“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.”

Senior Barrister, Northern Circuit

“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.”

Partner, National Firm

“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.”

Counsel

“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.”

Queens Counsel

“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.”

Partner, North West Law Firm

“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.”

Barrister and former partner in US Law Firm

“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.”

Barrister and former partner in Magic Circle Firm

“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.”

Partner, Manchester Law Firm

“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.”

Partner, Manchester Law Firm

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

Counsel

“Paul was brilliant.  He was very personable.  Very professional.  A great combination between sympathetic and pragmatic.  He managed to tell my client some rough truths that I believed he needed to hear from him and not us, which worked out perfectly.  I would definitely use him again.  Absolutely.”

Solicitor, London Law Firm

“I write to thank you for your patience and commitment to the mediation process yesterday and for maintaining our energy levels as the late hours moved into the early hours!  It was a real pleasure to work with you in resolving this demanding case.  Mediation is a fascinating example of psychology in action and your courteous, yet firm, handling of difficult parties enables a resolution which, to that point, had seemed unattainable.”

Partner, Midlands Law Firm

“It was clear early on that Paul is a highly skilled professional mediator.  He dealt admirably with the challenges that arose in the mediation and guided the parties to a deal.  His style was very positive and encouraged open constructive dialogue.  He was excellent.  I will be using him again.”

Partner, Midlands Law Firm

“Once again, thank you very much for helping us achieve a decent compromise solution yesterday.  As I mentioned when we spoke at the day’s end, I find your approach as mediator compares very favourably with many others I’ve encountered in my career.  You prepare well, for certain, but your preparation is enhanced greatly by your personal, rather informal approach, which puts the parties at ease and helps them see the world through the other side’s eyes.  The facilitative approach worked wonderfully yesterday.  Settlement would have been far less likely within the span of time we had, if you had not been the mediator.”

US Legal Counsel and Vice President

“I have been involved in possibly as many as 15 mediations involving very substantial sums, often in cases where feelings between the parties are running at a very high level.  Your approach, which combined persistence with “friendly diplomacy” makes you probably the most effective mediator I have yet to encounter.  I would certainly recommend you to any practitioner seeking mediation assistance.”

Partner, Manchester Law Firm

“[Party 1]: I liked his laid back approach … Paul managed to harness this negative energy to get to a settlement. 

[Party 2]:  I thought he was very good … I liked the way he got to know everybody and got everyone talking without them realising they were actually talking!

[Party 3]: Manner generally courteous, but tough when needed to be.”

Lawyer comments in multi party dispute

“Please pass on our thanks to Paul, whose professionalism, calmness and expertise engineered a settlement that looked impossible before and for most of the day.”

Party

“Just a short note to thank you for the tremendous effort, commitment and enthusiasm that you applied together with considerable experience and negotiating skills in achieving a successful outcome of what on any analysis was a very bitter and acrimonious dispute … both [my client] and I were delighted with your efforts during the day and in particular your incisive approach to getting a deal.  As is the nature of these things, the negotiations went on late into the night but you applied yourself assiduously to the task in hand and I am sure all parties involved in this dispute are pleased to have a final settlement which will enable them to move on with their respective lives.”

Partner, Head of Litigation, Midlands Law Firm

“Just to let you know that the client and expert all thought you did an excellent job so thank you once again.”

Partner, Midlands Law Firm

“Just a short note from [Party A] to thank you for everything.  We found your approach and professionalism to be first class.”

Party