“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity”
Albert Einstein
Paul is a skilled and experienced commercial mediator offering parties the valuable opportunity to meaningfully consider their disputes with a view to resolving them by negotiation.
- Mediation is a without prejudice facilitated negotiation, convened by a mediator, whose role is to assist the parties to discuss and explore their dispute and what options exist or may be created to resolve those disputes.
Almost all civil litigation settles ahead of a formal Court trial (well in excess of 90%) and having a skilled mediator assists the parties to achieve the best possible resolution.
Mediation is also an invaluable tool in dealing with time sensitive claims and claims involving commercially sensitive matters, where confidentiality is critical.
Paul has extensive experience in commercial mediation, as counsel representing disputing parties in litigation, as mediator privately retained by the parties and in his Judicial roles as Chair of the Weathertight Homes Tribunal and Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal.
In the latter roles, Paul has successfully mediated dozens of complex commercial cases, involving multiple parties, numerous issues, technical expert evidence and large amounts in issue.
In more recent times, where the Covid pandemic has prevented the physical attendance of one or more of the parties, Paul has participated in video conferencing options for mediation.
Paul has completed the well-recognised LEADR Three Day Mediation Training Workshop and the Judicial Settlement Conference Training by Jane Schaverien, a course provided to Judicial officers.
Particular areas of expertise in the mediation area include:
- General commercial and civil litigation
- Construction disputes
- Defective buildings litigation
- Sale and purchase of business disputes
- Vendor and purchaser disputes
- Property disputes
- Weathertightness and Earthquake Insurance claims
A mediation agreement for use by the parties is attached. Paul can assist with venue options where required.
The fees for mediation services can be negotiated, with fixed fee arrangements being available in suitable cases.
“My interest is the future because I’m going to be spending the rest of my life there”
Charles Kettering
