About my Mediation Services 

If you’re seeking the services of a mediator, you will of course want someone with a high level of expertise, with the right profile to resolve your dispute.

My style is calm, relaxed and friendly, and I quickly put people at ease. From the outset I help the parties identify what they want to get out of the mediation and focus on pragmatic solutions. I am articulate, persuasive, and will reality test where necessary. I am energetic and try to facilitate a resolution within the allocated time so my mediations rarely continue into the night. Many people say a day’s mediation with me is far more pleasant than they expected.

International and Domestic Legal Expertise

My extensive international and domestic legal expertise enables me to be evaluative where necessary. I have incisive analytical skills and quickly assimilate complex cases, technical issues and detailed facts. An English solicitor myself, I work well with lawyers from the UK and other jurisdictions who consider me a ‘safe pair of hands’ for their clients’ cases.

Commercial Contract Disputes

Many of the disputes I mediate relate to commercial contracts such as contracts for manufacture and sale of capital equipment, partnership and shareholder disputes.

Workplace Disputes and Conflicts

I have significant experience in mediating a range of workplace conflicts, often involving teams or senior members of partnerships. I believe sound inter-personal relationships are key to effective workplace environments and I work closely with parties to help them understand how a situation has arisen and to have the difficult conversations that are often necessary to move forward.

Property and Construction Disputes

As the Chairman and Director of a property development company, I am adept at handling property and construction disputes.

Family Business Disputes

I also have significant experience mediating family business disputes. These may involve inheritance, cases between parents and children, siblings, separating couples and divorce. Here emotions often run high. In some cases an objective may be to begin to repair the relationship that has been damaged by resolving the dispute.

Cross Cultural Awareness

Many of the disputes I mediate involve an international or cross-cultural element. I have a keen cross-cultural awareness and a good comparative law understanding. I can also mediate in Italian.

Who Might Attend a Mediation With Me?

The disputes I mediate often involve complex issues, and there may be several parties. Most parties bring their advisers or in house counsel. Sometimes parties are unrepresented, or supported by a Mackenzie friend.

I have also mediated disputes where one or more party is high profile, seen as difficult by the other party, has limited ability to speak English, or vulnerable.

To see more details about my specialisms as a Mediator, click Sectors.

To see what others say about me as a Mediator, click Testimonials.

Regulatory

I am CMC registered, adhere to the European Code of Conduct for Mediators, carry Professional Indemnity Insurance, and am a qualified Solicitor.

Professional Background

I am a CMC Registered Mediator, and an ADR Group Accredited Civil and Commercial and Workplace Mediator and Solicitor. Having graduated in law from Downing College, Cambridge and worked as a company commercial solicitor in the City of London (Richards Butler (Now Reed Smith) and Laytons), in 1993 I set up Attree & Co, my own solicitor’s practice. I now provide mediation services through Attree & Co. In addition, I provide training in mediation skills, negotiation techniques, and international and commercial law. My professional practice has led me to gain considerable experience in how (deals) agreements can be structured so they work for all parties.

Since 2002 I have been the Chairman and a Director of a property development company specialising in new build residential and commercial properties. These appointments have led me to gain practical experience of commerce and develop keen business acumen. For several years I was also involved as an Executor of an Estate in resolving complex probate litigation. Because of this, I am experienced in probate disputes and have direct experience of the litigation process.

I am an Honorary Member and Deputy Ombudsman of Libralex, an International Lawyers Network. I chair the International Alternative Dispute Resolution Group of Libralex, and have access to a network of mediators across Europe and beyond with whom I regularly work.

I have been a user of mediation myself and am also a mediation advocate, so I have experience of mediation from every point of view.

Languages

Fluent Italian, good French, Spanish.

Other Experience

I am a Lead trainer for ADRg of the Civil and Commercial and Workplace Accredited Mediator training courses.

I provide Law Society Accredited training internationally to solicitors and business people in Mediation Advocacy skills.

Visiting Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, The University of Trento, Italy.

Lead Pro Bono Mediator for Bromley Community Mediation Service.

Memberships

Law Society

Libralex Grouping of Overseas Lawyers

Association of Women Solicitors

ADR Group Net Panel

Fellow Civil Mediation Council

Other Information

I live in London with my husband and three children. Interests include travelling, skiing, swimming and yoga.