Practice Overview
With nearly 20 years’ experience as a mediator his patient, pragmatic and common sense approach has been the key to the successful resolution of many disputes. His approachable manner and sense of humour helps to put all parties at their ease building trust and confidence in the process. Able to remain calm in even the most emotionally charged situations he is not afraid to challenge sometimes entrenched positions with a view to helping the parties to really appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of their positions.
Whilst priding himself on mastering the detail he never loses sight of the bigger picture. His relaxed, informal style is coupled with a tireless determination to help the parties find creative solutions and arrive at a settlement which they can all live with.
Adept at mediating a whole range of disputes , in recent years Paul has, in terms of his legal practice, focused increasingly on contentious trust and probate cases, Inheritance Act claims, Court of Protection matters, contentious attorneyships and professional negligence disputes. He acts for claimants, defendants, executors, trustees and beneficiaries so has genuinely seen these disputes from "all sides round". In the field of contentious trust/probate and Inheritance Act mediations he enjoys a particularly high success rate.
Professional Background
Paul qualified as a solicitor in 1987 (passing his final exams with first class honours) before joining a firm in Chichester, becoming a partner within two years. In 1989 he returned to the Guildford where he had trained rising to become Head of Dispute Resolution and Executive Board member before leaving to join IBB law in 2021. Having specialised in litigation since qualification he has over 30 years’ experience of resolving a wide range of disputes.
Endorsements
"Although it has taken some time, settlement would not have been possible without the mediation and your involvement" - Barrister
"It was very helpful that you had clearly read into the matter and had a full and complete grasp of the issues between the parties, which is not something that I have experienced in the same way with mediation previously" – Solicitor to a Party
“amazing / inspiring - a class act” - Co-Mediator
“Paul has an excellent grasp of the way a mediator needs to work” - Counsel
"I can unreservedly recommend Paul for mediating inheritance disputes.He is great with clients, understands the details and issues in these claims and calmly steereed our dispute towareds settlement at the mediation." - Solicitor and Mediator
"It was very helpful that you had clearly read into the matter and had a full grasp of the issues between the parties, which is not something that I have experienced in the same way with mediation previously." - Solicitor
"Amazing / inspiring - a class act" - Co-Mediator
Articles and Publications
Panel Memberships
Paul is a member of Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.
Work Experience
At the previous firm Paul was, for many years, the IT Partner successfully overseeing a number of computer and telephone projects. As a result he has fully embraced the move to online mediations. As an executive board member for a number of years he fully understands the many challenged of being a business owner.
Paul is also a Court of Protection Deputy and a trustee of a registered charity.
Personal Interests
Paul is married with 3 children who have consistently helped to sharpen his mediation skills. In his spare time he enjoys badminton, music and travel having been involved in a number of house exchange holidays.