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Mediation Style

Stuart’s approach is essentially aimed at supporting high-quality decision-making. Sometimes this can involve empathic support, moving people into a more logical way of thinking; sometimes it can involve intellectual challenge, helping people to factor in that which they might have good arguments against but to which they should at least attach weight; sometimes equalising the information each party is considering is key. Often all of these aspects are required in a mediation in one room or another in order for the parties to achieve clarity as to how far they should compromise. Informed, logical decision-making within an effective negotiating process almost always leads parties to settlement if that is in their interests, which it usually is. If it isn’t then the mediation should aim at delivering clarity and precision about why.

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Stuart was excellent throughout the entire process. He was across the detail, he cut through the noise to identify the crux of the dispute, and challenged both sides robustly on their positions. In doing so, he moved the parties along quickly, helping to facilitate a swift settlement. It was a model mediation.

Stuart's very good at recognising that people have got different motives for being there and getting the best out of everyone. He was really good. He was very good at understanding what we needed and the feedback that came back out of it was very positive. His manner is very calm and Stuart is very good at not giving you the answer to a problem but helping you. He suggests things that make you think about things in a different way, and then come to a different solution. He's got very good influencing skills. I think he's got a wealth of experience, which shows. He clearly knows his stuff and he's very good at people management and that comes across so clearly when you see him, not managing people in a negative way.

His management of the dynamics within each of the parties and ability to tease out the objectives and requirements of each was at the heart of the creation of the environment in which the compromise was achieved. I have actively participated in dozens of mediations, with a wide variety of qualification of mediator, and I can honestly say that this was the best yet in terms of the process as well as the outcome.