Mediation style:

Beverly believes that mediation provides a unique opportunity for settlement and the mediator needs to be sensitive and imaginative in exploring all possible avenues towards resolution. In some cases this might involve rigorous exploration of the legal issues and detailed risk analysis. In others, the commercial or emotional considerations may hold the key to settlement. In all mediations Beverly attaches critical importance to thorough preparation and understanding of the issues, the development of a good rapport with the parties and their advisers and the patience and persistence necessary to help the parties explore resolution fully and find an acceptable outcome.

Beverly receives consistently good feedback from clients including:

"Thank you so much for your help in steering the parties to a settlement. The clients felt right from the start that they could trust you. There were a few tense moments but your calm good sense got us there in the end. The clients expressed their admiration for the way in which you handled the mediation."

"Beverly's personal skills in calm persuasion, technical expertise and clear thinking were outstanding. We would highly recommend Beverly as a mediator".

"Please thank Beverly-Ann for the exemplary way in which she conducted the mediation yesterday. Her attention to the detail of the dispute was matched only by the care and subtlety with which she took the parties, step by painful step, to resolution"

"It was not just that you settled the dispute, it was how you settled it in a way that allowed both sides to walk away with dignity."

"Please do pass on our enormous gratitude for the herculean effort that Miss Rogers expended on the mediation. Her assistance and very practical advice on the day was more than appreciated by all members of our party. It is very evident that we would not have reached a settlement without her help."

"My client has asked me to express her extreme gratitude to Beverly-Ann for all her efforts on Friday. It was not an easy mediation!"

"Miss Rogers was focused, practical, clear on the issues from the beginning, listened to my client and empathised with him sufficiently for him to feel she understood his position and had got his points across, managed to get the parties talking about figures at a much earlier stage than usual, helped guide us on settlement proposals and managed to finish at 6.30 which was a first for me!"

"Miss Rogers quickly gained a grasp of the interrelated technical issues, was able to communicate clearly between the warring factions, gave a clear and dispassionate view of the opponent's position, was helpful in making practical suggestions we had not thought of, was approachable helping the clients feel less daunted by the procedure and held the whole process together very professionally."

"We felt we had to write to express our heartfelt thanks for your assistance last Tuesday. We are most grateful for the sensitive and understanding way in which you dealt with V's situation, particularly given his current health problems. Your guidance throughout the day helped us all to clearly follow the process and the various steps along the way."

"Your dedication and commitment went far beyond the call of duty and were key to resolution."

"You brought a wonderful calmness which resolved an impossible family situation and brought the family together again"

Examples of Mediations

Probate Claims:

Challenge to will on grounds of lack of testamentary capacity with alternative claim of undue influence and want of knowledge and approval.

Claim to farm by proprietary estoppel with Inheritance Act claim in the alternative and ancillary partnership dispute.

Competing claims by widow and children of previous marriages to high value estate with assets in England and South Africa and involving trust and company issues.

Inheritance Act claims by spouses, co-habitees, children and dependants.

Trust Claims:

Claim against offshore trustees for breach of trust: failure to invest properly. Negotiations complicated by non-UK beneficiaries and third-party funder.

Claims against offshore trustee and between beneficiaries about distribution of income and capital of trust fund with dispute stretching over ten years and across three jurisdictions.

Breach of Trust claims in relation to estate of Middle Eastern individual with ancillary corporate claims involving three jurisdictions including USA.

Shareholder dispute with several related parties, involving multi-million property company and requiring consideration of share valuation, tax, corporate structure and trust issues.

Commercial/Company:

Minority shareholders dispute in relation to hotel business.

Claim by buyer against vendor of business for misrepresentation/breach of warranty.

Breach of contract claim against key service provider with substantial losses claimed by customer.

Professional Negligence:

Claim against solicitors' firm for failure to exercise option to purchase freehold in time. Main issue about quantification damage.

Claim against accountancy firm for tax advice which impacted adversely on group companies in Europe.

Multi-million pound claim against three firms of accountants in relation to tax advice on sale of business and reinvestment.

Claim against solicitors for negligent advice in relation to fraud claim.

Employment:

Claim by employee against professional firm for long-term stress with allegations of discrimination.

Claim by employee against international bank with reliance on alleged whistle-blowing.

Claim by salaried partner against professional firm with allegation of race discrimination.

Property:

Dispute as to validity of contract for sale; allegation that necessary formalities not complied with.

Disputes as to beneficial ownership of property with sale sought.

Boundary disputes.

Easement disputes.

Dispute between tenants of shopping precinct and landlord about redevelopment.

Disputes between landlord and tenants as to extent of landlord's obligations to maintain services and repair.

Dispute between tenant and management company as to noise and nuisance.

Partnership:

Dispute as to extent of farming land owned by partnership with claim to account in respect of income.

Dispute as to termination of partnership and rights arising on it; catering business.

Solicitors' partnership; rights and obligations on partner leaving.

Doctors' partnership; termination rights.

Partnership dissolution involving allegations of fraud combined with resolution of joint property venture between the same parties and others.

Charity:

Dispute as to ownership of assets and internal governance of charity. Probate cases involving charities as residuary beneficiaries.