Resolving issues and conflict through mediation at the University
Canterbury Christ Church University’s Mediation Clinic first launched in 2007 and has helped more than 160 people, including businesses, across Kent and Medway.
2yr ago
The Mediation Clinic, run by Canterbury Christ Church University, has increased its offer to Kent businesses by appointing Jeremy Ferris to its panel of mediators.
Jeremy is an Accredited CEDR (Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) mediator and a Partner with Canterbury law firm Furley Page. His appointment takes the number of accredited civil and commercial mediators up to nine as the clinic expects activity to increase as Kent businesses feel the pinch of the economy.
The clinic, which has been operating since 2007, was the first of its kind based in a UK University and provides professional dispute resolution services that cover commercial and workplace disputes as well as issues that students might face.
Principal Lecturer in Law Ben Waters, is also the founder member of the Mediation Clinic.
It is clear that the UK is now in a recession and that the economy will get worse before it gets better. Any service that provides a cost-effective, timely solution for businesses in the current climate will be welcomed. At the Mediation Clinic we provide a tailored service for a fixed price, so businesses know what to expect. With court cases currently taking years to resolve, we can deliver a quick solution, that is both confidential and more informal and is not focused on winning or losing but in finding a resolution that which can work for both parties and in some cases helps maintain on-going relationships. We support a wide range of disputes such as issues with a landlord, tenant or neighbour, tension in the workplace with colleagues, your employer or a business partner, or problems with a supplier, customer or contractor.
Principal Lecturer in Law Ben Waters
The Clinic is based on the University’s campus in Canterbury and the process is a simple one. Upon being contacted a mediator can talk through the issue and explain the process before contacting the other party in the dispute. Once both parties have agreed to attend a suitable date for a mediation meeting will then be organised.
Ben continued: “If both parties are willing to undertake mediation, we find that once they are sitting around a table with impartial mediators then major progress can be made towards reaching an agreed solution.”
The Mediation Clinic operates a model of co-mediation and uses two mediators for each dispute to ensure total impartiality. This usually consists of an internal and an external mediator in order to deliver the best combination of skills and expertise.
Canterbury Christ Church Mediation Clinic’s mediators:
Ben Waters
Ben is an accredited mediator, solicitor and Principal Lecturer in law at Canterbury Christ Church University. He is the founder member of the University’s Mediation Clinic, the first of its kind to be based in a UK university. He has extensive experience of civil litigation and has conducted mediations in civil, construction, landlord and tenant, neighbour and family disputes.
Konstantinos Siliafis
Konstantinos is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Canterbury Christ Church University. He is a qualified Civil and Commercial and Workplace mediator. He has particular expertise in Law of Obligations (Contract & Tort) and Commercial Law.
Don McCue
Don is a qualified barrister and an accredited mediator through ADR Group. He specialises in all types of commercial disputes and has experience in dealing with clients of every kind.
Gowri Nanayakkara
Gowri is a Senior Lecturer in Law at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is a qualified Civil and Commercial and Workplace mediator. She has particular expertise in Intellectual Property Law and Commercial Law.
Cathy O’Mahoney
Cathy is an experienced mediator and has been involved in law for over 21 years. She has conducted mediations with a wide range of clients including business and work place disputes.
Simon Gurr
Simon is an experienced solicitor and has worked as a mediator since 1985. He has dealt with mediations in both commercial matters and private disputes.
Dave Owen
Dave is a chartered surveyor who is also an accredited mediator through ADR Group, specialising in property, construction and boundary disputes.
Andrew Johnson
Andrew is a Notary Public and solicitor in Canterbury. He is an accredited mediator and specialises in cross border issues, private international law, wills and probate, mental capacity, court of protection issues, property law, and Spanish law.
Jeremy Ferris
A former surveyor, Jeremy is a CEDR accredited mediator and has over twenty years’ experience as a solicitor in both London and the regions. He has extensive experience of dealing with property related disputes as well as disputes concerning contested trust and probate actions.