Property, Real Estate and Environmental mediation

What we offer in Property, Real Estate and Environmental mediation

St John’s Chambers offers a team of specialist property, real estate and environmental mediators with vast experience in these areas and a commitment to maximising the prospects of settlement in the most complex and challenging disputes.  We mediate across the full range of property and real estate matters and we cover all sectors, including commercial and industrial, infrastructure and development, agricultural and rural, residential, and the environment and natural resources, as well as disputes involving public bodies such as local government, national regulators, charities and other public organisations.  We mediate in person across the UK, including in Bristol, London and the other major cities, and online for parties based in the UK and internationally.

Our expertise

Our Property and Real Estate team enjoys a reputation as the pre-eminent group of practitioners in the South West.  Similarly, our small group of Public and Administrative law barristers specialising in disputes involving public bodies, whether acting in a regulatory or private capacity, is widely seen as the region’s go-to team for cases concerning land, land-use or environmental matters.  Within these teams is a group of experienced mediators renowned for the quality of their work in resolving disputes across the UK.  Whilst the specialist expertise for which we have a leading reputation in this sector allows us to handle the most legally complex cases effectively, our mediators are also renowned for bringing commercial awareness, practical understanding and, where necessary, a sensitivity to the complexities involved when public bodies mediate, in a way that can help to unlock the most seemingly intractable property disputes.  Our track record of repeat instructions and positive feedback is testament to the quality of our mediators, most of whom are recognised in the directories as leading practitioners for their work as property specialists or as mediators, or as both.

Testimonials

“Alex is very good at putting the parties on the spot and challenging them. I always found him very robust to deal with when it came to contentious probate work. He provides robust opinions and has an excellent style. He is very approachable and clients feel reassured by him.”

Chambers UK, 2025 Mediation

“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 Mediation

Why Mediation

Property, real estate and environment represents some of the most fertile ground for mediation; genuinely effective resolution of disputes in this area often demands bespoke solutions outside the powers of the courts, and the management of inescapable relationships that need to endure constructively, such as those between landowners, occupiers, neighbours and other stakeholders such as local government or regulators, can require especially sensitive handling.  Mediation is capable of delivering such solutions in a manner that is quick, cost effective (in respect of both private and public resources) and low risk.  By contrast to litigation, it is also capable of preserving, or even improving, those important relationships.  It is for these reasons that, increasingly, commercially savvy litigators are choosing mediation as the dispute resolution mechanism of first choice for disputes concerning property and land-use issues, in both the private and public law context.

Our mediation facilities

Our mediators are happy to travel to other venues, but Chambers regularly hosts mediations in our own suite of rooms for no additional charge.  We have excellent, modern and fully equipped, scalable conference facilities. Our main conference room can comfortably house up to 24 people and we offer a number of smaller rooms to suit varying sizes of mediation teams.  Video conferencing is available along with high speed WiFi, and all necessary catering and refreshments can be provided.

Our clerks offer efficient administrative support to ensure that your mediation is handled smoothly from start to finish.

Arranging a mediation – next steps

Our mediators charge a fixed fee for mediating, whether for a whole day, or for longer or shorter sessions.  You will find that our rates are highly competitive.  Please contact our clerks to discuss fees.

Our mediators are always pleased to talk informally about potential or upcoming mediations, and are well placed to offer guidance on sensitive issues such as process design, engagement and preparation.  Do get in touch if you would welcome a conversation and we will arrange for one of our team to talk to you.

Once a mediation is booked we will provide a timetable for the preparation and exchange of paperwork.  In appropriate cases our mediators will offer a pre-mediation online meeting with each team separately (without additional charge); usually this will take place shortly before the mediation.

Contact

For further information or to discuss a suitable mediator for your dispute, please contact Robert Bocock.