
Mediation
I offer a caring, empathetic and pragmatic service to enable parties resolve their own disputes. I work with people to understand their issues and the sticking points which have prevented resolution. I have undertaken formal training through Massey University, The Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand and Pepperdine University. But I bring to my mediation a very human approach, a realistic view of the world, and a practical approach to resolve problems.
Family Mediations
I work with people in resolving different sorts of family disputes. I am an accredited FDR mediator for issues with contact and access for children. I mediate problems with regard to relationship property and family issues with regard to estates with Family Protection Act claims. I bring to these issues over 40 years of experience in working with family law.
Commercial Mediations
Within companies and partnerships disputes often arise about management and finances. In small companies and businesses, the parties often have a very close relationship, and so disagreements are a bit like a family dispute. So the skills from family mediation are often directly relevant. A deep understanding of commercial law is important to enable understanding of the types of dispute and the consequences of being unable to resolve issues. My particular experience in insolvency law gives me the ability to explain the grim alternatives to a mediated settlement. As well as disputes within the business, I also mediate disputes between companies. Sometimes when the commercial relationship has been in place for a long time, the parties assume too much, and communication fails. Taking these issues to court is often unrealistic because of the huge cost of court litigation. But bringing the issues to a head in a robust commercial discussion where I can facilitate and outline parts for resolution makes real commercial sense.