

Feedback Received:

“We felt we must thank you personally for the utmost attention and help which you provided and we are sure that your influence and charisma was a great part in securing a settlement to bring to an end what has been a most difficult time and we are extremely grateful”.

“A calm and confident presence…prepared thoroughly…clearly had the confidence and respect of all the parties…it was a great help to have Martin”.

“On the day we knew very quickly that we had the right Mediator".

“The mediator was Martin Plowman of Mediation-1st. He did a truly outstanding job in resolving a very difficult dispute and I have no hesitation in recommending his services to all of you should you need a good mediator for the future. I also found him very easy to work with, with a very good manner in handling the clients”.

“I would like to put on record my gratitude for the superb job that you did in bringing this very difficult matter to a conclusion.    I have done a number of mediations and you rank with the best. I would have no hesitation in recommending you in the future”.

“To say that you are a "go the extra mile" person is an understatement. You slightly misstate the position when you say at the outset that it doesn't matter to you if the parties reach an agreement, because you actually convey unequivocally to the parties how much you care about the process and getting the parties to see sense. That is a rare commodity even among mediators these days. Quite a few of the big name mediators wholeheartedly still believe in the process but have lost the zest for individual mediations because they have done so many. You are exceptional because you have the experience of having done so many mediations and yet you have not become jaded by the experience”.

"In a society that is plunged in turmoil and disagreement it provided great relief and comfort to witness your skills and diplomacy in focussing straight on and resolving the problem. Your professional services provide a panacea to conflict".

"I was amazed at what you were able to achieve".

“Thank you for the settlement expertly achieved.   It was an impressive alternative to the full Monty and I will certainly recommend you and mediation-1st."

"Your commitment and unsparing work to find a solution acceptable to both was most impressive".

“Please accept our sincere thanks for all your help yesterday – whilst it’s not the most fun afternoon any of us have had for a while (!) it was a pleasure to deal with such a professional and helpful communicator”

"We were filled with admiration for your skill and resourcefulness, human understanding and basically your brilliant handling of what appeared a very thorny situation for us".

“We still talk about the mediation and your diplomacy and humour in dealing with a very difficult and emotional situation”.

“You were so calm and reassuring and I was amazed at the outcome. I feel as though you did the very best on my behalf, I couldn’t have asked for more”.

“I have seen a good number of mediators in action over the last 10 years or so and thought you demonstrated great skill and patience and was very impressed by your handling of this dispute”.

“It was heartening that we were able to resolve the dispute so successfully. I know that the process, and particularly the way in which you conducted the mediation, made the whole experience less painful for my lay client that would otherwise have been the case”.

"…..we were made to feel relaxed and at ease whilst talking with you, which is great considering we were a little daunted by the whole situation".

“Many thanks again for your considerable input yesterday in bringing this difficult and unfortunate case to a satisfactory conclusion. As ever your patience was rewarded!”.

“Thank you for your efforts in reaching a settlement. I viewed this case as particularly difficult and was not at all optimistic about the outcome”.

“Many thanks for your help yesterday. I was particularly impressed that we never seemed to be leaned on”.

“Your sympathetic and professional approach was much appreciated”.

“I never thought this would have been resolved. This I can only put down to your experience of similar disputes”.

“We sincerely hope (this is meant in the nicest possible way) that we don’t have to meet again, but should we find ourselves in a similar position in the future we would have no hesitation in acquiring your very professional services”.

“May I take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent mediation in what was undoubtedly a difficult case.   We were both delighted with the result”.

“Thank you very much for making what seemed a tricky challenge if not exactly “easy” then certainly relatively pain free….and above all, done!   Both of us very much appreciated not just your professional expertise – the place was positively oozing with it – but your kindness and patience”.

“I thought you did an outstanding job in helping to resolve a very difficult dispute, taking into account the number of complex legal issues, the extent of personal feeling involved between the parties and the significant sums at issue.   I found your approach throughout the day to be highly constructive and you dealt with the personalities involved very skilfully.    I would have no hesitation in recommending you.”

"We would like to thank you for negotiating an efficient out of court settlement…..[your fee] was a small sum of money to pay for such a flawless service from initial contact right through to completion".

“The sum of money involved in our claim must appear trivial compared to some disputes you must have handled in the past, yet the proceedings were handled almost oblivious to the actual value but rather more importantly to the fairness to the parties involved”.

“Yours is an excellent service and the first bill I have ever been happy to pay”.

“Your cool and quiet manner poured oil on much troubled water, which had simmered for some 18 months, and at times nearly boiled over”.

“I found the mediation to be a very positive experience”.

"We both felt the way you went about things, the complete sense of "fair play" (wow is that sadly lacking in today's society!), professionalism and empathy were faultless. Thank you."

“You can’t imagine how I was dreading the day but now feel so relieved that we can move on after your tactful resolution of the situation”.

“I am convinced that without your skills as a Mediator this unfortunate dispute would still be running on unresolved”.

“Let me tender thanks for your help and great patience on Monday; without them the settlement (which very pleasantly surprised me) certainly would not have been achieved”.

"We are astonished at the miracle you worked….[your fee] is a small reward for your skill and patience - and extra hours!”

“We can't leave you without expressing our thanks and admiration once again for the manner in which you have conducted this case. We have learned a lot about the law, but we have also learned something about how to conduct disputes, and work towards peaceful resolution. We have been on your website and seen the accolades from satisfied customers. You probably don't need any more, but we would like to put our names at the bottom and say, "All of the above are true.”

“Many many thanks to Martin Plowman!!”