Meet the Team – Introduction

I discovered my love for coaching over 15 years ago whilst working as a Trainer for first direct. Moving to the Coaching and Learning Team shortly after, I focused on more one to one support. Using innovative interventions, I succesfully engaged staff to increase and maintain their sales performance and serice quality. Currently, I work as complaints resolution supervisor whilst still delivering training and coaching support to the staff of the UK`s leading bank.

My enthusiasm, sense of humour, and non-judgmental approach enables me to build strong relationships with clients, empowering growth through discovery and challenge.

Taking these skills, I am able to apply them in a totally different environment. Working in a women`s open prison, Isupported the residents on a one to one basis, which substantially helped reduce the re-offending rate.

My Possible Self enabled me to develop an original coaching program, which was offered to women in a refuge fleeing domestic violence. Many of the women had suffered years of abuse in different forms. The coaching gave the the tools, support and confidence to start making changes in their lives.

Professional Qualifications

Lynda is an NLP Business Practitioner has a Diploma in Performance Coaching, Diploma in Life Coaching, HE In Counselling Skills, and is an Accredited Certified Advanced Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner.

Lynda is also the Regional Events Organiser for the Association for Coaching.

Professional Bodies

Association for Coaching
AAMET

Maggie Buckley is an experienced counsellor with a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy and is an Accredited and Registered member of BACP. She has completed extra training which allows her to work therapeutically with children and young people, so Maggie is qualified to work with children from age 8 years, young people and adults. She has a wealth of experience working with people one to one and also in groups, with a particular interest in working with issues to include depression, anxiety, abuse, trauma, loss, self esteem and confidence and managing difficult emotions.  She has also completed training to deliver courses in mindfulness to groups of young people aged 11 to 18 years. Maggie continues to update and develop her practice by keeping up to date with current research findings and attends ongoing professional development relevant to the service she provides.

Maggie holds an Enhanced Certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service which is continuously updated and allows her to work with children, young people and adults.

Maggie’s training is Humanistic/ integrative counselling which means she can work with people’s uniqueness in a holistic, caring, supportive and non judgemental way. She integrates ideas and philosophies from other models such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Transactional Analysis (TA) and solution focused therapy. Maggie will also integrate mindfulness into sessions if it is of interest to people she is working with.She is able to work on long and short term issues to suit individual needs.

Roy gained a first degree in Chemical Engineering in 1972 and has a background in financial and commercial management in the Chemicals, Energy and Utilities sectors. An experienced originator and negotiator of large scale projects, he migrated to conflict resolution in 2006 by training as a commercial mediator and becoming accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Over the last nine years, he has undertaken 150 mediations covering a wide span of cases in the commercial, community, workplace, special education and faith sectors.

Roy maintains a keen interest in the theoretical underpinnings of mediation and negotiation, and their linkage to practice and the development of effective, professional practitioners. He completed an MSc in Mediation and Conflict Resolution at Strathclyde University in 2012 and is currently engaged in PhD research, at Sheffield University, into mediator practice. He develops and delivers mediation and negotiation training and workshops for managers, postgraduates, professionals and those in the charity sector. He is an accredited university teacher (FHEA) and believes that the best training is interactive, elicitive and fun.

Simon is a Counsellor and Supervisor working across the region. As a person-centred integrative therapist his focus is on the wellbeing and varying needs of his clients, in whatever setting. Qualifying as a therapist at York St John University his portfolio of work continues to develop and includes the supervision of other Counsellors.

Originally from Bradford and with a business background, Simon lives near Knaresborough with his wife. His two independent adult daughters both work in the caring professions.

Simon is an accredited and Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Andrea is a trained bereavement support worker / supervisor with 10 years’ experience working in the community and prisons. She is also a private medical practice manager. As a wife, mother of four and grandmother of five when she has time she likes travelling, gardening, reading and creative hobbies.

ARCH is a Charity (Registered Number 1158506) and we operate within the community on a not-for-profit basis with community mediations being undertaken at no cost to Harrogate District residents.

We will always give referring agencies a clear indication of any costs that are involved, and work with them to see if any public funding is available. We are always happy to accept donations from individuals, communities or businesses. Such donations are re-invested into the non-commercial services we provide.

Barbara is an OCN accredited Volunteer mediator with many years’ experience using mediation as a means of resolving conflict within the family, the work place and the community. Also developing and delivering training courses in communication and mediation skills both to professionals and new mediators.

She is pleased to be able to support and promote ARCH, and believes that trained volunteers are a valuable resource in delivering an effective mediation service, especially within the community

With a degree in Applied Social Sciences with Psychology from York St. John University, Beverley Brotherston has returned to Arch Mediation as a Family Case Co-coordinator to work with young and vulnerable people and their families located in and around the Harrogate District.

An Open College Network accredited mediator, Beverley has over eight years’ experience in community related mediation and conciliation supporting young people and families.

By supporting young people who are insecurely accommodated, who may have learning disabilities, and are estranged from their family, Beverley has been able to successfully give young people access to supported living, mediate family relationships, and help dependent people become more confident.

Having worked with ARCH previously, Beverley is now utilising her skills as a mediator to continue her passion to help young people and their families to help mediate problems amicably and seek solutions to often overwhelming difficulties.

Beverley believes it is paramount for young people to have immediate access to a reliable service that acts as an intermediary in order to help arbitrate scenarios and form positive solutions in a professional and harmonious way.

As the Family Case Coordinator, Beverley is delighted to work hands on with families in and around the Harrogate district, and hopes to continue her work to help the wider community. With a degree in Applied Social Sciences with Psychology from York St. John University, Beverley Brotherston has returned to Arch Mediation as a Family Case Co-coordinator to work with young and vulnerable people and their families located in and around the Harrogate District.

An Open College Network accredited mediator, Beverley has over eight years’ experience in community related mediation and conciliation supporting young people and families.

By supporting young people who are insecurely accommodated, who may have learning disabilities, and are estranged from their family, Beverley has been able to successfully give young people access to supported living, mediate family relationships, and help dependent people become more confident.

Having worked with ARCH previously, Beverley is now utilising her skills as a mediator to continue her passion to help young people and their families to help mediate problems amicably and seek solutions to often overwhelming difficulties.

Beverley believes it is paramount for young people to have immediate access to a reliable service that acts as an intermediary in order to help arbitrate scenarios and form positive solutions in a professional and harmonious way.

As the Family Case Coordinator, Beverley is delighted to work hands on with families in and around the Harrogate district, and hopes to continue her work to help the wider community.

Professional Expertise

As a personal and professional developer I work in the private, public and voluntary sectors. I have a passion for the development and release of human potential and have been training and working in this field for over 10 years. It is work I love.

Developing the whole person lies at the heart of all the work I do. Working collaboratively, the individual remains at the centre of their own learning. I have an open, gentle, yet challenging and focused approach, encouraging individuals to address that which may be holding them back or getting in the way. Asking good questions enables exploration, recognition and release of potential.

I am currently an Associate of ARCH. I have 15 years national and international corporate experience within the rapidly changing, high technology environment. I spent 12 years working with the finance sector in London, Europe and the US. I presented to board members of several major banks and worked with over 75 financial institutions. The main focus of my work was negotiation, sales, facilitation, training and business development. As a Regional Director I lived and worked overseas, opening and running an office in Stockholm, managing multinational teams across Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.

Professional Training and Qualifications

• Diploma in Coaching Supervision
• Myers Briggs Type Indicator MBTI1
• Diploma in Dynamic Theatre
• Advanced Diploma in Human Relations Practice
• Mediation Practitioners Certificate
• Advanced Diploma in Transpersonal Development
• Graduate of Deep Memory Process
• Masterclass in Strengths based Psychology
• Mindfulness Based Stress Relief

Recent Projects

MBTI and Team Development, Embracing Change and Resilience

• Management Essentials
• Coaching Supervision
• Executive, Business and Personal Coaching
• Leadership Development
• Collaboration In Action
• Managing Oneself in Change
• Group Facilitation
• Relationship and Conflict Management
• Team Development

Hi, my interest in mediation seems like a natural extension of my legal background.  I qualified as a solicitor 4 years ago and have since completed a Masters in Employment Law.  However, owing to family commitments, I have yet to practice law so decided to put my skills and ability to use by volunteering as a community mediator.  I completed the mediation course offered by ARCH last year and now look forward to facilitating productive communication within the community.

TESTIMONIALS

"James mediated a case for me recently which I really didn't think would settle. However, thanks in large part to James' mediation and personal skills the parties were able to arrive at a solution thus bringing long standing litigation to an end with consequent massive cost savings. I cannot thank or commend him enough"

Ian Ashley-Smith - Legal Advisor and Deputy District Judge

"I would like to thank James for assisting us in achieving a successful settlement in the space of 4 hours’ mediation.

I was impressed by his calm but firm approach and his clear explanations to my client.

I would have no hesitation in using his services again and in recommending him"

Gillian Wilkinson - Solicitor, Ware & Kay

EXPERIENCE

James has worked in commercial dispute resolution for over 10 years and in that time he has become increasingly convinced that mediation is the best and most cost effective way to resolve commercial disputes.

James had been described as a “first-class litigator” (The Legal 500) and by clients as"fantastic lawyer, who was immensely responsive, always prompt and always responded thoroughly to all the requests we made." (Chambers & Partners)

James has dealt with alternative dispute resolution in many types of  commercial dispute, for example:

Insolvency

Sports

Agency & distributions contracts

Contracts for services

Defamation

Negligence (both general negligence and professional negligence)

Fraud

Media and entertainment

Partnership and shareholder disputes

After graduating with First Class Honours from St.Andrews University, James completed his legal training at the College of Law, Birmingham, before going on to work for large regional firms Addleshaw Goddard and Halliwells. James then moved to McCormicks in Harrogate, where he became partner and Head of Commercial Litigation, before founding Towers Legal in 2012. Outside of work, James loves to get out into the Yorkshire countryside, especially on his mountain bike.

James also works as a visiting lecturer teaching Contract Law and and Advanced Commercial Litigation to postgraduates at BPP Law School. He is co-author of BPP's Textbook on Contract Law.

James has worked on a number of high profile and reported cases including:

HMRC v The Football League [2012]

Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. -v- Belmont Park Investments Pty Ltd. & BN[Y] Corporate Trustee Services Limited [2011] UKSC 38 (Supreme Court case)

Proactive Sports Management Ltd v Wayne Rooney, Coleen Rooney and others [2010] EWHC 1807 (QB)

Proform Sports Management Limited v (1) Proactive Sports Management Ltd (2) Paul Stretford - [2007] 1 All E.R. 542

Paul Stretford v Football Association Limited - [2006] EWHC 479

Green Corns Limited v Claverley Group Limited – [2005] EMLR 31

Karen has worked with ARCH for several years and has been involved in many diverse neighbourhood and family cases.

Karen is also a Relate trained relationship counsellor and has extensive experience of working with both couples and individuals.

Karen has worked with ARCH for several years and has been involved in many diverse neighbourhood and family cases.

Karen is also a Relate trained relationship counsellor and has extensive experience of working with both couples and individuals.

Accredited as a mediator by The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, CEDR, in 1997, Neil is a solicitor in private practice as well as being active in mediation. He was senior litigation partner with McCormicks Solicitors, until December 2013, where he dealt with a wide range of disputes in commercial, employment, professional negligence and personal injury matters. Now working as a Consultant with McCormicks, Neil's professional practice focuses primarily on employment law in which he has established a significant reputation.

As a mediator, Neil has been appointed in a wide range of case including disputes in: employment, commercial contract, commercial property, partnership, professional negligence, sport, inheritance, clinical negligence and personal injury. His mediation approach has been described as creative, courteous and effective, while recognising the practical and commercial realities. Believing that mediation provides a perfect opportunity for meaningful dialogue, both directly and indirectly, his style is facilitative, but with a willingness to persist and take a firm approach when appropriate.

In addition, Neil provides mediation training as a member of the CEDR Training Faculty and in other contexts. He has presented at various conferences both on law and mediation in his local area and nationally. He enjoys the training environment and has in addition appeared on both radio and television as legal expert.

Sarah qualified as a mediator after training with NFM (National Family Mediation) in 2011.  She is now a member of the FMA (Family Mediators Association http://www.thefma.co.uk/), working towards achieving the new Family Mediation Counsel Accredited status. She trained as a Community Mediator in October 2014 and enjoys working through Arch to help people locally.

Sarah also regularly assists families with the things they need to work through when relationships break down.  For most people that involves talking about children and finances.

Sarah has worked as a family lawyer for circa 20 years with specialist accreditations in children and financial work and a qualification as a collaborative lawyer.  All this experience is brought to her mediations and clients to warm to her ability to empathise, get to the heart of the matter and find solutions.

Sarah moved to North Yorks in 2008 with her husband and son and thinks its one of the best moves they ever made.  She enjoys baking, gin, running and walking her Hungarian Viszla – not all at the same time!

Simon Grenfell, community, civil and commercial mediator, following a career as a barrister and senior civil judge in Yorkshire and the North East.

Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2011, he has developed a wide range of mediation experience, covering areas of general contract, construction, property (in particular boundary disputes), finance and all aspects of human involvement in dispute.

He has a reputation for patience, listening, challenging where necessary and persistence in helping parties resolve their disputes.

He is a passionate believer in the importance of Mediation as an effective means of achieving resolution of conflict.

I am currently the manager of Arch Mediation Services which is a registered charity and of Arch Mediation Services (Commercial) Limited.

I became an accredited mediator with CEDR and RICS in 1995 and the types of dispute I have mediated upon include agricultural, boundary, construction, planning and other property issues.

I joined Arch mediation in 2004 since when I have practiced as a community mediator undertaking mediations in most if not all the usual areas of dispute in community mediation.

I first started resolving landlord and tenant disputes over 50 years ago as a management surveyor and then became a member of the Lord Chancellors Panel of Arbitrators in 1973 and subsequently the RICS panel. I was appointed to the panel in order to arbitrate on property or property related issues up until 2003. Thereafter I became committed to resolving disputes by mediation.

I now much enjoy the huge rewards of managing a highly talented and experienced team of over 30 mediators with a very high success rate and look forward to the challenges of taking on new areas and techniques of conflict and dispute resolution.

‘My background is as a solicitor specialising in civil and commercial litigation, in particular disputes concerning land, wills and trusts, and agriculture. I also deal with a broad range of commercial matters including disputes about contracts, land development, the sale and purchase of businesses, and issues about partners, directors and shareholders. I practice as a solicitor at EMG Solicitors in Durham. I qualified as a CEDR accredited mediator in 2011 and now carry on my mediation practice under the name Ursula Collie Mediation. I am a panel member of the Association of Northern Mediators and a community mediator with Arch.’

Bev Ashby - Mediator
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Email: bev@bevashbyassociates.co.uk Mobile: 07841 385161
Website: www.bevashbyassociates.co.uk
Profile
Bev is a commercial and intuitive qualified mediator who works with businesses and individuals to reduce
the impact of workplace conflict. She has high integrity, and brings commercial realism with many years of
experience as an HR Director operating at board level. With a strong background in Human Resource
Management at both operational, and strategic level Bev fully understands the people challenges that
leaders face. She works with clients in a wide range of sectors including Health, Fitness and Wellbeing, IT,
Education, Finance, Insurance Services, Retail, Research and Development.
The Benefits of Mediation
As a business leader and HR Director Bev has significant experience of managing workplace conflict and
employee relations at all levels. She has introduced mediation to a number of organisations with great
success to reduce the time and cost in managing low level and complex grievances. In her experience
grievances are never fully resolved through normal procedures as the parties involved look to apportion
blame and are often not clear on what outcome they want from a grievance hearing. As a result the
conflict can grow in size, start to involve other parties and may end in disciplinary action or an employment
tribunal; the cost to the business will be significant both in time and resources.
As a mediator Bev works with the parties to facilitate a process to reach a resolution that is mutually
acceptable to them. The aim of the mediation is to facilitate a constructive dialogue between the parties to
enable them to gain clarity about each other’s perspectives and understand each others points of view.
The mediation that Bev provides has seen positive outcomes for the parties concerned and the business.
Following mediation Bev will always follow up with the parties at 1, 3 and 6 months to ensure the mediation
is still affective.
Qualifications and Professional Bodies

• Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Qualified Mediator - Consensio Partners Resolutions Ltd
• Member European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC)
• Affiliate Member Association for Coaching
• Post Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching and Mentoring ILM level 7
• Leadership Coach - Gap International
• Masters in Business Administration
• Accredited Member of Career Development Institute

TESTIMONIALS

"James mediated a case for me recently which I really didn't think would settle. However, thanks in large part to James' mediation and personal skills the parties were able to arrive at a solution thus bringing long standing litigation to an end with consequent massive cost savings. I cannot thank or commend him enough"

Ian Ashley-Smith - Legal Advisor and Deputy District Judge

"I would like to thank James for assisting us in achieving a successful settlement in the space of 4 hours’ mediation.

I was impressed by his calm but firm approach and his clear explanations to my client.

I would have no hesitation in using his services again and in recommending him"

Gillian Wilkinson - Solicitor, Ware & Kay

EXPERIENCE

James has worked in commercial dispute resolution for over 10 years and in that time he has become increasingly convinced that mediation is the best and most cost effective way to resolve commercial disputes.

James had been described as a “first-class litigator” (The Legal 500) and by clients as"fantastic lawyer, who was immensely responsive, always prompt and always responded thoroughly to all the requests we made." (Chambers & Partners)

James has dealt with alternative dispute resolution in many types of  commercial dispute, for example:

Insolvency

Sports

Agency & distributions contracts

Contracts for services

Defamation

Negligence (both general negligence and professional negligence)

Fraud

Media and entertainment

Partnership and shareholder disputes

After graduating with First Class Honours from St.Andrews University, James completed his legal training at the College of Law, Birmingham, before going on to work for large regional firms Addleshaw Goddard and Halliwells. James then moved to McCormicks in Harrogate, where he became partner and Head of Commercial Litigation, before founding Towers Legal in 2012. Outside of work, James loves to get out into the Yorkshire countryside, especially on his mountain bike.

James also works as a visiting lecturer teaching Contract Law and and Advanced Commercial Litigation to postgraduates at BPP Law School. He is co-author of BPP's Textbook on Contract Law.

James has worked on a number of high profile and reported cases including:

HMRC v The Football League [2012]

Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. -v- Belmont Park Investments Pty Ltd. & BN[Y] Corporate Trustee Services Limited [2011] UKSC 38 (Supreme Court case)

Proactive Sports Management Ltd v Wayne Rooney, Coleen Rooney and others [2010] EWHC 1807 (QB)

Proform Sports Management Limited v (1) Proactive Sports Management Ltd (2) Paul Stretford - [2007] 1 All E.R. 542

Paul Stretford v Football Association Limited - [2006] EWHC 479

Green Corns Limited v Claverley Group Limited – [2005] EMLR 31

Accredited as a mediator by The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution, CEDR, in 1997, Neil is a solicitor in private practice as well as being active in mediation. He was senior litigation partner with McCormicks Solicitors, until December 2013, where he dealt with a wide range of disputes in commercial, employment, professional negligence and personal injury matters. Now working as a Consultant with McCormicks, Neil's professional practice focuses primarily on employment law in which he has established a significant reputation.

As a mediator, Neil has been appointed in a wide range of case including disputes in: employment, commercial contract, commercial property, partnership, professional negligence, sport, inheritance, clinical negligence and personal injury. His mediation approach has been described as creative, courteous and effective, while recognising the practical and commercial realities. Believing that mediation provides a perfect opportunity for meaningful dialogue, both directly and indirectly, his style is facilitative, but with a willingness to persist and take a firm approach when appropriate.

In addition, Neil provides mediation training as a member of the CEDR Training Faculty and in other contexts. He has presented at various conferences both on law and mediation in his local area and nationally. He enjoys the training environment and has in addition appeared on both radio and television as legal expert.

Roy gained a first degree in Chemical Engineering in 1972 and has a background in financial and commercial management in the Chemicals, Energy and Utilities sectors. An experienced originator and negotiator of large scale projects, he migrated to conflict resolution in 2006 by training as a commercial mediator and becoming accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Over the last nine years, he has undertaken 150 mediations covering a wide span of cases in the commercial, community, workplace, special education and faith sectors.

Roy maintains a keen interest in the theoretical underpinnings of mediation and negotiation, and their linkage to practice and the development of effective, professional practitioners. He completed an MSc in Mediation and Conflict Resolution at Strathclyde University in 2012 and is currently engaged in PhD research, at Sheffield University, into mediator practice. He develops and delivers mediation and negotiation training and workshops for managers, postgraduates, professionals and those in the charity sector. He is an accredited university teacher (FHEA) and believes that the best training is interactive, elicitive and fun.

Simon Grenfell, community, civil and commercial mediator, following a career as a barrister and senior civil judge in Yorkshire and the North East.

Accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2011, he has developed a wide range of mediation experience, covering areas of general contract, construction, property (in particular boundary disputes), finance and all aspects of human involvement in dispute.

He has a reputation for patience, listening, challenging where necessary and persistence in helping parties resolve their disputes.

He is a passionate believer in the importance of Mediation as an effective means of achieving resolution of conflict.

‘My background is as a solicitor specialising in civil and commercial litigation, in particular disputes concerning land, wills and trusts, and agriculture. I also deal with a broad range of commercial matters including disputes about contracts, land development, the sale and purchase of businesses, and issues about partners, directors and shareholders. I practice as a solicitor at EMG Solicitors in Durham. I qualified as a CEDR accredited mediator in 2011 and now carry on my mediation practice under the name Ursula Collie Mediation. I am a panel member of the Association of Northern Mediators and a community mediator with Arch.’

Frank is a founding partner of Paradigm Family Law LLP. He is a dual qualified Solicitor in England & Wales and Rechtsanwalt in Germany. He is also a qualified Judge in Germany.

He has considerable expertise in international high profile or ‘big money’ financial relief cases with complex onshore or offshore business or company and trust structures. He dealt with cases including

• inherited or pre-acquired wealth issues,
• concealment or dissipation of assets and
• He regularly advises on difficult enforcement cases with international aspects.

His areas of specialism also include

• complex worldwide freezing orders,
• cases with pre-nuptial and separation agreements or Civil Partnership disputes

Frank regularly receives referrals from his worldwide established and experienced international network in relation to foreign divorces or application brought pursuant to the MPFA 1984 Act. The referrals also include cases with a “forum shopping” element or contested international jurisdiction disputes.

He represents regularly clients in Schedule I Children Act 1989 cases with an international aspect and he acted for fathers or mothers in International Child Abduction Cases.

He appears regularly on Television / Radio / Newspaper like BBC One, ITV This Morning, CNBC, ABC News, VOX Media, FT, Forbes, LeFigaro, FAZ (Germany) etc.
Frank has been shortlisted as Jordan’s International Family Lawyer of the Year 2015. He also has been described by Family Law QC’s and Deputy High Court Judge in London as

• “an excellent adviser and mentor to all his clients” and
• with a “great eye both for detail and for the bigger picture, and gives the rounded service which is absolutely necessary in this sphere of practice”

He is also a member of the

• International Bar Association,
• International Society of Family Law,
• Re United,
• the German Bar at the Federal Court in Celle (“Oberlandesgericht Celle”) and
• the Family Mediator Association.

Publications

For a summary of his publications please look at his Linkedin Profile

Recent notable cases:
Jefferson v O’Connor [2014] EWCA Civ 38 (28 January 2014): Appeal hearing regarding a jurisdiction issue involving Art 3, 12, 16 and 19 Council Regulation (EC) No.2201/2003 (Brussels II Revised) and Paragraph 9 Schedule 1 Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act “DMPA”. Lothschutz v Vogel [2014] EWHC 473 (QB) (24 January 2014) : Application by H for costs orders to be set aside after a European Enforcement Order Certificate in relation to maintenance was rescinded by the German notary.

James is a founding partner of Paradigm Family Law LLP. A proud Yorkshireman, since qualifying in 1996 he has specialised in family law and divorce. He deals with all work arising from relationship breakdown.

James has considerable experience in dealing with the financial issues arising on divorce particularly where substantial personal, business and pension assets are involved. In recent years he has dealt increasingly with complex cases involving family and business trust assets where issues of liquidity are often prevalent. James has expertise in farming cases and those in which inherited and pre-acquired wealth play a significant part in the assets. His specialisms also include cases involving pre and post nuptial agreements, separation agreements and Civil Partnership cases.

James is dedicated to a client-focused, conciliatory and practical approach to cases.

James has accredited expertise in dealing with those cases in which children’s needs play a significant part. He is sensitive to the impact that children have in the context of divorce and financial proceedings and the importance of taking account of their needs when determining financial disputes. James has represented clients in Schedule I Children Act proceedings seeking financial provision for children.

James has variously been described by a top Family QC in London, who was leading Counsel in both Supreme Court decisions of Radmacher / Prest as ‘extremely conscientious and completely wedded to the progress of his client’s cause’ and a ‘first class practitioner….tactically adept and armed with a knowledge which is top rate’ representing clients with ‘patience and good humour’.

James frequently appears on local radio discussing divorce and matrimonial issues. He is a regular guest newspaper reviewer and contributor to BBC Radio Leeds and York. James is often asked for comment by journalists and has appeared in print in papers such as The Guardian and online.

James is a member of the Law Society’s Family Panel and an ‘Accredited Specialist’ member of Resolution – First for Family Law and is Press Officer for the North and West Yorkshire Resolution committee.

James is a trained Family Mediator and member of the Family Mediators Association.

Testimonials

“Thank you so much for your time on the telephone this morning. I initially contacted you because of your recent blog article on Child Maintenance and Schedule 1.

It made a refreshing change to be able to speak directly to you when making the initial call.

In just one brief telephone call, you grasped and understood the financial and litigation issues and gave me clear advice as to the next steps to take in relation to my ex-husband’s application to vary a Maintenance Order.” – Claire M, Leeds

“Dear James, THANK YOU for all your patience and good humour during the tribulations of the divorce! My life is now much more peaceful & content.” - Sharon M, London

“It is has been my pleasure to work with James throughout the years. Most recently we worked together on a complicated family trusts case in the Court of Appeal; the work which James did can only be described as outstanding. He is extremely conscientious and completely wedded to the progress of his client’s cause. He wants the very best for his clients and is discriminating enough to know that this is as often achieved through a skilful negotiation as a contested fight. But either way he has a grasp of legal principles which means that his clients can feel assured that they have in him, a first class practitioner. Tactically adept and armed with a knowledge which is top rate, he is an excellent choice as a representative.” – Richard Todd QC

Rachel worked as a solicitor for 9 years before training as both a mediator - family and commercial - and couple/family counsellor. As a result of this dual training she brings a wide range of skills to her mediation practice, helping clients to understand the practical and legal effects of separation and divorce, whilst supporting them as they deal with change and make decisions about their future.

Family Mediation Council accredited (holding full FMCA status)
Member Family Mediation Association
Qualified to conduct Mediation Information and Assessment meetings
Legal Aid Agency recognition to undertake publicly funded (legal aid) work.
Accredited to see children through the Child Inclusive Mediation programme.

Sarah qualified as a mediator after training with NFM (National Family Mediation) in 2011.  She is now a member of the FMA (Family Mediators Association http://www.thefma.co.uk/), working towards achieving the new Family Mediation Counsel Accredited status. She trained as a Community Mediator in October 2014 and enjoys working through Arch to help people locally.

Sarah also regularly assists families with the things they need to work through when relationships break down.  For most people that involves talking about children and finances.

Sarah has worked as a family lawyer for circa 20 years with specialist accreditations in children and financial work and a qualification as a collaborative lawyer.  All this experience is brought to her mediations and clients to warm to her ability to empathise, get to the heart of the matter and find solutions.

Sarah moved to North Yorks in 2008 with her husband and son and thinks its one of the best moves they ever made.  She enjoys baking, gin, running and walking her Hungarian Viszla – not all at the same time!

With a degree in Applied Social Sciences with Psychology from York St. John University, Beverley Brotherston has returned to Arch Mediation as a Family Case Co-coordinator to work with young and vulnerable people and their families located in and around the Harrogate District.

An Open College Network accredited mediator, Beverley has over eight years’ experience in community related mediation and conciliation supporting young people and families.

By supporting young people who are insecurely accommodated, who may have learning disabilities, and are estranged from their family, Beverley has been able to successfully give young people access to supported living, mediate family relationships, and help dependent people become more confident.

Having worked with ARCH previously, Beverley is now utilising her skills as a mediator to continue her passion to help young people and their families to help mediate problems amicably and seek solutions to often overwhelming difficulties.

Beverley believes it is paramount for young people to have immediate access to a reliable service that acts as an intermediary in order to help arbitrate scenarios and form positive solutions in a professional and harmonious way.

As the Family Case Coordinator, Beverley is delighted to work hands on with families in and around the Harrogate district, and hopes to continue her work to help the wider community. With a degree in Applied Social Sciences with Psychology from York St. John University, Beverley Brotherston has returned to Arch Mediation as a Family Case Co-coordinator to work with young and vulnerable people and their families located in and around the Harrogate District.

An Open College Network accredited mediator, Beverley has over eight years’ experience in community related mediation and conciliation supporting young people and families.

By supporting young people who are insecurely accommodated, who may have learning disabilities, and are estranged from their family, Beverley has been able to successfully give young people access to supported living, mediate family relationships, and help dependent people become more confident.

Having worked with ARCH previously, Beverley is now utilising her skills as a mediator to continue her passion to help young people and their families to help mediate problems amicably and seek solutions to often overwhelming difficulties.

Beverley believes it is paramount for young people to have immediate access to a reliable service that acts as an intermediary in order to help arbitrate scenarios and form positive solutions in a professional and harmonious way.

As the Family Case Coordinator, Beverley is delighted to work hands on with families in and around the Harrogate district, and hopes to continue her work to help the wider community.

David has been involved in Third Sector management for over twenty years and has worked across the UK in sectors as diverse as Animal Welfare, Young People, Disability Rights, Education, Dispute Resolution and Community Cohesion and has guided charities through periods of development and change.

David’s skills and experience include staff training, volunteer management, income generation and governance support. He has helped Trustee boards secure membership and structure appropriate to the needs of the organisation, has led management restructuring projects to ensure charities are well placed and sustainable for the future and has delivered papers on charity management at conferences in the UK and abroad.

Karen has worked with ARCH for several years and has been involved in many diverse neighbourhood and family cases.

Karen is also a Relate trained relationship counsellor and has extensive experience of working with both couples and individuals.

I am currently the manager of Arch Mediation Services which is a registered charity and of Arch Mediation Services (Commercial) Limited.

I became an accredited mediator with CEDR and RICS in 1995 and the types of dispute I have mediated upon include agricultural, boundary, construction, planning and other property issues.

I joined Arch mediation in 2004 since when I have practiced as a community mediator undertaking mediations in most if not all the usual areas of dispute in community mediation.

I first started resolving landlord and tenant disputes over 50 years ago as a management surveyor and then became a member of the Lord Chancellors Panel of Arbitrators in 1973 and subsequently the RICS panel. I was appointed to the panel in order to arbitrate on property or property related issues up until 2003. Thereafter I became committed to resolving disputes by mediation.

I now much enjoy the huge rewards of managing a highly talented and experienced team of over 30 mediators with a very high success rate and look forward to the challenges of taking on new areas and techniques of conflict and dispute resolution.

Dawna has been involved with the Voluntary Sector for thirty years helping with several high-profile Charities using her fundraising and organisational skills.
She is a qualified Life coach specialising with excess weight issues and is setting up a venue in Mallorca, combining art therapy, yoga and weight coaching.
Dawna is looking forward to contributing to the work of Arch Resolution over the coming years and is delighted to be a Trustee.

John Behrens was a barrister in Leeds from 1973 to 1996 specialising in property, financial and other business matters.

In 1996 he was appointed the specialist Chancery judge for Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne. He remained in that post until he retired in November 2016. He dealt with a wide variety of matters including property disputes, insolvencies, charity problems and other commercial disputes.

He is married with 2 grown up children.

Ken Monkou is a forward thinking, commercially astute and highly driven individual who has transitioned from a career as a professional football player to now provide an assured ambassadorial and media presence on behalf of established organisations. Having worked across a number of sectors since retirement as well as football – retail, media, event and talent management - Ken has accrued a wealth of experience that is applicable to any business seeking a passionate representative who can provide insightful recommendations at an executive or board level.
Work for the Professional Football Association as an equality & Diversity Officer as well as previously with Chelsea FC as a club and brand ambassador from community to executive level has provided Ken a strong understanding of how to engage with all individuals and an appreciation of the importance of brand integrity. Combined with expertise in large scale event coordination, high profile media work, leading teams and individual mentoring, Ken provides an invaluable source for any business and is keen to secure a role with an organisation where commercial ideals and objectives match his own. Ken also sits on the FA judicial panel.

I am a traditional Banker, with a long career in Barclays, having undertaken many roles and am passionate about ensuring the highest standards are applied in both Business and Personal matters.

I believe in getting involved in the Community to contribute something back. I am passionate about improving the Society we live in and protecting what is good. I have over 40 years’ experience in banking and this has helped me have sound values.

Semi-retired local businessman with entrepreneurial experience. A networker and fundraiser with extensive commercial and finacial experience as a Board Director and senior manager with leadership, people management, training and motivational skills. Joined Arch Resolution Trustees to further the cause of improved mental health in Harrogate district.

Nigel was originally from Bishop Auckland with a BA Hons degree in Politics from the University of Newcastle and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984.

Nigel worked at Deloitte Haskins and Sells (Chartered Accountants) from 1981 to 1988, latterly as a manager. From 1988 to 1997 he worked for Ropner Plc with a turnover of £30m and 300+ employees, leaving as Finance Director. Moved to MLM Technologies Ltd as Finance Director and Company Secretary a former subsidiary of Ropner Plc, owned by the directors and a venture capital company).

In 2001 Nigel moved to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society initially as Finance Manager and then Chief Executive and now runs this agricultural charity based in Harrogate that supports and promotes farming and the countryside. Best known for organising the Great Yorkshire Show, which is England’s premier Agricultural Show attracting 135,000 people over 3 days. Other charitable activities include Nuffield Scholarships, Education events, Future Farmers of Yorkshire, Yorkshire Food, Farming and Rural Network (the DEFRA network for Yorkshire), Yorkshire Rural Support Network and Deliciouslyorkshire.

Currently a board member of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership from 2011 and member of Harrogate College Consultative Committee from 2012. Nigel is married with two children and interested in most sports including tennis, football, skiing and long-distance walking.

Nimble is a lawyer who specialised in commercial litigation, became Managing Partner and then Senior Partner in Leeds and was closely involved in the evolution of Eversheds where he served as Deputy Chairman until 1999.

He has served as Chairman of NG Bailey, of Leeds Metropolitan University and of EUREKA and Deputy Chairman of Skipton Building Society.

He has been Deputy Chairman of the Institute of Directors and remains a director of Rushbond Plc. He Is a Governor of Aysgarth School and will become Chairman in December.

Dr Tim Ubhi started his medical career at Leeds teaching hospital trust following his undergraduate degree at Leeds university medical school. He quickly went into the field of child health and was appointed as a lecturer in paediatrics & child health in 1997. During his tenure as a university lecturer, Tim took forward a randomised placebo-controlled study into the use of botulinum toxin to help children with cerebral palsy walk.

The study demonstrated the effectiveness of this drug in helping children with cerebral palsy and the Dysport version of botulinum toxin was subsequently licensed for use in children with spastic diplegic or hemiplegic cerebral palsy. This work led to the first NHS clinic for botulinum toxin therapy in cerebral palsy in the UK, a model that was subsequently replicated around the country. Botulinum toxin is now regarded as standard therapy for children with cerebral palsy who have difficulty walking.

In recognition of his work in this field Tim was awarded the prestigious Michael Blacow award by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for the best piece of research presented at the annual meeting of the college in 2000.

Tim subsequently went on to receive a medical research council training fellowship for a study looking at the use of herpes simplex virus as a potential oncolytic vector for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma.

Following this he spent several years in paediatric oncology before moving into industry where he worked mainly in the field of adult oncology research and development. He returned to the NHS and more recently has worked as a consultant paediatrician in the NHS and also as clinical director.

Tim has recently completed the NHS leadership academy Nye Bevin executive training programme and is CEO of the Children's e-Hospital an online child health service. He is currently working with some of the major paediatric institutions from across the UK to develop treatment guidelines and raise awareness of an emerging disease called “PANDAS” (Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus).

Zoe is a family law specialist and Managing Partner & Head of Private Client at Raworths in Harrogate. Particular areas of expertise include financial issues on a divorce or separation particularly for high net worth individuals where business and farming assets may be involved. Zoe also deals with private law children issues.

Zoe uses her mediation skills obtained since 1997 to offer a range of services to clients. Zoe is also instructed by many legal practices throughout Yorkshire to carry out Mediation Information Assessment Meetings.

Zoe trained as a Collaborative Lawyer in 2007 and whenever possible will consider the use of mediation as an alternative to the Court process.