Harry is an accomplished and directory-ranked mediator in commercial, civil and property disputes.
Described recently as “outstanding”, highly-skilled” and “at the top of his profession”, Harry is regularly commended by parties for his mediation style, and in particular his calming influence and capacity to challenge sensitively but robustly. His consistently excellent feedback, and high settlement rate, speak for themselves.
Harry’s background as a barrister practising for many years from leading chambers, and as the former owner of two successful businesses, gives him a rare insight in the combination of legal and commercial influences that frame disputes.
Harry is also the author of a podcast, A Moment on Mediation, offering brief insights into mediation strategy and conflict psychology. Scroll to the bottom of this page to listen.
Practice
Harry’s mediation practice extends across the commercial, civil and property spectrum. His commercial and civil expertise is extensive and covers:
- Boardroom conflict
- Contractual disputes
- Corporate and shareholder actions
- Employment disputes
- Financial sector litigation
- Inheritance Act 1975
- Insurance matters
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Professional negligence
- Share purchase disputes
In addition, Harry has extensive expertise in disputes concerning property, land and environmental issues. This includes:
- Agriculture
- Adverse possession
- Boundaries
- Construction and development
- Easements
- Environmental and other regulatory matters
- Inheritance
- Land ownership
- Landlord and tenant – a wide range of matters
- Licensing
- Nuisance
- Options
- Overage
- Planning
- Restrictive covenants
- Rights of way
- Trespass
- Water rights
Harry also offers substantial experience in conflict engaging public bodies, whether acting in a regulatory capacity or otherwise.
Harry mediates in person and online, across the UK and internationally. He also practices from specialist mediation chambers IPOS Mediation and is a member of the mediation panel at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), both in London.
Clients
Harry mediates for parties from a wide range of sectors, including:
- Agriculture and forestry
- Aviation
- Education, care and medicine
- Financial and legal services
- Insurance
- Local government
- Manufacturing, distribution and retail
- Media
- Oil, gas and renewable energy
- Public and regulatory sector
- Real estate, construction and development
- Tourism, leisure and hotels
- Transport and other infrastructure
These parties include domestic and international organisations and individuals, and range from large corporates to SMEs and individuals, shareholders, directors and partners, professionals and landowners, tenants and other occupiers of land, regulators, councils and other public bodies, community groups and other organisations.
Mediation style and approach
The combination of Harry’s extensive experience as a professional litigator, and as a successful business owner dealing with the commercial realities of negotiation and dispute, puts him in a position that is rare for a mediator-barrister; it means that he is unusually well-placed to understand not only the legal context that frames disputes, but also the commercial and other private influences that lie at their heart. This insight is of particular value in the deal-making environment of mediation.
Fundamental to successful mediation is the need to design and deliver the process around the needs and interests of the parties, and a sensitivity to the evolving dynamic of a negotiation. Harry’s approach is therefore characterised by flexibility, awareness and responsiveness. This is accompanied by a commercial insight that reflects his other career in business, and a sensitivity to the emotional aspects of conflict that he has developed from his work in the challenging community mediation sector. Parties often comment favourably about his mediation style, and in particular the calming nature of his influence in difficult disputes, and his ability to challenge robustly but gently.
Harry is particularly interested in the psychology behind the origins and pattern of conflict, and its effect on negotiation dynamics, and regularly exploits his insights in this field to encourage and maintain progress in mediation.
In April 2023 Harry launched a new mediation podcast channel, offering brief insights into conflict resolution. Aimed primarily at professionals representing parties at mediation, his ultra-short podcasts are filled with valuable tips on strategy and insights into conflict psychology. Harry will be publishing new episodes regularly throughout the coming months.
