Mediator Directory

 

 

🔹 Peter Causton

 

 

Director | Civil & Commercial Mediator | Barrister & Solicitor | Former Deputy District Judge

 

Peter Causton is a highly experienced mediator, barrister, and solicitor with a national reputation for dispute resolution. He is the founder and director of ProMediate and has successfully mediated over 100 civil and commercial disputes ranging from boundary issues and professional negligence to contentious probate, clinical negligence, workplace disputes, and multi-party litigation.

 

Peter began his career as a solicitor before being called to the Bar, bringing a unique dual-qualified perspective to his mediation practice. He has acted in numerous complex and high-value claims and is known for his calm, empathetic manner and ability to cut through the noise to help parties reach pragmatic outcomes.

 

Peter is a Civil Mediation Council (CMC) registered mediator and a panel mediator for the Court of Appeal, with additional experience as a former Deputy District Judge on the Northern Circuit. He has also served on the Board of the Civil Mediation Council and the Law Society’s Civil Justice Committee, influencing national mediation policy and standards.

 

He was instrumental in launching the Manchester Mediation Pilot Scheme with HMCTS, aimed at increasing the use of mediation in civil litigation. His reputation as a thought leader in the field is further reflected in his writing and speaking engagements across the UK.

 

 

 

 

🔹 Nichola Evans

 

 

Commercial Mediator | Solicitor | Legal500 Recommended | CMC Board Member (former)

 

Nichola Evans brings over 25 years of legal expertise to her role as a mediator, having led teams in commercial litigation and arbitration at leading national law firms. Her practice has covered a wide array of sectors including insurance, healthcare, construction, and public bodies. She has handled multi-million-pound disputes and understands the pressures clients face when litigation looms.

 

Nichola is praised in Legal 500 for her “fantastic commercial judgment and strategic nous,” and is recognised for remaining composed and focused in high-stakes scenarios. She is particularly effective in disputes involving complex contractual frameworks, public sector accountability, and cross-party negotiations.

 

As a trained and CMC-registered civil and commercial mediator, Nichola is solution-oriented and adopts a facilitative yet commercially realistic approach to mediation. She has also served on the Law Society’s Civil Justice Committee and the Board of the Civil Mediation Council, contributing to policy and advocacy in alternative dispute resolution.

 

Nichola frequently mediates cases involving shareholder disputes, professional negligence, healthcare regulation, procurement, and general commercial litigation. She is respected for her ability to instil trust and confidence in both corporate and individual clients alike.

 

 

 

 

🔹 Rajinder Rai

 

 

Solicitor-Mediator | Contentious Probate & Property Dispute Specialist

 

Rajinder Rai is a solicitor and CMC-registered mediator who brings over 20 years of legal experience to her mediation practice. She has particular expertise in cases involving wills and probate, inheritance disputes, boundary and land ownership disputes, landlord and tenant issues, professional negligence, and cohabitation or TOLATA claims.

 

Rajinder’s practical, no-nonsense approach, coupled with strong technical knowledge, makes him particularly effective in emotionally charged disputes. She understands the family dynamics that often lie beneath the surface of probate and inheritance cases and has a proven ability to foster communication between parties who may not have spoken in years.

 

Prior to becoming a full-time mediator, Rajinder practised as a solicitor in private practice, representing clients in both County Court and High Court litigation. Her strong grounding in the law allows him to provide structured, reality-based guidance during mediations without giving legal advice.

 

Her style is firm but empathetic, and he is known for creating a safe and constructive environment where difficult conversations can take place. Rajinder is also experienced in remote mediation and is available to mediate across England and Wales.

 

 

 

 

🔹 Janeen Achtar

 

 

Civil & Commercial Mediator | Law Lecturer | Evaluative/Facilitative Specialist

 

Janeen Achtar is a dynamic and insightful mediator with over 15 years of experience teaching law and over 5 years delivering mediation training and services. She is accredited by RSPP and registered with the Civil Mediation Council, and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).

 

Her primary mediation style is facilitative—encouraging parties to explore interests rather than fixed positions—but she is equally comfortable adopting an evaluative stance where appropriate. Janeen draws upon her academic background, which includes an LLB, LLM, and postgraduate qualifications in mediation theory and international dispute resolution, to deliver a structured yet empathetic process tailored to each dispute.

 

Janeen previously served as a Regulatory Risk and Development Officer at HBOS and has conducted doctoral research into mediation and procedural justice. She has lectured in law since 2002 at several universities, specialising in dispute resolution, mediation, and arbitration.

 

Her practice areas include commercial contracts, workplace disputes, partnership breakdowns, boundary and cohabitee issues, and a wide range of civil litigation matters. Janeen also brings real-world experience in multi-party dispute management, having organised major sporting events and run her own business.

 

Based in Leeds, she is available for national and international mediations, both in-person and online.

 

 

 

 

🔹 David Harris

 

 

Commercial Mediator | Solicitor | Partner at Chandler Harris LLP

 

David Harris is a seasoned solicitor and commercial mediator with more than 30 years of experience in dispute resolution. He is a founding partner at Chandler Harris LLP and an accredited civil and commercial mediator with an impressive 86% settlement rate.

 

David has conducted over 100 mediations and is known for his pragmatic, steady-handed approach. He is especially adept at resolving disputes where personal or commercial relationships remain important and where future cooperation may be necessary.

 

His mediation practice covers a wide range of areas including contractual disputes, professional negligence, business and partnership disagreements, property disputes, construction matters, and employment-related claims.

 

Clients value David’s ability to maintain a calm environment even in highly adversarial settings. He combines legal acumen with emotional intelligence to identify the drivers of conflict and facilitate resolution.

 

David is committed to making mediation accessible, proportionate, and effective, and is experienced in mediating both in person and online. His background as a practicing solicitor means he understands the commercial realities and litigation pressures that parties often face, helping him guide them towards 

 

🔹 Caroline Lowe

 

 

CEDR-Accredited Mediator | Solicitor | Commercial & Civil Dispute Resolution Specialist

 

Caroline Lowe is a skilled and pragmatic mediator, combining over two decades of legal practice with significant experience resolving complex civil and commercial disputes. She is a CEDR-accredited mediator and solicitor with a strong track record in cases involving property, commercial contracts, construction, wills and probate, and business relationships.

 

Caroline trained and practised at the international law firm Addleshaw Goddard, gaining extensive experience in commercial litigation, real estate disputes, and regulatory matters. Her background advising major corporate clients and SMEs has shaped her commercially astute and practical approach to resolving disputes.

 

Caroline is particularly well-regarded for her work in mediating:

 

• Contractual disagreements between businesses
• Property disputes, including rights of way, boundaries, and nuisance
• Building and construction issues
• Contentious probate, including inheritance claims and will validity
• Franchise, partnership, and director/shareholder disputes

 

 

In addition to her legal and mediation credentials, Caroline brings entrepreneurial experience as the founder and operator of a tennis coaching business, offering valuable insight into small business dynamics and franchise models. She has also served as an executive for the Lawn Tennis Association, giving her a unique understanding of sports-related disputes and organisational governance issues.

 

Caroline’s mediation style is professional, calm, and constructive. She creates a space where parties feel heard, enabling them to focus on realistic outcomes. Known for her ability to simplify complex legal issues and manage emotionally sensitive situations, Caroline supports parties through difficult conversations while remaining impartial and outcome-focused.

 

Her work is informed by both legal expertise and a deep understanding of people and relationships—qualities that enable her to consistently facilitate effective, lasting resolutions.

 

🔹 Paul Lunt

 

 

Civil & Commercial Mediator | Solicitor | Expert in Commercial, Sports & Media Law

 

Paul Lunt is an experienced civil and commercial mediator and solicitor with a reputation for resolving high-value, high-profile disputes across a range of sectors. He is a former Head of Litigation at a Top-100 UK law firm and has over 25 years’ experience representing individuals, companies, sports professionals, and media figures in complex litigation.

 

Paul is regularly instructed in cases involving shareholder and company disputes, contractual breaches, reputation management, sports governance, media-related litigation, professional negligence, and defamation. He has a calm, authoritative presence that helps diffuse conflict and foster cooperation, even in adversarial settings.

 

In addition to his litigation practice, Paul has been involved in more than 100 mediations as either a mediator or party representative. This dual perspective enables him to understand the strategic objectives and psychological barriers each party faces. His ability to challenge entrenched views while remaining empathetic and impartial is a hallmark of his mediation style.

 

He is particularly skilled in disputes involving sporting bodies, celebrities, and public figures, and has acted in cases with significant media interest, including representing England cricketer Ben Stokes and WAGatha Christie litigant Coleen Rooney.

 

Paul is a strong advocate of mediation as a cost-effective, confidential alternative to court proceedings. His mediations are characterised by clear communication, commercial insight, and a pragmatic approach that prioritises settlement without sacrificing legal rigour.

 

Whether working with individuals or corporate clients, Paul brings integrity, discretion, and deep legal knowledge to every mediation.

 

🔹 Mark Manley

 

 

Commercial Mediator | Deputy District Judge | Litigation Specialist

 

• Experience & Style
  • Over 20 years as a CEDR‑accredited commercial mediator—since 2000—handling 650+ to 1,000+ mediations in sectors including media, sports, IP, reputational and contractual disputes  .
  • Chairs Manleys Solicitors, Chester/London, and has sat as Deputy District Judge (Northern Circuit) since 2004  .
  • Holds a strong reputation for a “robust style—gets the parties to settlement” and “quickly gets to the real issues”  .
• Credentials & Panel Membership
  • CEDR and ADR-accredited, plus mediated under ADR Chambers, ANM, Early Resolutions, and Sports Resolutions  .
• Track Record
  • Achieves settlement in around 91% of mediations on or soon after the day  .
  • Frequently works with high-profile clients: Premier League clubs, actors, musicians, sporting figures, PLCs, SMEs, NHS Trusts, HNW individuals  .
• Approach
  • A direct mediator who tests strengths and weaknesses of cases to break deadlocks.
  • Skilled with strong personalities, reputation-sensitive matters, and high-stakes contexts

 

 

🔹 Chris Wiggin

 

 

Civil & Commercial Mediator | Former Senior Litigation Partner

 

• Experience & Background
  • Chris was senior partner of the Birmingham office of one of the UK’s largest dispute resolution law firms for over 25 years.
  • Throughout his legal career, he handled complex litigation and advisory work in a broad range of sectors, including manufacturing, real estate, professional services, and retail.
  • ADR-accredited mediator since 2001, he brings over two decades of mediation expertise to even the most challenging cases.
• Expertise
  • Specialises in contract and commercial disputes, product liability, professional negligence, and property-related issues.
  • Particularly adept at high-value, multi-party claims requiring strategic clarity and calm leadership.
• Mediation Style
  • Pragmatic, analytical, and settlement-focused—Chris is known for his balanced and commercial approach, assisting parties to overcome impasse through measured dialogue and legal realism.
  • Equally comfortable with formal and informal mediation processes, including time-pressured mediations and evaluative feedback where appropriate.
• Credentials
  • ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator
  • Extensive experience as both a solicitor and neutral, enabling him to navigate legal nuance and client psychology effectively.