Ray Watson LL.B (Hons), MCIArb

Phone
0845 083 3000

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General Information

An accredited mediator, member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Association of Midland Mediators (AMM) and Civil Mediation Council (CMC), company director, and legal Costs Lawyer, Ray has the right balance of facilitative negotiation experience, technical knowledge of legal dispute processes and intuitive people skills to make him a charismatic and successful mediator across a wide range of disputes, ranging from low value financial disputes to seemingly intractable multi-million pound commercial cases.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

Mediation: Accredited by the London School of Mediation, member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and Civil Mediation Council and runs own Legal Services Company and Mediation practice; Secure Legal Services Ltd.

Legal Practice: Since 1998 Ray has been involved, on a professional level, with civil & commercial costs litigation ranging from Liability claims to Libel proceedings, complex commercial litigation to Land Tribunals and Clinical Negligence to Family & Care proceedings, and has a wealth of expertise that private individuals and businesses will benefit from.

Company Director: Almost a decade of successfully running his own legal service company, staying efficient, commercially focused and excellent interpersonal skills, while developing extensive knowledge and understanding of business processes.

WHY CHOOSE RAY?

"Ray immediately develops a sound and realistic grasp of the issues under consideration, his energy, skill and enthusiasm are infectious. He is also very personable which, makes dealing with him a pleasure" Mr D. Taylor - Silks Solicitors Ltd

"Without Ray agreement would not have been reached, he kept both parties in dialogue & used a novel approach to gaining agreement" Mr R. Niziolek - Commercial Director, Working Environments London Ltd

"I just wanted to say how much I learned from your mediation. I believe it was conducted efficiently and professionally and the participants managed to find a good resolution due to your facilitation and skill. You were faithful to the principles of mediation but were flexible in your approach which combined to make, in my view, an effective and successful mediation. I have not been able to write in a similar way after other mediations that I have observed" Mrs J. Butler  - Barrister, Bedford Row Chambers

"Thank you. It was a very effective mediation session with an acceptable outcome for both parties. Ray was a good practical mediator and the matter was resolved far more swiftly than had been anticipated"  Ms S. Carrel - Partner, GHP Solicitors

"...How good at mediation do you think the mediator was?...If agreement was reached, how significant was the mediator's input in helping the parties to resolve their dispute?... I would like to give more than 10/10 on these points!... Many thanks Ray" Mr J. Bill - Atelier Bill Colaberative Architects

Excellent negotiator: A natural diplomat, Ray’s experience in costs litigation, hearings at Court, and as a company director he has perfected his ability to tactfully but firmly facilitate successful solutions to entrenched disputes while keeping the process professional.

Efficient and empathetic: Ray quickly identifies the needs and motivations of the participants and works intuitively to bring about speedy, satisfying conclusions to even the most intractable of cases. The art of mediation lies in excavating beneath a parties 'position' and discovering a need or a want. It is the parties needs and wants which are the engine and wheels of every successful negotiation.

Commercially savvy: With extensive experience as a company director and thorough knowledge of associated legal and business issues (e.g. corporation tax, director duties, VAT, Companies Act.), Ray quickly appreciates complex commercial issues, and quickly identifies what needs to happen to resolve a dispute. Following his day-to-day experience in such matters, Ray is able to bring clarity to seemingly intractable multi-million pound commercial cases.

Flexible fees and location: Ray adopts a flexible approach to ensure that the level of fee fits the circumstances and is happy to take on mediations of any type, value or location.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

• Legal Costs disputes
• Credit Hire disputes
• Personal Injury disputes
• Professional Negligence
• Negligence - Tort
• Misstatements / Defamation
• Contested Probate / TOLATA disputes
• Complex Civil & Commercial cases
• Business / Partnership disputes
• Shareholder disputes
• Breach of Contract disputes
• Exclusivity Clauses
• Commercial Debts
• Sale / Purchase of Goods and Services
• Employment Law
• Insurance / re-insurance
• Boundary disputes
• Land / neighbour disputes
• Small Claims track disputes
• Landlord and Tenancy disputes

RAY’S APPROACH:

Ray has always been a firm supporter of alternative dispute methods, and has an intuitive understanding of what needs to happen to resolve a dispute.

His breadth of experience working in the legal profession enables him to use facilitative negotiation and reality testing early on, avoiding potentially intractable stalemates.

Approachable and amenable to deal with, Ray understands that behind every dispute there is a person, and tries to empathise with that person.

At the same time, as a company director himself, he appreciates the mechanics and problems of business, and is skilled at encouraging deal-making in order to secure mutually consensual resolution for all parties.

Ray is a member of:
• The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

• Association of Midland Mediators

• The Civil Mediation Council

Qualifications:
LL.B (Hons), MCIArb

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