Harry is fantastic. He goes above and beyond when dealing with both parties. He quickly understands the sensitive issues and the key areas of dispute that are crucial to focus on. He’s approachable and well prepared. He quickly builds up a rapport with clients, which is invaluable throughout the course of the mediations. He’s balanced and he challenges where necessary.”

Chambers UK 2025, Mediators

Harry is one of a small number of mediators with experience in planning and mediation, and has been at the forefront of efforts to encourage the greater use of mediation as an effective mechanism by which to resolve conflict in the planning system.

Parties in planning mediations typically include landowners and occupiers, councils, statutory parties, regulators, other stakeholders such as commercial operators, and community and campaign groups.

Harry is always pleased to offer informal discusssions about the challenges specific to mediation in the planning context, such as the range of possible settlement types, process design, community involvement, the public interest and decision-making by public bodies.  For a conversation, please contact him through Chambers.

Read more about Harry’s mediation practice here.

Directory Quotes

Harry is fantastic. He goes above and beyond when dealing with both parties. He quickly understands the sensitive issues and the key areas of dispute that are crucial to focus on.

Chambers UK 2025 , Mediators

He has been very effective. He has a good bedside manner, earning the trust of the parties involved. He thinks creatively about approaching solutions too.

Chambers UK 2025 , Mediators

He’s approachable and well prepared. He quickly builds up a rapport with clients, which is invaluable throughout the course of the mediations. He’s balanced and he challenges where necessary.

Chambers UK 2025, Mediators

Harry Spurr never gives up, and is excellent at keeping the parties engaged and open-minded

The Legal 500 2025, Mediators

Spurr is sought after for challenging disputes involving property, shareholders, boardrooms, and inheritance matters, as well as corporate and commercial law. He also handles disputes related to defamation, harassment, discrimination, negligence, employment, financial services, and education.

The Legal 500 2025 , Mediators

Has all the skills required of an effective mediator. He has an impressive knowledge of the law, and an equally impressive commercial awareness.

The Legal 500 2024, Mediators

Increasingly winning instructions from high-profile clients in the UK and internationally [ … ] Spurr is ‘personable, calming and not afraid to put forward opposing points of view in the hope it will lead to progress’ .”

Legal 500 2023, Mediators

Personable, calming, and not afraid to put forward opposing points of view in the hope it will lead to progress.

The Legal 500 2023, Mediators

Harry is forensic in his approach to analysing the strengths of a case. He has a commercial outlook and is acutely aware of client objectives. He is personable and a pleasure to work with, yet is capable of taking a tough stand when required.”

Legal 500, 2023

Very commercial, thorough and approachable.”

Legal 500, 2022
  • Qualifications & awards:

    • Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)
    • Inns of Court School of Law
    • Exeter University
  • Professional memberships:

    • Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA)
    • UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA)
    • Civil Mediation Council (CMC)
    • Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
  • Harry Spurr is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please read here.