Stephen Wood Mediation

Mediation Tournament Judge

March 29, 2017
After being one of the mediator judges at the INADR International Law School Mediation Tournaments in London in 2015 and in Athens in 2016, I am looking forward to being a mediator judge again at the 2017 tournament at Strathclyde University Law School next week.

Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : INADR 

 

When may a mediator be called into negotiations?

January 2, 2017
In his textbook 'The Mediation Process', Christopher W Moore sets out that a mediator may be called into negotiations when:
  • Parties are having difficulty contacting each other, convening a meeting or starting talks;
  • Disputants cannot reach agreement on an acceptable forum or structure for negotiations;
  • Parties' emotions or expression of negative feelings about the situation or toward each other are intense and are preventing a focused or calm discussion or agreement;
  • There is a significant lack o...

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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : When to use 

 

When is a conflict ripe for negotiation?

January 2, 2017
In his authoritative textbook 'The Mediation Process', Christopher W Moore sets out that in general, conflict is ripe for negotiation when the 2 parties are:
  • The primary and critical people involved in the dispute who could potentially engage in a joint problem-solving process;
  • Interdependent and must rely on the cooperation of one another to meet their goals or satisfy their interests;
  • Able to identify and agree on the major issues in dispute;
  • In a situation where their interests are not necessa...

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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : Negotiation 

 

Online Mediation Training

November 6, 2016
I have just completed a 3 day course of training in online mediation.  Online mediation is very similar to face to face mediation but the meetings take place over webcams on a computer, tablet or smartphone, rather than in a room.

Online mediation may be preferred if:
  • You do not live near to the other party (perhaps because you are in different countries);
  • You and the other party do not live near to a mediator;
  • You wish to save time travelling to the mediation;
  • You consider that you would be at ri...

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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : ODR 

 

Workplace Mediation in Luton

July 17, 2016
Workplace disputes can frequently be extremely damaging to an employer, with disputes often escalating quickly, and typically leading to lower morale, lower productivity, higher staff turnover and employment tribunal claims.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process, usually arranged by the employer, where two or more employees agree to attend a meeting with an impartial mediator.  The mediator works with the employees in helping them negotiate their own resolution and create an agreed way fo...

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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : Workplace Mediations Luton 

 

Workplace Mediation in Milton Keynes

July 17, 2016
Workplace disputes can frequently be extremely damaging to an employer, with disputes often escalating quickly, and typically leading to lower morale, lower productivity, higher staff turnover and employment tribunal claims.

Workplace mediation is a voluntary process, usually arranged by the employer, where two or more employees agree to attend a meeting with an impartial mediator.  The mediator works with the employees in helping them negotiate their own resolution and create an agreed way fo...
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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : Workplace Mediation Milton Keynes 

 

Judging at the INADR's 2016 International Law School Mediation Competition in Athens

June 12, 2016
I was delighted and honoured to be asked to be a judge at the International Academy of Dispute Resolution's International Mediation Competition at the American College of Greece in Athens, which took place between 14th and 17th May 2016.

Each team of 3 students competed in 3 rounds, with each team member being a mediator, client and client's lawyer over the 3 rounds.  The highest scoring teams then competed in the semi-finals, and ultimately the final.



Congratulations to the winners and to all ...
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Posted by Stephen Wood.

 

Civil Mediation Council 2016 Annual Conference

June 12, 2016
I had an enjoyable day at the CMC 2016 Annual Conference at Congress Centre, London on 11th May 2016.  Sir Alan Ward gave a warm welcome to us.  We had a number of prominent mediators speak during the day, and, as always, the optional workshops were informative and entertaining.

Perhaps the most memorable talk was "Beyond - A View from Down Under" by Geoff Sharp, who explained how mediation had assisted the victims of the 2011 Chrstchurch earthquake in dealing with insurance companies.  Geoff ...
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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : 2016 CMC Annual Conference 

 

What do lawyers look for in choosing a mediator?

April 10, 2016
CEDR's Sixth Mediation Audit in 2014 was based on responses from mediators and lawyers.  

When asked to rank the relative significance of various factors in determining why particular individuals secured commercial mediation appointments, there were several noticeable differences between mediators and lawyers.

In 2014, the top 5 factors for mediators were: 

1) Professional reputation - experience/status (which was 3rd for lawyers)
2) Availability (which was 1st for lawyers)
3) Professional backgro...
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Posted by Stephen Wood.

 

What is 'Commercial Reality'?

April 10, 2016
As a civil and commercial mediator and also as a litigation solicitor, I often discuss the phrase the 'commercial reality' with users of mediation and my legal clients.  When emotions run high, asking a party about the commercial reality can often bring a party's focus back onto settlement, as they consider the inherent risks of litigation and the costs of wasted energy, anxiety, time and money. 
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Posted by Stephen Wood. Posted In : Commercial Reality 

 
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About Me


Stephen Wood is an ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, an ADR Group Accredited Workplace Mediator, an ADR Group Accredited Online Mediator and a Consultant Litigation Solicitor. In 2017 Stephen was appointed to the Panel of Chairs of the Valuation Tribunal of England. In 2023 Stephen was appointed a Family Court Magistrate in Leicestershire. Stephen has undertaken over 100 paid mediations.

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