Felicity Steadman

I do mediation, and I teach mediation. I walk the talk with ease. I began my mediation career in 1989 and have mediated many hundreds of matters since then. I trained as a mediator in 1988 and again in 2003. I have done many other mediator skills trainings since then and have trained mediators all over the world. I am currently Head of the CEDR Faculty of mediator trainers.

My mediation practice is primarily in the employment and workplace spheres, although I also mediate disputes relating to discrimination law and the Equality Act 2010. On occasion, I am appointed to mediate commercial breach of contract disputes of various kinds. My style has been described by clients as warm and engaging, yet tenacious. I engage parties early in preparation for the mediation so that they start the mediation on the most confident footing. I am comfortable with emotion in mediation and don't immediately break joint meetings when it emerges, as in my experience, emotion speaks louder than words. I am a disciple of interest-based negotiation and believe strongly in assisting parties in articulating their demands and positions, as well as their real needs and fears. Conveying this information, with permission, can unlock perspectives and open the way for problem-solving and bargaining. I enjoy the problem-solving or bargaining phase of mediation best of all because this can be the most creative. Parties in my mediations often leave with outcomes that they were not expecting, yet are happy to commit to.