Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500
The legal directories have, since 2008, included Paul as a Leading Individual for Mediation. In the past he has also been mentioned as a Leading Individual for Commercial Litigation and Insolvency work.
“He is also listed in The Legal 500 Hall of Fame, Dispute Resolution: Mediators Category”
Leading Individual for Mediation
Extracts from the legal directories recommend Paul as follows:
“Paul Johnson is thorough, well prepared and personable.” Chambers and Partners 2023
“Paul Johnson at Exchange Chambers is always very well prepared and completely focused on getting a deal. In my view, he is the best in the business” The Legal 500 2023
“He is a very strong mediator who does not let parties get away with taking unreasonable stances or refusing to engage.” Chambers and Partners 2022
“Bright, reliable, trustworthy and fun to work with.” The Legal 500 2022
“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
“calm, realistic and measured”
“ability to ‘engage with parties.”
“an experienced mediator, who immediately understands and appreciates the complex legal issues and risks facing both parties.”
“very thorough in his preparation and quickly gains the co-operation of the parties in the mediation process: Paul’s approach is actively to find and explore solutions and to break deadlocks.”
“really good – committed and friendly with a very approachable, easy manner. He gets you to a deal.”
“for his patience, understanding and empathy, and his practical solutions.”
“Knowledgeable and determined to resolve a dispute.”
“He is top choice for many with technically challenging disputes”.
He ‘stands out’ in the mediation market.
Allows clients ‘to feel that they are in control of the process”
‘to guide … without feeling that he has taken over.”
‘nice relaxed, affable style that puts people at ease’
Clients love his calm and relaxed demeanour, noting that he ‘Quietly and methodically pulls apart and tests each parties case.”
“He always approaches mediation with a clear structure in mind and is never rattled”
‘one of the rising stars of the mediation world”
“worth his weight in gold”
Previous entries for leading individual for commercial litigation and insolvency
During his career as a solicitor, successive editions of Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 described him as:
“the standout lawyer in the commercial litigation department of Pannone and Partners”
“a good communicator”
“tenacious”
“always well prepared”
“a team player”
“a graceful all rounder respected for his acute commercial sense”
“calm and balanced”
“easy to comprehend manner”
“streetwise and sensible”
“Paul Johnson is thorough, well prepared and personable.”
— Chambers and Partners 2023
“Paul Johnson at Exchange Chambers is always very well prepared and completely focused on getting a deal. In my view, he is the best in the business”
— The Legal 500 2023