Meet the Expert Mediators at Focus Mediation
Family Mediation Team
Pernilla Hatter LLB
Accredited Family Mediator
Pernilla qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and specialised in family law. Since 2019, she has focused exclusively on family mediation. As an FMC Accredited Mediator, Pernilla provides expert guidance on disputes involving separation, divorce, financial settlements, and children’s arrangements. She believes mediation offers a better alternative to lengthy, costly, and high-conflict court proceedings.
Benefits of working with Pernilla:
- Mediation helps reduce conflict and improves communication.
- It provides a quicker, more cost-effective way to resolve family disputes.
- Keeps focus on what truly matters – your family’s future.
Some of Pernilla's testimonials:
"I would like to recommend Pernilla as a mediator. She was extremely professional and had to deal with some difficult issues during our mediation sessions. She offered great advice and was completely neutral throughout, hence us being able to complete the mediation in 2 sessions."
"My wife and I came to Pernilla after many months of trying to resolve the financial matters of our divorce through solicitors only to sort things out in a couple of sessions. If it wasn't for her help we definitely would have ended up in court resulting in lengthy and costly proceedings. I feel very grateful for all her assistance."
"Very professional, supportive and caring. I was so glad that we chose Pernilla to guide us through our separation and divorce".
Jane Leadbeater LLB
Accredited Family Mediator, Child Inclusive Mediator
Jane has extensive experience, both as a family solicitor and family mediator, in financial settlements and arrangements for children. She has focused solely on mediating since 2018. Jane is an accredited family mediator. She has also done further training to become a child inclusive mediator. This means that Jane is trained and enhanced CRB checked to consult with children, allowing them to share their wishes and feelings in a confidential setting, which helps parents make informed decisions. She believes that mediation can enable families to resolve their issues more cost-effectively, and with less conflict, than through court.
Why mediate?
- Improve communication and reduce conflict and stress
- Reach a resolution more quickly and cost-effectively
Why choose Child Inclusive Mediation?
- Children’s voices are heard in a safe environment.
- Helps parents make better decisions for their children’s future.
- Reduces conflict and improves long-term relationships.
Some of Jane's testimonials:
“Throughout what could have been a very stressful and complex process, your calm and measured approach provided much-needed stability. Your ability to maintain a structured and efficient process allowed us to navigate some very difficult conversations while staying focused on constructive outcomes.
The Memorandum of Understanding and Open Financial Statement you prepared were clear, thorough, and incredibly well-organised, reflecting your attention to detail and your understanding of the nuances of our situation. These documents were a key in helping us reach agreements, and they equipped us with the necessary tools for future legal processes.
Your professionalism and empathetic manner gave a safe and neutral environment for both parties. I truly appreciated how you balanced efficiency with care, ensuring all issues were addressed while making the process as smooth as possible.
I would gladly recommend your services to anyone seeking a mediator who is both highly skilled, and deeply committed to supporting clients through challenging times.
Thank you again for all your support.”
“ Jane thank you, I feel mediation has been a great help & lifted a huge weight.”
Mary Banham-Hall LLB FMCA
Family Mediator, Collaborative Family Lawyer, Founder of Focus Mediation
Mary, a seasoned mediator since 1999, is now retired but remains a consultant at Focus Mediation. She’s also the author of ‘Love Lose Live – Divorce is a Rollercoaster’, which provides insights into avoiding contentious divorces. Mary has long advocated for embedding mediation within court proceedings, helping parties settle disputes earlier and avoid the stress, costs, and delays of court.
Civil and Commercial Mediation Team
Jean McDougall
Commercial Mediator
With a strong background in human resources, Jean has mediated in local and international recruitment, business development, and various commercial disputes. Her extensive experience across industries makes her a highly successful mediator, with a strong track record in dispute resolution.
Jean founded the Human Resource Educational Trust, which offers the internationally recognised Recruitment Practice Diploma. She is also a member of the Institute of Directors. She has over 30 years’ experience in personnel and recruitment, including 20 years in the serviced office sector and 12 years in the relocation industry. Jean’s extensive experience contributes to her high success rate as an accredited ADR mediator.
Specialisms:
- Personnel and recruitment issues
- Commercial contract disputes
- Workplace conflicts
Aileen McDonald
Commercial Mediator
Aileen combines her experience as a corporate lawyer and psychotherapist to offer a unique perspective in commercial mediation. Her deep understanding of both the legal and personal aspects of disputes makes her highly effective in resolving complex issues between individuals and companies.
Dave Owen
Commercial Mediator
With over 30 years of experience in property development and investment, Dave’s expertise helps clients resolve property-related disputes. He understands the value of time and money in business, and his mediation approach ensures that disputes are resolved without unnecessary costs.
Lawrence Harrison
Commercial Mediator
Lawrence has more than 20 years’ experience in media law and now focuses on resolving disputes in entertainment, media, and creative industries. His calm and efficient approach ensures that clients achieve cost-effective resolutions without going to court.
Clive Douglas
Commercial Mediator
With over 35 years as a solicitor in commercial law, Clive specialises in disputes related to pharmaceuticals, intellectual property, and property law. His experience in corporate transactions and business contracts allows him to mediate complex disputes effectively.
Jonathan Lux
Commercial Mediator
Jonathan has over 33 years of experience as a solicitor and mediator in maritime and commercial law. His expertise in both mediation and arbitration has made him a sought-after professional in complex international disputes.
He has lectured widely and written numerous articles on the subject of mediation, and is co-author of ADR and Commercial Disputes. Jonathan was awarded Global Shipping & Maritime Lawyer of the Year for both 2010 and 2011 by Who’s Who Legal. In December 2011 he featured in Lloyd’s List of Top Ten Legal Personalities and was a finalist for the Lloyd’s List global Shipping & Maritime Lawyer of the Year award 2012.
MacDonald Mopho
Commercial Mediator
With a legal background and more than 20 years of experience, MacDonald Mopho is a seasoned contract and construction mediator. A CEDR accredited mediator since 2001, MacDonald offers expert mediation services for complex commercial disputes.
Professional qualifications:
- CEDR Accredited Mediator since 2001
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Specialises in contract and construction disputes
Why work with MacDonald?
- Over 20 years of experience in commercial disputes
- Strong background in legal practice and consultancy
Specialises in resolving complex contract and construction issues
Nasreen Akhter
Commercial Mediator
Nasreen, an accredited civil and commercial mediator, specialises in contested probate and family matters. Her focused and straightforward mediation style helps clients reach solutions without resorting to court.
Nasreen is proficient in communicating in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi.
For more information or to book a mediation session with one of our expert mediators, contact us.