Oliver Hallam
Mediator
Short Introduction
Oliver Hallam is a specialist mediator focusing on private wealth, trusts and probate, family business and sports disputes. A CEDR accredited and Civil Mediation Council registered mediator, he has extensive experience helping individuals, families, trustees, business owners and sports professionals resolve sensitive and often highly personal disputes.
Drawing on his background as a solicitor and former partner in a leading private client practice, Oliver specialises in inheritance disputes, contentious trusts and probate, family business succession conflicts, Court of Protection matters, partnership disputes and sports related conflicts. He is recognised for helping parties achieve confidential, practical and relationship preserving outcomes in complex disputes.
Testimonials
About Work
Oliver specialises in private wealth, trusts and probate, family business and sports disputes. He regularly assists families, beneficiaries, trustees, business owners, professional advisers and sports professionals in resolving complex disputes involving inheritance, succession planning, business ownership, trusts and personal relationships.
Before becoming a full-time mediator, Oliver trained at Allen & Overy and later became a partner at Wrigleys Solicitors, where he specialised in private client matters. His background in trusts, estates, tax, property and family business structures provides valuable insight into the legal, financial and emotional issues that often arise in private wealth disputes.
His mediation experience includes contentious probate claims, Inheritance Act disputes, trust and estate conflicts, family business succession disputes, shareholder and partnership disagreements, Court of Protection matters, agricultural and landed estate disputes, property conflicts and sports related disputes involving athletes, agents, clubs and governing bodies.
Clients value Oliver's calm, empathetic and highly personable style. He focuses on creating an environment where parties feel heard and understood, while using careful reality testing and constructive challenge to help them identify practical solutions. His approach is particularly effective in emotionally charged disputes where preserving relationships and maintaining privacy are important considerations.
Expertise
- Employment & Workplace
- Private Client
- Commercial & Corporate
- Construction, Property & Planning
- Culture, Lifestyle & Sport
- Equality & Social Justice
- Industry, Energy & Environment
- Healthcare & Personal Matters
Languages
- English
- French (basic)
- Spanish (basic)
Awards
CEDR International Mediation Accreditation
Regent’s School of Psychology and Psychotherapy, London Mediation Accreditation
STEP Trust and Estate Practitioner Diploma (TEP) – STEP
STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising (Distinction)
Independent Legal Directories - Oliver is ranked in Chambers and Partners, Chambers High Net Worth and the Legal 500
Memberships
- Sport Resolutions Panel Mediator (2024–2027) https://www.sportresolutions.com/services/mediation
- Civil Mediation Council (CMC) – former board member and current member of the Civil and Commercial Mediation Working Group https://civilmediation.org/
- Contentious Trusts Association https://www.contra.uk.com/
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb) https://www.ciarb.org/
- Association of Northern Mediators (Director) https://www.northernmediators.co.uk/
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) https://www.step.org/
- Family Firm Institute (FFI) https://www.ffi.org/
