Our mediators
AMM operates a Civil and Commercial panel of mediators and a separate Workplace panel of mediators. Most members of the Workplace panel are also members of the Civil and Commercial panel. The two panels comprise 22 mediators in total, all of whom are based in the Midlands. In order to be appointed to one of AMM's panels, a mediator must have successfully undertaken training through a training course organised and/or approved by AMM and have satisfactorily completed a number of mediations in the role of assistant mediator.It is important to appreciate that the ability to mediate does not rely upon specialist technical or legal knowledge of the matters in dispute and it is not for the mediator to make any decision on the technical or legal merits of a party’s case. All our mediators offer a wide range of experience in all aspects of dispute resolution.
Civil and Commercial Panel
Our Civil and Commercial panel comprises mediators from a number of professional backgrounds including lawyers, accountants, engineers and surveyors. They have experience of mediating a broad range of civil and commercial matters including:
- All types of business disputes including breach of contract, sale of goods and agency and distribution
- Property including construction and neighbour disputes
- Professional indemnity claims
- Personal injury claims
- Defamation
- Company and partnership
- Banking and finance.
Workplace Panel
Workplace mediation is recommended when a dispute arises between colleagues who are ostensibly still engaged in an ongoing working relationship. Conflict is costly, both to the organisation and to the individual employee. To the business, conflict is distracting and debilitating; it saps management time and has a negative impact on the work and morale of other colleagues, resulting in loss of productivity and profits. To the individual, conflict has detrimental physical and cognitive outcomes, it is stressful and makes working life difficult if not intolerable.
Our specialist Workplace panel is made up of mediators who are highly skilled and experienced in helping the parties to navigate their way through their dispute and in facilitating the conversations that will enable them to find a solution. Often the result can be a repaired and functioning ongoing working relationship.
Examples of workplace mediations undertaken by our panel members include:
- Dispute in a college of further education between a lecturer and her manager in relation to claims of bullying. The conflict had been going on for two years and the lecturer had been signed off sick with stress for six months
- Dispute in a manufacturing business between a shop steward and his line manager over allegations of bullying
- ‘Personality clash’ between the finance director and CEO of a utilities company
- Potential discrimination claim arising from a dispute between a partner in a professional services firm and a junior female colleague
- Allegations of bullying by the practice manager in a GP surgery towards a member of the admin team.
Certain of our workplace mediators also provide support for in-house workplace mediations, as well as services advising on alternative methods of addressing workplace disputes.
Appointing one of our mediators
Once the parties have agreed to mediate, either party may contact us with brief details of the dispute and we will provide the CVs of three mediators from the appropriate panel, one of whom can then be agreed upon by the parties. Alternatively, the parties can themselves select one of our panel mediators and notify us of their choice. For further details please see the section on setting up a mediation.
Panel members
All our Civil and Commercial panel members are listed below. Mediators who are also members of the specialist Workplace panel are indicated with an asterisk. Click on the individual names for further details.
Paul Balen
Paul Balen
Building on his creation of successful settlement schemes in his specialist area of clinical negligence, personal injury, defamation and product liability, Paul has developed into a successful all round commercial mediator.
Building on his creation of successful settlement schemes in his specialist area of clinical negligence, personal injury, defamation and product liability, Paul has developed into a successful all round commercial mediator.
Stephen Barker
Stephen Barker
Stephen practised as a solicitor for nearly 30 years and was formerly head of commercial litigation for the Birmingham office of a major international law firm. He is now a full time independent commercial mediator.
Stephen was accredited by CEDR in 2001 and acts as mediator in a wide range of commercial disputes, specialising in multi-party cases. He has a creative and facilitative style and works tirelessly to enable parties to find solutions to complex problems.
Stephen was accredited by CEDR in 2001 and acts as mediator in a wide range of commercial disputes, specialising in multi-party cases. He has a creative and facilitative style and works tirelessly to enable parties to find solutions to complex problems.
Harvinder Singh Bhurji *
Harvinder Singh Bhurji
Harvinder is a CEDR, ADR Group and Academy of Experts accredited commercial mediator, qualified dispute resolver, commercial mediation trainer for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a qualified manager through the Chartered Management Institute. He has been mediating for over 15 years and has mediated over 500 disputes, including multi-party disputes and disputes with a value in excess of £1 million, with a 90% success rate.
Harvinder specialises in commercial disputes including boundary, construction, contract, defamation, IP, IT, landlord and tenant, neighbour, professional negligence, property, shareholder, wills, employment and workplace disputes. He speaks English and Punjabi fluently and understands Hindi and Urdu.
Harvinder is a member of our specialist Workplace panel as well as our Civil and Commercial panel.
Harvinder specialises in commercial disputes including boundary, construction, contract, defamation, IP, IT, landlord and tenant, neighbour, professional negligence, property, shareholder, wills, employment and workplace disputes. He speaks English and Punjabi fluently and understands Hindi and Urdu.
Harvinder is a member of our specialist Workplace panel as well as our Civil and Commercial panel.
Naomi Candlin
Naomi Candlin
Naomi is as an accredited mediator, in addition to being a barrister of sixteen years call and Deputy District Judge on the Midlands Circuit.
She has wide experience in the areas of contentious probate, Inheritance Act, trusts of land and cohabitation, boundaries and easements and other neighbour disputes. She is also very familiar with Court of Protection claims and a range of public law disputes involving local authorities or government departments. Naomi takes a flexible and creative approach to mediation
She has wide experience in the areas of contentious probate, Inheritance Act, trusts of land and cohabitation, boundaries and easements and other neighbour disputes. She is also very familiar with Court of Protection claims and a range of public law disputes involving local authorities or government departments. Naomi takes a flexible and creative approach to mediation
Nigel Chapman
Nigel Chapman
Nigel is a solicitor advocate and a former partner in a high street firm of solicitors. He was accredited as a mediator by Align Mediation.
Nigel's experience as a lawyer is general and wide ranging and includes medical negligence, probate, land and construction dispute litigation, conveyancing, debt collection and crime. He is currently employed as a lawyer manager in public service which has given him experience in human resource and management issues whilst continuing with his legal work and professional development.
Nigel's experience as a lawyer is general and wide ranging and includes medical negligence, probate, land and construction dispute litigation, conveyancing, debt collection and crime. He is currently employed as a lawyer manager in public service which has given him experience in human resource and management issues whilst continuing with his legal work and professional development.
Christopher Cox
Christopher Cox
Chris is an independent Court of Appeal mediator solicitor with over 30 years' experience of settling high conflict disputes. Trained and accredited through CEDR, the Law Society and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, he has a Certificate in Advanced Negotiation and a Masters Degree in Construction Law and Arbitration. He is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Chris specialises in disputes involving financial services, law firms, law firm clients, shareholders, property owners and construction clients. He offers a service which is sensitive, creative, flexible and balanced.
Chris specialises in disputes involving financial services, law firms, law firm clients, shareholders, property owners and construction clients. He offers a service which is sensitive, creative, flexible and balanced.
Christopher Fitton
Christopher Fitton
Chris was a busy disputes solicitor for 20 years with both national and international law firms. He has been mediating since 2000 and now mediates full time.
Chris specialises in financial services, professional negligence and higher value commercial disputes. He has also successfully mediated over 100 disputes involving individuals and small businesses/partnerships based in the Midlands.
Chris is currently the chairman of the AMM committee.
Chris specialises in financial services, professional negligence and higher value commercial disputes. He has also successfully mediated over 100 disputes involving individuals and small businesses/partnerships based in the Midlands.
Chris is currently the chairman of the AMM committee.
Robert Gerrard
Robert Gerrard
Robert is an accredited mediator who focuses on civil and commercial mediation. He draws from over 30 years’ experience primarily in the UK construction and engineering industry and has mainly specialised in contract preparation and contract management. Robert is a chartered quantity surveyor by profession.
David Griffiths
Details currently unavailable
Philip Harris
Philip Harris
Philip is a solicitor and a CEDR accredited mediator. He has been a practising mediator since 1994. He undertakes all civil mediation work, specialising in construction and property disputes and disputes under commercial contracts.
Tim Jones *
Tim Jones
Tim was accredited as a mediator in 2000. He has practised as a solicitor in the areas of employment law and commercial litigation for over 18 years.
He has wide experience of using mediation to resolve commercial disputes for clients in employment and partnership, professional negligence claims and landlord and tenant. He is recognised as a leader in his field by Legal 500 and Chambers.
Tim is a member of our specialist Workplace panel as well as our Civil and Commercial panel.
He has wide experience of using mediation to resolve commercial disputes for clients in employment and partnership, professional negligence claims and landlord and tenant. He is recognised as a leader in his field by Legal 500 and Chambers.
Tim is a member of our specialist Workplace panel as well as our Civil and Commercial panel.
Amrik Kandohla
Amrik Kandohla
Amrik practised as a solicitor for over 25 years at the Birmingham office of a leading global law firm where he was Midlands Head of Construction & Engineering, National Head of Utilities/Infrastructure and International Head of Water. He is also a former main board member.
Amrik was accredited as a mediator by CEDR in 2000. In private practice Amrik specialised entirely in dispute management and represented clients in scores of mediations. He is now a full time mediator and combines energy and drive with a calm and collaborative style.
Amrik was accredited as a mediator by CEDR in 2000. In private practice Amrik specialised entirely in dispute management and represented clients in scores of mediations. He is now a full time mediator and combines energy and drive with a calm and collaborative style.
Mark Keeley
Mark Keeley
Mark was accredited as a mediator by ADR Group and has over 10 years experience acting in the mediation of disputes. He is a partner and head of the private litigation team at a leading Midlands law firm and has particular expertise in the field of contentious probate and trust disputes.
He is a member of the Association of Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and an affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). In addition to his expertise in these areas, he has experience of successfully mediating a wide range of private and commercial disputes.
He is a member of the Association of Trusts and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and an affiliate member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). In addition to his expertise in these areas, he has experience of successfully mediating a wide range of private and commercial disputes.
Andrew Lancaster
Andrew Lancaster
Andrew trained as a mediator with CEDR in 2002 and has since conducted in excess of 70 mediations in the private, public and voluntary sectors. He is a partner in the dispute resolution team of a firm of solicitors in Birmingham.
Andrew has 25 years’ experience of handling heavy-weight commercial disputes, including substantial shareholder and contractual disputes within the automotive and aircraft sectors and complex construction disputes. Andrew also has significant experience handling disputes in the public, voluntary and social housing sectors.
Andrew has 25 years’ experience of handling heavy-weight commercial disputes, including substantial shareholder and contractual disputes within the automotive and aircraft sectors and complex construction disputes. Andrew also has significant experience handling disputes in the public, voluntary and social housing sectors.
Liam Owen
Liam Owen
A personable yet analytical commercial mediator, Liam accepts instructions in a broad range of commercial disputes.
A commercial litigator by day, Liam uses his experience of acting as a party’s representative, to consider what the parties really want when he mediates. His experience as a solicitor-advocate offers some insight into how a judge may perceive matters.
Liam combines this with a friendly approach that ensures everyone feels they have a safe space in which to negotiate.
A commercial litigator by day, Liam uses his experience of acting as a party’s representative, to consider what the parties really want when he mediates. His experience as a solicitor-advocate offers some insight into how a judge may perceive matters.
Liam combines this with a friendly approach that ensures everyone feels they have a safe space in which to negotiate.
Charles Powell
Charles Powell
Charles was accredited as a mediator by ADR Group (1992) and CEDR (1996). He has conducted over 350 commercial mediations and has particular expertise in the fields of professional negligence claims, partnership disputes and general commercial disputes.
Charles is a solicitor with over 25 years’ experience of dispute resolution and is a founder member of the AMM.
Charles is a solicitor with over 25 years’ experience of dispute resolution and is a founder member of the AMM.
Kisane Prutton *
Kisane Prutton
Kisane is a chartered occupational psychologist, accredited coach, trainer, guest lecturer and qualified mediator (SPCP and ADR Group). Kisane has worked in both the private and public sectors and for the last 10 years has focused her efforts on helping organisations prevent, manage and resolve conflict. She is typically brought in to mediate employment or workplace disputes in which inter-personal issues prevail and emotions run high.
Kisane is a member of our specialist Workplace panel.
Kisane is a member of our specialist Workplace panel.
Tim Russ
Tim Russ
Tim is an experienced mediator having conducted over 100 mediations as lead mediator across a variety of commercial sectors including agriculture, building, development and the food industry, ranging from £1 million to multi-million pound disputes. His settlement rate is over 90%.
His personal style is to explore the issues preventing settlement in a relaxed manner and to use his experience of the problems in hand to assist in finding solutions.
His personal style is to explore the issues preventing settlement in a relaxed manner and to use his experience of the problems in hand to assist in finding solutions.
Lubna Shuja
Lubna Shuja
Lubna is a solicitor with over 16 years experience. She has her own law firm in Birmingham and deals with divorce/finances, civil disputes, injury claims, professional negligence, boundary disputes, contractual disputes, property and wills/probate.
She has been a mediator since 2005 and has dealt with mediations involving divorce/finances, boundaries/land/property, wills/inheritance, unlawful discrimination, breach of contract and civil disputes. She also speaks fluent Urdu/Punjabi.
She has been a mediator since 2005 and has dealt with mediations involving divorce/finances, boundaries/land/property, wills/inheritance, unlawful discrimination, breach of contract and civil disputes. She also speaks fluent Urdu/Punjabi.
Ali Tabari
Ali Tabari
Described in the leading directories as 'absolutely fantastic', ‘highly practical’ and 'pragmatic, sensible and exceptional on his feet', Ali combines his recognised expertise as a commercial litigation barrister with a thoroughly commercial and practical mindset, giving parties confidence in his observations and suggestions. He is open and engaging, priding himself on easily establishing a rapport with a variety of parties by altering his approach according to the unique requirements of each case.
Patrick Taylor
Patrick Taylor
Patrick was accredited as a mediator by CEDR in 2001 and has been using mediation regularly since then in resolving disputes. He is a regular lead mediator in cases involving professional negligence, TLATA, Inheritance Act, boundary disputes, partnership disputes, Commercial Agents claims etc.
A solicitor of nearly 20 years standing, called to the bar in 2017, Patrick is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and accredited by the Law Society. He mediates all over the Midlands and in central London.
A solicitor of nearly 20 years standing, called to the bar in 2017, Patrick is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and accredited by the Law Society. He mediates all over the Midlands and in central London.
Chris Wiggin
Chris Wiggin
Chris was the senior partner of the Birmingham office of one of the largest dispute resolution firms of solicitors in the UK for over 25 years.
He has been an ADR accredited mediator since 2001 and involved in a broad range of dispute resolution throughout his career including contract/commercial, product liability, professional negligence and property.
He has been an ADR accredited mediator since 2001 and involved in a broad range of dispute resolution throughout his career including contract/commercial, product liability, professional negligence and property.