Stephen Boyd

Mediator & Barrister

Short Introduction

Stephen Boyd is a mediator, arbitrator and practising barrister specialising in trusts and probate, property, commercial and partnership disputes. With more than 40 years of legal experience, he regularly assists individuals, families, business owners and professionals in resolving complex disputes involving inheritance, trusts, property ownership, commercial contracts and shareholder relationships.

Alongside his mediation practice, Stephen is a member of Selborne Chambers and brings substantial experience in chancery, commercial and property litigation. He is particularly recognised for his expertise in contentious probate, trusts, wills, property disputes and partnership conflicts, combining legal insight with a calm and practical approach to dispute resolution.

Testimonials

"I thought you were pitch-perfect as a mediator: a very calming presence amongst some potentially hotter heads, with what seemed to me to be very well judged levels of prodding and well-timed interventions."

Kavan Gunaratna, Barrister

"Stephen was very in control of the whole process and clearly had the respect of all parties. I very much enjoyed working with him – great! A really positive experience."

Jackie Miller - Assistant mediator

"Stephen Boyd mediated an acrimonious and difficult dispute. It was a partnership dispute between family members over property worth a few million pounds. He was courteous, able and focussed. Stephen was able to build a rapport with the parties to ensure that enough trust was built so that a settlement was reached. I was impressed with Stephen’s grip on the issues and the fact that he went the extra mile to make sure that heads of terms were agreed. I would certainly use Stephen again for mediation."

Gary Blaker QC

About Work

Stephen Boyd mediates a wide range of trusts and probate, property, commercial and partnership disputes. He regularly assists families, beneficiaries, executors, trustees, business owners, landlords, tenants and private individuals in resolving disputes involving inheritance claims, trusts, wills, property ownership, commercial contracts and business relationships.

Before focusing on mediation, Stephen developed a distinguished career as a barrister, following earlier commercial experience in international trading and business. His background provides a strong understanding of both the legal and commercial issues that often underpin disputes, particularly those involving family wealth, property and business assets.

His mediation experience includes contentious probate claims, trust disputes, Inheritance Act claims, boundary disputes, rights of way matters, landlord and tenant disputes, partnership disagreements, shareholder conflicts, professional negligence claims, construction disputes and commercial contract matters. He is particularly experienced in disputes where family, property and financial interests intersect.

Clients value Stephen's calm, thoughtful and authoritative style. He prepares thoroughly, builds trust quickly and uses careful reality testing to help parties evaluate their options, overcome deadlock and work towards practical and lasting settlements.

Mediator Profile

Expertise

Private Client
Commercial & Corporate
Construction, Property & Planning
Culture, Lifestyle & Sport
International Trade & Competition
Healthcare & Personal Matters

Languages

English
French (basic)
Russian (basic)
Swedish (basic)

Awards

Memberships

Civil Mediation Council (CMC)

Publications

I contributed to the chapter on Image Rights in the main practitioners' book on Sports Law.

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