Jonathan Lloyd-Jones

Practice Areas

Jonathan has been a commercial mediator for 29 years. His mediation practice covers a wide variety of areas but in particular he has considerable knowledge of professional negligence disputes, construction disputes, property disputes (particularly those arising out of disputed wills and probate), partnership, employment, financial services, as well as more general commercial, company and contractual matters.

Jonathan Lloyd-Jones has spent his working life in dispute resolution, initially as a litigation lawyer in London and Oxford. While chair of his 100-partner law firm, the need to find consensual solutions to partnership issues was vital.

He qualified as a mediator in 1991 and gained a reputation as a pioneer in the development of mediation in the UK. He has always been ranked in the top tiers of commercial mediators by the legal directories. Recent editions have described him as an “excellent mediator” and “charming, authoritative and thorough”, and have further praised his “rigorous intellectual approach to testing both sides’ cases with a facilitative, encouraging, charming manner that prevents parties from becoming disillusioned or giving up on negotiations”.

He is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and currently Treasurer of that organisation. He is an original signatory to the Green Pledge of the World Mediators Alliance on Climate Change. He is certified by the International Mediation Institute.

Since becoming a full-time mediator in 2012 with Independent Mediators, his practice has greatly expanded and he has mediated hundreds of disputes, particularly involving insurance, professional negligence, construction, insolvency, shareholders, property and financial services.

Parties have ranged from government agencies and multi-nationals to private individuals.

Jonathan was a founder director of ADR Net Ltd and subsequently became Chairman until he stepped down in 2011. He also served for 6 years on the ADR Committee of the Law Society of England and Wales. He has acted as judge and mediator in mediation competitions both in the UK and in Paris and Vienna. He has spoken on mediation topics internationally including in the USA, South Africa, Holland and Estonia.

Career

Jonathan Lloyd-Jones qualified as a solicitor in 1979 and as a mediator in 1991 and since then has been actively involved not only in practicing as a commercial mediator but also in the development of mediation practice in the UK. Until 2012 he combined that practice with his own practice as a solicitor specialising in commercial litigation. He was described in The Legal 500 (2011) as one of the best solicitors, he has an extraordinary grasp of facts and a remarkable analytical mind and knowledge of the law.

Jonathan started his legal career in London training with Stephenson Harwood and then becoming a partner in a West End practice where he remained until 1988.

Jonathan was Senior Partner of Oxford law firm (Linnells) from 1998, leading it into a merger with the larger regional firm of Blake Lapthorn (now Blake Morgan) in 2003. He was Chairman of Blake Lapthorn from 2005 until 2011 and left the firm in 2012. During his time as Senior Partner and Chairman he acquired wide experience of partnership matters and the challenges of running a business, which means he understands, probably to a greater degree than many legal advisors because of his personal experience, the need for practical and commercial solutions to problems.

Additionally from 2004 – 2012 he represented the firm all over the world as part of its international network.

Professional Memberships

- International Mediation Institute Certified Mediator

· Distinguished Fellow and Vice President of the International Academy of Mediators

· Member of the Advisory Board of the Standing Committee of Mediation Advocates

· Former Director and Chairman of ADR Net Limited

· Fellow of the CMC

Publications

Jonathan speaks regularly on mediation topics both in the UK and abroad. He also provides training courses in preparation and presentation at mediations. He has trained lawyers, business people and other professionals in mediation skills and in the skills of using mediation effectively for their own disputes. He also conducts training in-house for law firms, insurance companies and others.

Industry Sector Expertise

A brief overview of areas of practice:

Banking / Finance

Commercial contracts

Commercial fraud / Fraud

Company shareholders

Competition

Construction and engineering

Defamation

Employment

Franchise

Group actions

Insolvency

I.T.

Insurance / reinsurance

Intellectual Property

International

Local and national government

Medical negligence / Personal injury

Oil and gas

Partnerships

Pensions

Probate / Trusts / Estates

Professional negligence

Property

Regulatory

Sport

Transport / logistics