We help couples and individuals to use mediation to resolve disputes arising from marriage or partnership breakdown.
What is mediation?
Both of you together appoint an independent and impartial family mediator from our team to help you identify and resolve your issues together in face-to-face meetings. The mediator will not take sides and will not make decisions for you. You can choose meditation whether you have started court proceedings or not. Because the mediator has to remain impartial, you will need separate legal advice to help you both reach informed decisions about your future.
The mediator will help you identify the issues you need to discuss, the information you need to obtain and appropriate options to help you reach an agreement on all your family-related issues. Your mediator will draw up a summary of proposals to send to your lawyers so they can convert this into a legally binding agreement or order to be approved by the court.
How do you decide whether mediation is right for you? You can find out more below.
Our Team
We have a highly regarded specialist family law team. We have a high rate of referrals from existing or past clients and are recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers: "Russell-Cooke is repeatedly praised for offering cost-effective family advice. Clients are impressed by the dedication and commitment of the team".
- We have particular expertise in mediation. We were the first legal firm to obtain a mediation franchise and the pilot scheme was rolled out in the South-East and London in 1999.
- Our mediators are trained by Resolution, the national organisation for family lawyers to train lawyers in mediation and Therese Nichols is a Resolution accredited mediator.
How do I decide whether mediation is right for me?
The best way is to telephone us and speak to one of our family mediators based in Putney (020 8789 9111) or Kingston (020 8546 6111) or Bedford Row (020 7831 2565). They will talk things through and help you decide whether mediation is right for you. Mediators will need to speak to both you and your spouse/partner separately.