“Excellent at gaining the trust of all parties and very pragmatic and empathetic, which helps see where the settlement is likely to lie and encourage all parties towards it.” The Legal 500 2021

“A mediator who ‘doesn’t take any nonsense from the parties. He gets them really focused on what they need to do, which makes him particularly good at handling disputes involving numerous parties.’” ... “He is capable of handling the full range of commercial disputes and has added experience of mediating clinical negligence and probate cases.” Chambers and Partners 2020

“Approachable, commercial, pragmatic and persistent - if anyone can get a settlement, Paul can.” The Legal 500 2020

“Valued by his clients for his ability to ‘get the legal arguments and factual issues very quickly, and then concentrate on finding a pragmatic solution” … and is “very experienced and has a commercial approach that can cut through the issues.” Chambers and Partners 2019

“A mediator of choice for complex and high-value disputes’ … who “understands complex factual and legal issues and has an enviable ability to digest and recall the facts of the matter being mediated.” The Legal 500 2018

“Paul Johnson impresses market sources with his “relaxed style which delivers results in difficult situations” … “He can bridge the unbridgeable …” Chambers and Partners 2018

“An excellent mediator for complex, multi-party disputes; he has the ability to cut to the chase and change the position of the most intransigent parties …” Legal 500 2018

Previous entries describe Paul as: attracting praise for his “calm, realistic and measured ‘approach” and his ability to ‘engage with the parties’ “the top choice for many with technically challenging disputes”; being “incredibly patient”, with a “clear structure in mind”; an “ability to focus on finding a commercial solution”; and one who is “not afraid to tackle the big issues from the start”; whilst at the same time allowing parties “to feel that they are in control of the process”.

Below are some extracts from comments received from parties and their lawyers:

“I just wanted to drop you a quick thank you for your hard work as mediator today, and to congratulate you on doing a fantastic job in very difficult circumstances.  It was easily the best run mediation I’ve been involved in, not least because of the result you achieved – somehow managing to bring the parties to agreement in the face of unhelpful “contracts”, a very contentious factual matrix and litigants deeply embedded in hostility.”

“A quick email to thank you for your help today.  You inspired great confidence in my client when she needed it, and I am immensely grateful.  Your calm reassurance throughout the day was invaluable – thank you.”

“Paul’s affable manner belies his steely determination and intelligence”

“Quick to engage with the parties and quick to identify and communicate the issues that mattered. Equally quick and adept at facilitating constructive negotiations”

“Brilliant”

“A wonderful, understated manner”

“He was sensational. The most accomplished mediator I’ve ever some across”

“He is unfailingly charming and persuasive, even in challenging and seemingly intractable disputes” “His style was very positive and encouraged open constructive dialogue. He was excellent”

“Very courteous, but tough when needed to be”

“The facilitative approach worked wonderfully … settlement would have been far less likely within the time span we had, if you had not been the mediator”

“I liked the way he got to know everybody and got everyone talking without realising they were actually talking” “(He) has a wealth of experience and knowledge and as a practitioner in this field he excelled”