Fiona Young Mediation, a better way to resolve legal disputes

Kind, Calm, Patient: Expert Guidance To Resolution

Fiona Young is a highly experienced mediator and is also a qualified litigation solicitor

Legal and Mediation Expertise

Why Work With Fiona Young?

Fiona Young qualified as a litigation lawyer in London in 2000. She was drawn to litigation because she enjoyed hearing people’s stories and solving problems. Traditionally, litigation is a legal way of solving a dispute. Parties to a dispute use lawyers and a court process to obtain a third parties’ judgement. It uses words, and research to present the best and strongest case for one party. The downside of this is it involves long hours of pouring over documents, analysing evidence, researching case law and drafting long, cleverly worded legal correspondence with equally diligent lawyers on “the other side”. It is hugely divisive. The parties only speak through their lawyers, especially in court. This, to bubbly, friendly, sociable Fiona - felt strange and cold given that these parties had long standing relationships in either business or marriage prior to the legal conflict arising. Another problem, Fiona found, was that it is an extremely stressful process for all involved. Her heartbeat would speed up when letters arrived from her “adversary”. She would lose sleep worrying about her client’s cases and would feel physically sick before court appearances. If things did not go the way the client wanted they would be angry and resentful. Finally, Fiona found that the costs involved would often outweigh the benefit for the client, making them frustrated and unwilling to pay, even if the outcome for them had been positive

Having a young family also meant that the long hours and stress did not tie in with her children’s needs. In 2014 Fiona began to feel strongly that there must be another way to use her skills:, interest in people, attention to detail and understanding of the law -to help people solve their problems in a kinder, calmer, quicker and more cost effective way.

Coincidentally, around this time Fiona had the opportunity to participate in a mediation course. To Fiona, mediation appeared to hold the keys to an approach that would value people and their points of view while forging a path that would ultimately be suitable to all parties involved. In 2015 Fiona took her studies in mediation further completing a qualification in commercial mediation, and by 2016 Fiona had completed a diploma in international conflict resolution and arbitration.

Since this time she has used the mediation skill set (active listening, reframing, building rapport, brainstorming mutually beneficial solutions) - to hear her client’s stories, unravel their issues and help them work together to problem solve - saving time, money, stress and ultimately their interpersonal relationship. She has worked with 100’s of parties to help resolve their disputes, time effectively using her personable, friendly practical approach as well as a genuine ability to see everyone’s point of view empathetically. Additionally when acting as a solicitor -in an employment context - she will apply the mediation tools to ensure that the dispute is resolved promptly, effectively and fairly.

Fiona is also passionate about sharing the mediation skills with organisations and businesses and runs a variety of training programs to assist businesses improve their employee’s interpersonal and conflict resolution approaches.

Fiona says:
‍“Being a good mediator is all about having life experience. It is about meeting all sorts of different people and liking them for who they are. It’s also about understanding and appreciating cultural differences, age differences and difference of perception. Travelling to and working in different countries has helped me with keeping an open mind but the most important mediation training I have had is being a wife and mother - there is no better place to practice mediation skills than between small squabbling siblings or with demanding teenagers!”.

This is more than just a method of conflict resolution. It is training on how to successfully navigate a world where conflict, disagreement and problems are all around us all the time.

Supportive and non-judgemental environment

The Mediator’s role is to listen to the parties and understand why the conflict has arisen and how the party may want it resolved. Our extensive experience as lawyers and mediators means that there are not many disputes that we have not seen! We will listen objectively, without forming any judgement or making any assumptions about how the matter may be resolved. Our job is to provide a listening ear, an empathetic approach and a skill set that will ensure that the parties are able to verbalise and share their full story in a safe and caring environment.

Party shaped solution guided by experienced mediators

There is no one size fits all outcome in mediation, instead the individual needs of each party to each dispute and their own understanding of how best to resolve the matter will provide the framework that the mediator will work with. We look to you for the solutions you want to bring to the table and we will then work with each party in a practical and pragmatic way to brainstorm outcomes and solutions that will meet the needs and expectations of all involved. Sometimes the end result is a surprise to everyone, but the mediation process ensures that no stone is left unturned and no idea is considered a bad idea until each party has had their say and the opportunity to contribute and suggest.

Private, confidential and legally binding

The Mediation process is entirely private and confidential. This means that even if you do have ongoing court proceedings the mediation process and matters discussed within it cannot be used as evidence in court. This is vital for the integrity and workability of the process enabling the parties to confidently divulge important information that can be fundamental to the resolution of the dispute. The mediator is highly skilled at ensuring that confidential information remains that way as well as assisting parties to divulge important matters in a safe and respectful way.

Once agreement is reached the mediator will help the parties draw up a legally binding agreement which the courts will uphold if necessary. We tend to find that when parties have worked so hard to come to their own agreements they tend to stick to them anyway.

Mediation is for everyone and for any time

There is no stage of a conflict that is considered too late for mediation. A good mediator will be willing to help parties find their way to amicable resolution at whatever stage of the conflict they are at. Of course, the earlier a conflict can be resolved the better but a good mediator will not be deterred by passage of time. Furthermore, as long as the parties are willing to give the mediation process a try and respect the rules, then there is no “perfect” mediation party. You simply need to be prepared to listen to the other side and willing to “give” something in order to “receive” something.

Mediation is a better way to resolve legal disputes

Find out more about how Fiona can help...

Commercial, corporate and business mediation