Quentin Smith, Mediator, Mediation and Mediate

Quentin is a CEDR trained, and accredited, Mediator. He has mediated over 500 disputes, across the country, with a success rate over 90%. Mediations can be arranged in Addleshaw Goddard's state-of-the-art offices in Manchester, Leeds and London, or elsewhere.

Listed in Band 1 of Chambers for year 2013 and in Top 16 of Legal 500 UK for year 2012.

Winner of the "Mediation Achiever of the Year" category at the Personal Injury Awards 2012 ceremony.

He frequently writes, lectures and presents on Mediation. He has made presentations at meetings with insurers, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Commercial Bar, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, In-House Employment Lawyers' Network, Law Society (UK and Dublin), Association of Local Authority Solicitors, solicitors' practices, corporate and commercial bodies, ADR Group's AGM, CEDR’s forum and conferences and CIArb's Mediation Symposium 2009.

Member of Panel: "Resolving Commercial Disputes" (joint venture between Institute of Chartered Accountants and ADR Group).

He has mediated in a wide variety of disputes including:

banking
clinical negligence
commercial contracts
construction
corporate
defamation
discrimination
employment
inheritance / estate / intestacy
insurance
intellectual property
partnership
personal injury
professional negligence
property
sport

Specific examples include:

Employer's liability personal injury action with a scheduled value of £8.5 million, liability, causation and quantum in dispute
Partnership dispute with large GP practice facing dissolution and the sale of £500,000 property with negative equity
Multi-million pound intellectual property dispute involving passing-off and trademark infringement
Wide variety of personal injury and fatal accident claims including train and air crashes
Clinical negligence claims (incl brain surgery; fatality; laser surgery; incorrect diagnoses; hospital infection)
Banking disputes (incl claim scheduled at £26m)
Defamation arising from radio broadcast with 11 claimants
Defamation involving libel and slander between senior professionals
Defamation re police investigation of child abuse and media coverage
Defamation involving national newspapers; broadcasters; internet
Minority shareholders' disputes including allegations connected with offshore companies, trusts with significant tax implications
Shareholder / Company Valuation disputes over £50m
Sport (contracts; transfers; injuries; defamation; refereeing) including Premiership footballers; inter-club disputes; managers personal injury; administration
Stress claim within the insurance industry scheduled at over £1million
Harrassment/Discrimination/Victimisation (academic institutions, health and local authorities)
GP funding within a Primary Care Trust and Strategic Health Authority
Claims against solicitors (eg commercial property transactions; business collapses; tax issues)
Subrogated claim brought by insurers against accountants following fraud prosecution
Fire insurance incl issues of cover
Solicitors' and other partnership disputes (doctors; commercial; family businesses)
Accountants' negligence claims including £100m tax dispute; trust funds; offshore arrangements
Dispute over PFI contracts and building management systems
Claims involving mineral extraction, retained rights, disputed boundaries....
Commercial contracts including breaches or warranties; product liability
Multiple vehicle accidents on motorway including fatalities, spinal and brain injuries, disputes between insurers
Facilitation of consultants' disputes with NHS Trust
Employment incl discrimination; "whistleblowing"; dismissals; stress
6 Claimant stress claim against a local authority
Probate (Inheritance claims; admin of estates; prof negl)
Construction disputes contracts; collapsed buildings; defects; architects' and surveyors' negligence claims; insurance aspects
Costs claims
Property transactions and planning issues
Motor accident claim scheduled at over £14m
Police (whistle-blowing, defamation, injuries)
Group actions involving hearing loss; flooding; clinical negligence

Some feedback includes:

"...clearly very experienced and we had full confidence in him "

" Successfully facilitated a satisfactory settlement in a case with a very emotional Claimant where the parties were, initially, a long way apart "

"…made several important breakthroughs; would recommend him; very professional "

" Quentin really got the parties to open-up from entrenched positions. He got a fair result "

"…as a result of Quentin's calm determination and refusal to give up, terms were eventually agreed."

" Handled the case intelligently and with refreshing deftness "

He is described as "supportive and helpful". He "created and maintained a relaxed environment which was crucial to the success of the mediation".

Distinctions

ADR Group Award: "Mediator of the Year 2007".

Chambers Guide UK 2013:
One of the "Top Ranked Leading Individuals of the Year" in his field.

Directories

Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession:

Recommended in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession 2001/2 as a leader in alternative dispute resolution, he is described as winning "plaudits from practitioners across the country" and "young, earnest and clearly one to watch".

2002/3 edition: "energetic and persuasive" with a useful ability to "tune into what people want". Commentators say that "he thoroughly deserves the hype" and consider him a "growing player and future star".

2003/4 edition: "a rising star" and "a hard-working mediator able to pick up difficult issues quickly."

Ranked in the top 25, in the 2004/5 edition, " he retains a prominent position in the market".

Ranked in the top 18 in the 2005/6 edition, "… has acquired an excellent reputation. Clients and peers alike praise his assured touch, and his understanding of the mediation process. His practice has experienced exponential growth over the past twelve months."

In the 2006/7 edition…"assertive" approach lends itself well to the mediation process, according to clients, who say that he controls the process well….establishes a good rapport with clients from the outset….involved in a number of sensitive media and defamation cases and regularly deals with commercial disputes, reinsurance, pensions, employment and personal injury…mediates regularly and is appointed in high-profile, multiparty mediations."

Highly recommended in the 2008 edition: "…decision in early 2007 to mediate independently of Addleshaw Goddard while retaining a consultancy position has been well received by a marketplace whose members anticipate great success for him. Peers are full of praise for his "charming manner" and envy his ability to "win the trust of both sides; he can get through to people on a human level." His profile continues to grow throughout the country..".

2009 edition: "The name that keeps coming up right now", and "a good operator." His continuing success is attributed to his ability to "encourage parties to look at the bigger picture."

2010 edition: Listed in the Top 14 (Band 1) Mediators: “ an increasingly familiar face in complex mediations. He "really drives the other side to a bargain"......"he stands out because he not only sees the big picture, but he also gets into the nitty-gritty detail."”

2011 edition: Band 1: “...another fantastic year. "He's very pragmatic and very practical, but also very creative – he makes things happen," say sources”

2012 edition: Band 1: "... charismatic, personable and down-to-earth" with an "agile mind". Smith "understands the issues and knows how to adapt to different personalities to get the best from them"

2013 Edition: Band 1: Sources say Smith's "likeable manner and understanding of the issues" proves "highly effective." Impressed solicitors note his "speed in getting to grips with the key issues" and aptitude for "exploring every avenue he can think of to bring parties closer together." "Fantastic at building rapport and creating a positive atmosphere for parties to negotiate".

Legal 500:

Recommended in the 2005 edition of Legal 500: " thoughtful and very bright ".

2006 edition: "….is a veteran of some 200 mediations and remains prolific despite the pressures of a private litigation practice. He is popular with clients who appreciate his sense of humour, 'assured touch', and 'no-nonsense' manner. With a success rate of over 95% and wide-ranging contacts, Smith and his 'tough facilitator' style are fast gaining ground."

2007 edition: "…increasingly prolific….mediates a wide range of disputes…..regarded as an ‘activist’, he pushes parties hard in mediations and an astonishing settlement rate is testament to the success of his approach."

Ranked in the Top 30 in the 2008 edition, Quentin is described as "An instinctive and shrewd negotiator, his friendly, easy-going style quickly builds trust and confidence. His analysis is 'spot-on' and he identifies and tackles the issues 'head on'. His persistence in seeking the deal on occasion goes well beyond the call of duty".

Again ranked in the Top 30 in the 2009 edition, “Quentin Smith has a well-honed, highly effective style. While ‘convivial’ and ‘self-deprecating’, he is considered ‘hugely clever, a skilled and intuitive negotiator’, and a ‘tireless worker’. ‘A good operator’, and ‘generous with his time’, he has ‘a clever way of bringing parties to settlement’ which rarely fails.”

In the 2010 edition Quentin is ranked in the Top 15, "... blends professional experience with impressive personal qualities, and a noted commitment to ‘thorough preparation'. Winning trust through ‘concrete knowledge of the issues', Smith ‘excels at building rapport', maintaining an enviable settlement rate in what clients describe as ‘complex' ‘intractable' and ‘multiparty disputes'."

Ranked in the Top 16 in the 2011 Edition: "(Quentin) has built up a very strong following in the market. He is noted for his impeccable professional expertise and thorough preparation, which helps him win the trust of the disputing parties and has maintained a very impressive settlement rate".

2012 Edition: Ranked in the Top 16: “A magnificent mediator” and “certainly the best in the North West”. “Top-class”. “He never loses sight of the end goal, and will continue to strive to achieve a successful outcome even when it may appear a lost cause”. “He brings an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm to mediations”.