Consensus Mediation: Enterprising Dispute Resolution                82 King Street Manchester M2 4WQ               Regent's Place 338 Euston Road London NW1 3BT

Quentin Smith is an independent mediator and a Consultant with a leading firm of solicitors who have offices in the north of England and in London.

Quentin is a CEDR trained, and accredited, Mediator. He has mediated over 300 disputes, across the country, with a success rate of 95%. Mediations can be arranged in Addleshaw's state-of-the-art offices in Manchester, Leeds and London

He is a member of CEDR's teaching faculty and frequently writes, lectures and presents on Mediation. He has made presentations at meetings with insurers, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Commercial Bar, Law Society ( Dublin) Association of Local Authority Solicitors, solicitors' practices, corporate and commercial bodies, ADR Group's AGM,CEDR's forum and conferences.

He has mediated in a wide variety disputes including personal injury, commercial contracts, professional negligence, clinical negligence, partnership, defamation, sport, insurance, discrimination, employment and property.

Specific examples include ...

• Employer's liability personal injury action with a scheduled value of £2.5 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
• Clinical negligence claims eg scheduled at over £2million following brain surgery; fatality; laser surgery
• 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 and national newspapers
• Minority shareholders' disputes including allegations connected with offshore companies, trusts with significant tax implications
• Sport (contracts; transfers; injuries; defamation; refereeing)
• Stress claim within the insurance industry scheduled at over £1million
• Harrassment and a major academic institution
• GP funding within a Primary Care Trust and Strategic Health Authority
• Claim against solicitors over alleged negligent commercial property transactions and business collapse
• Subrogated claim brought by insurers against accountants following fraud prosecution
• Fire insurance incl issues of cover
• Solicitors' and other partnership disputes (doctors; commercial businesses)
• Accountants' negligence claims
• Dispute over PFI contracts and building management systems
• Claims involving mineral extraction, retained rights, disputed boundaries….
• Commercial contracts including Product Liability
• Multiple vehicle accident on motorway including fatality
• Facilitation of consultants' dispute 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: contracts; collapsed buildings; defects; insurance aspects
• Costs claims
• Property transactions

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".

One lawyer commented that "this was the first mediation for the department and I will recommend him to clients in the future". Other lawyers were "very impressed" with Quentin and thought he was "fantastic".

Distinctions ...

ADR Award: "Mediator of the Year 2007".

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..".

Recommended in 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." 2007/8 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."

Professional Background

Graduated in B(Hons)Econ from Manchester University in 1977. Employment in social work and then management before qualification as a Solicitor in January 1988; Articled Clerk, Solicitor and Partner with James Chapman & Co,1985-1996; Partner in Addleshaw Sons & Latham then Addleshaw Booth & Co and then Addleshaw Goddard from 1996 until 2007 specialising in arbitration, insurance litigation, personal injury and professional negligence. Head of Safety, Health and Environment Unit and Chair of Sports Business Group.

Other Experiences/Skills

Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Extensive experience in arts, media and sport including sale of fine art, theatre management and music. Chair of Sale Rugby Football Club (" Sale Sharks").

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