Robin Somerville
Mediator
Short Introduction
Robin Somerville is a specialist business, shareholder and technology mediator with more than 15 years of mediation experience and a strong background as an entrepreneur, judge, arbitrator and adjudicator. He specialises in shareholder disputes, partnership conflicts, boardroom disputes, family business disagreements, technology disputes, unfair prejudice petitions and complex commercial litigation.
Having founded, grown and successfully exited three technology businesses, Robin brings first-hand commercial experience alongside extensive dispute resolution expertise. He regularly mediates high value business disputes involving directors, shareholders, investors and business owners, helping parties navigate both the legal and relationship challenges that often underpin commercial conflict.
Testimonials
About Work
Robin Somerville specialises in shareholder, partnership, boardroom, technology and commercial disputes, helping business owners, directors, investors and management teams resolve complex conflicts efficiently and constructively. He regularly mediates disputes involving unfair prejudice petitions, directors' duties, family businesses, joint ventures, technology contracts and workplace relationships.
Alongside his mediation practice, Robin sits as a judge, arbitrator and adjudicator and previously served as an Ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service. Before entering dispute resolution, he founded and successfully sold three technology businesses and played a leadership role within his own family business, providing him with valuable insight into the commercial realities facing business owners and entrepreneurs.
His mediation experience includes shareholder buyouts, family business disputes, partnership conflicts, director and employee disputes, restrictive covenant claims, technology and software disputes, international joint ventures, workplace disputes and complex commercial contract matters. He is particularly experienced in disputes where ongoing relationships, business continuity and governance issues are central to achieving resolution.
Clients value Robin's pragmatic, approachable and solution-focused style. He builds rapport quickly, encourages open and constructive dialogue and combines careful reality testing with commercial insight to help parties identify workable solutions and achieve durable outcomes.
Expertise
- Employment & Workplace
- Commercial & Corporate
- Technology, Media & IP
Languages
- English
Awards
ADR Group - Accredited Mediator 2010
CEDR-Acredited Mediator 2022
CEDR-Acredited Workplace Mediator 2023.
Memberships
Fellow - Civil Mediation Counsel
Fellow - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Fellow - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators