Paul Johnson

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SUMMARY

Paul has been a full time mediator since 2006 and is considered to be one of the leading mediators in the UK.  He is primarily a commercial mediator but his practice areas extend to a broad cross-section of disputes.  The value of disputes mediated range from relatively modest to in excess of £100m.

DIRECTORIES

Paul is mentioned in successive editions of Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 as one of the leading mediators in the UK.  He has been described in Chambers & Partners as:

·          "one of the rising stars in the mediation world"

·          "worth his weight in gold"

·          "Clients love his relaxed and calm demeanour, noting that he quietly and methodically pulls apart and tests each party's case.  He always approaches mediation with a clear structure in mind and is never rattled."

PERSONAL STYLE

Paul has a creative, constructive and flexible approach based on thoughtful preparation, excellent rapport/ communication skills and a resolve to focus parties on finding a solution.  Paul has been variously described by parties and/or their advisers as professional, calm, facilitative, thorough, incisive, brilliant and having a steely determination.  

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Paul is a very experienced mediator.  He has mediated disputes in the following areas (with some illustrative examples)

Banking

• Numerous claims for enforcement of security/guarantees
• A 13 year long dispute between an offshore bank and two customers.
• A 20 year dispute between a bank and a former customer who alleged he became bankrupt because of failings by the bank             

Intellectual Property

• Internet content and development ownership
• Worldwide rebranding project

Commercial/Contractual

• Numerous such claims
• Dispute between a US manufacturer of medical equipment and Belgian customer
• Dispute between a sports clothing manufacturer and a well known football club                

 Matrimonial

• Complex ancillary relief proceedings
• Quasi civil partnership dispute
• Co-habitee disputes

Competition

• Dispute between a motor manufacturer and car dealers

Offshore

• Breach of trust/fraud claims brought in numerous jurisdictions for the recovery of several millions

Construction & Engineering

• Numerous such claims
• The mismanagement of a steam boiler plant
• The construction of a mosque
• The damage caused to a building because of the mismanagement by a utility company   

Partnership

• Accountants
• Doctors
• Quantity Surveyors
• Solicitors
• Barristers dissolution

Costs

• The settlement of the costs claims in two multi-million group litigation disputes
• The claim for cost in excess of £7m following a substantial and protracted dispute              

Professional Negligence

• Accountants
• Architects
• Barristers
• Financial Advisors
• Insolvency Practitioners
• Insurance Brokers
• M & E Engineers
• Solicitors
• Surveyors
• Tax advisers

Employment

• The dismissal of a senior employee of a local authority

Property

• Commercial property
• Development projects
• Dilapidations
• Residential property
• Boundary disputes

Fraud

• Claims brought by a company against its former finance director for the theft of monies
• Misuse of company funds by director
• Claims brought by an insurer against various conspirators in a false claims ring      

Sport

• Dispute between a leading coach in a particular discipline, the club and the national association
• Dispute between a county cricket club and a commercial supplier

Inheritance & Trusts

• 1978 Act claims
• Fraud/undue influence
• Capacity
• Interpretation of wills/ trusts
• Charities             

Shareholders

• Numerous shareholder disputes

Insolvency

• Wrongful trading
• Fraudulent trading
• Voidable transactions
• Recoveries by officeholders         

Regulatory

• Mediated many cases involving government agencies and local authorities

  

The following comprise some examples of feedback received from mediations:

• "He was sensational.  Paul was the most accomplished mediator I've ever some across and I've done lots.  He was very enthusiastic.  I was impressed by his knowledge and speed.  He got right to the nub of the problem within 25 minutes ... He was charming, very good with the clients and very professional with the professionals."
• "Once again, thank you very much for helping us achieve a decent compromise solution yesterday ... I find your approach as a mediator compares very favourably with many others I've encountered in my career.  You prepare well, for certain, but your preparation is enhanced greatly by your personal, rather informal approach, which puts parties at ease and helps them to see the world through the other side's eyes.  This facilitative approach worked wonderfully yesterday.  Settlement would have been far less likely within the time span we had, if you had not been the mediator." 
• "Please pass on our thanks to Paul. whose professionalism, calmness and expertise engineered a settlement that looked impossible before and for most of the day" 
• "Just a short note to thank you for the tremendous effort. commitment and enthusiasm that you applied together with considerable experience and negotiating skills in achieving a successful outcome of what on any analysis was a very bitter and acrimonious dispute ... Both my client & I were delighted with your efforts during the day and in particular your incisive approach to getting a deal ..." 
• "We thought there was no chance of the dispute being settled at the mediation.  The fact that it did settle, is possibly the best compliment we can make about how you mediated the dispute ... we were very impressed." 
• "We [both opposing leading counsel at the mediation] thought you were outstanding and would definitely recommend you and work with you again." 
• "I thought you handled the mediation very well; your style is gentle and I like the jovial way in which you handled things.  The limited use of joint sessions was a good idea bearing in mind [the other party's] personality and understandable sense of outrage.  You also gave a good impression that you had a perfect understanding of the law/issues, but did not allow that to interfere with the process.  Your lilting Welsh tones are an asset!  Overall ... my mark would be 10/10." 
• [Party 1]  "I liked his laid back approach.  It was very successful.  He was good at diffusing confrontational situations.  At 4.30pm if someone had asked about settlement ... the parties were thoroughly sick of the dispute late Friday evening and Paul managed to harness this negative energy to get a settlement.  Yes, if there were enough at stake I would consider using him again."; [Party 2] "I liked his general style.  I thought he was very good.  He was very calming.  I liked the way he got to know everybody and got everyone talking without them realising they were actually talking!  Counsel & I were pessimistic before the day, we thought there was no hope of actually sorting the matter out.  Paul slowly built up the momentum.  I would certainly consider using him again."; [Party 3] "Took a proactive role in facilitating settlement.  Manner generally very courteous, but tough when needed to be." 
• "We were very impressed with Paul's skills as a mediator.  It was his tenacity that kept the parties negotiating towards settlement.  The parties had been in dispute for many years and it was his determination that kept everyone at the negotiation table.  We believe that without his tenacity the dispute would have continued at considerable cost to both parties.  Paul's affable manner belies his steely determination and intelligence.  I would highly recommend Paul as mediator in even the most difficult disputes." 

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND BACKGROUND

Prior to becoming a full time mediator, Paul was one of the senior commercial litigation partners at Pannone LLP.  During his time as a litigator he undertook a broad range of work: insolvency and corporate recovery; civil and criminal fraud; professional negligence; contractual disputes; shareholder disputes; financial services litigation; partnership disputes; professional disciplinary matters; regulatory matters.

He was mentioned in successive editions of Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in two areas: commercial litigation and insolvency and corporate recovery.  The entries described him as: the 'standout lawyer' in the commercial litigation department of Pannone LLP; a good communicator; tenacious; always well prepared; good team player; a graceful all rounder respected for his acute commercial sense; calm and balanced; easy to comprehend manner; ensures his clients have the necessary information; streetwise and sensible."  

Mediation was part of his practice at Pannone LLP.   In 2006 he left Pannone LLP to pursue a career as a full time mediator, transferred to the Bar and joined Kings Chambers which is considered to be one of the leading barristers chambers in the UK.

 

PANEL MEMBERSHIPS

Bar Council ADR Committee	CEDR Solve
Consensus Mediation	Serle Court Chambers
Sport Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP)

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

Paul and his wife Samantha live in Chester and spend as much time as possible in beautiful West Wales.  His interests are varied.  They range from surviving on a snowboard, music, photography, learning to play the guitar and above all coping with the pleasure and pain of supporting the Wales rugby union team.