Legal Directories

Paul has been consistently recommended for his work as a mediator in both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 since 2008:

"approachable, commercial, pragmatic and persistent – if anyone can get a settlement, Paul can”. The Legal 500 2021, Hall of Fame

“Always on top of the papers and very affable.” “He is very good at de-escalating disputes.” Chambers and Partners 2021

“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 …” The Legal 500 2017

”Well regarded" mediator Paul Johnson has continues to build upon his Manchester-based practice. He has significant experience as a commercial litigation solicitor, having transferred to the bar in 2006. He has undertaken mediations in a number of areas including employment, healthcare and insurance disputes. One source states that his "switched on, astute approach" is particularly effective. Chambers and Partners 2017

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:

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

“I frequently recommend Paul as a mediator to my clients. He is unfailingly charming and persuasive: even in challenging and seemingly intractable disputes.”

“Quick to engage with the parties and quick to identify and communicate the issues that mattered.  Equally quick and adept at facilitating constructive negotiations, which resulted in a settlement that both parties were happy to accept.”

“Paul Johnson is a vastly experienced and very able mediator.  His qualities are:  patience and persistence, diligence and energy, openness and trustworthiness.  He reads the papers and knows the case well and then he brings to bear considerable skill and acumen in helping the parties to try to come to acceptable, commercial terms.  He is not afraid to tell you what he really thinks about the stance you are taking but he does so in a courteous and reasonable manner.  One of his great qualities is that he is very nice about it all and he is very easy to work with; he conducts the process of mediation in a calm and courteous manner which helps to take the heat out of the most controversial of disputes.  Equally he uses his wit and imagination to get the parties to try different things if they are not making progress and he does not give up easily.  He is very effective and excellent value for money.”

“Brilliant”

“Working with and learning from Paul was a joy. He is a talented mediator who uses charm as well as legal nous to help parties find their way to a solution. I genuinely have his voice ringing in my ears often when I mediate.”

“A wonderful understated manner”

“Paul Johnson handled this sensitive mediation with tact and appropriate humour to put warring litigants at ease and in mind to settle. He offered imaginative and workable solutions and worked doggedly to get a result. He was brilliant.”

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

“I thought you carried out your mediating role excellently and I will have no hesitation in recommending you to my colleagues. Indeed, I have forwarded your details to our counsel who was similarly impressed.”

“Over the last several years Paul has mediated a number of high value and complex disputes that I have been instructed in to a successful conclusion. The usual platitudes apart (which he has in spades) Paul has shown his star qualities in those mediations by not only finding the bridge for the seemingly unbridgeable but by refusing to surrender to no-settlement outcomes. I recall one particular case, which I suspect Paul would still describe as his hardest ever mediation, where he was able to keep the parties going for well over 72 hours, to manage the histrionics of all concerned and to deliver for the parties a full and final settlement that none would have thought remotely possible at the start of the mediation.”

“He is unfailingly charming and persuasive, even in challenging and seemingly intractable disputes”

“Some years ago, when I was training to become a Mediator myself, I was required to be an observer at 3 mediations. One of the three was with Paul. It was both a complex and emotionally intense matter. What I learnt that day involved Paul’s patience and perseverance, refinement and subtlety: and when required, a little steel and a little humour. It was a pleasure and an education to watch a man absolutely at the top of his game. I’m delighted that Paul has the national recognition he deserves – I would definitely recommend him.”

“His style was very positive and encouraged open constructive dialogue.  He was excellent”

“Very courteous, but tough when needed to be”

“I have been a repeat customer of Paul Johnson over several years and I feel able to comment on his ability to mediate the most challenging of disputes. Whether the dispute is over the most complex trust issue or contract or commercial dispute Paul quickly grasps the issues and soon identifies the risk factors that invariably produce a settlement on the day of mediation. Paul has a clear understanding of the psychology of dispute. His demeanour ensures that the parties remain focused on the real issues and combined with his critical analysis as a lawyer. This makes him the ideal mediator. I cannot recommend him more highly.”

“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”

“I have worked with many accomplished mediators but Paul is in a league of his own. I have been impressed and at times humbled by his calmness under fire, deep insight and emotional intelligence … Paul inspired trust and confidence from the outset. He was able to cut through the personal and perception biases that had stood in the way of settlement for so long. Most importantly, his acute sensitivity to the motivations of the parties meant that the process was a lot less painful than it might have been … He operates like a laser beam and not a juggernaut. I have seem him get the parties to ‘yes’ in a fraction of the time allotted because he focused on what really mattered to them and reduced tensions along the way with a brisk and no-nonsense style.”

“(He) has a wealth of experience and knowledge and as a practitioner in this field he excelled”