"Don't cross a bridge, even a stone one, until you have tested it"  (Korean proverb).

 

Our mediators' feedback


 

Martin Plowman

 

Feedback received from clients or representatives attending a mediation: 

 

''Martin Plowman was totally excellent - we could not have secured a better mediator''.

''Martin leads the way in offering a first class mediation service. He is knowledgeable and commercial, and I cannot recommend him highly enough''.

''We felt we must thank you personally for the utmost attention and help which you provided and we are sure that your influence and charisma was a great part in securing a settlement to bring an end to what has been a most difficult time and we are extremely grateful''.

''Martin is excellent and the best mediator I have used. He knows the law to guide the parties as necessary, but also brokers useful discussions where they help, and is brilliant at bringing disputes to a sensible end''.

"Martin is head and shoulders over other mediators working at the moment".

"Our first experience of Mediation.  We were apprehensive about the process but Mr Plowman put us at ease and handled the mnatter in an exemplary manner".

''I have no hesitation in recommending Martin to clients. His patient, realistic and commercial approach inspires confidence. Extremely effective''.

"Martin Plowman did a fantastic job of managing a difficult claimant and resolving what looked to be an unsettleable claim. 5 stars!"

"Thank you for an exceptional service - the mediation was enjoyable as well as extremely professional".

''Martin Plowman is amazing at what he does.  All other legal services feel like a cost - this feels like an investment''.

''Martin was courteous, professional and perceptive. We would recommend him to all our contacts''.

"Martin Plowman is amazingly skilful.  I would use him again without hesitation".

''On the day we knew very quickly that we had the right mediator''.

''The mediator was Martin Plowman of mediation-1st. He did a truly outstanding job in resolving a very difficult dispute and I have no hesitation in recommending his services to all of you should you need a good mediator for the future. I also found him very easy to work with, with a very good manner in handling the clients''.

"I can tell you that your straightforward, considered and understated approach gave great confidence to my client".

''Mr Plowman was excellent, one of the best mediators I have worked with. He was calm, pleasant, very commercially aware and had sufficient clout to facilitate a settlement in a multiparty action where the parties had fairly entrenched positions".

"Matin Plowman's reputation is well deserved. An excellent mediator. It is a credit to his dedication and patience that a settlement was reached on the day in difficult circumstances where one party was unrepresented".

"I cannot fault Martin Plowman or the service. Martin managed an extremely emotional dispute calmly and professionally and he will be my first port of call in the future".

''I would like to put on record my gratitude for the superb job that you did bringing this very difficult matter to a conclusion. I have done a number of mediations and rank you with the best. I would have no hesitation in recommending you in the future''.

''First class mediator and incredible value for money to bring a protracted claim to a conclusion''.

''Thank you so much for your measured interventions. You succeeded in moving the parties from a position of total intransigence to compromise. Excellent result''.

"Martin did an amazing job. We did not expect to settle, but we did and the result was excellent".

''Martin's input was critical to my clients obtaining an acceptable settlement. The service he provides is second to none in the Eastern Region and, I would speculate, far beyond''.

''Martin Plowman is one of the best mediators around. He gets to grips rapidly with the issues and keeps everyone focused on the commercial reality of the case ending up at trial''.

''Mr Plowman was excellent in every way. We will definitely be using him again''."

The mediator, Martin Plowman, was first class.  His mediation skills assisted the parties in settling the unsettlable.   He also stayed with the parties until midnight on the day of mediation until the deal was concluded.  I would use Mr Plowman again without hesitation and also recommend to others".

"I can tell you that your straightforward, considered and understated approach gave great confidence to my client".

''To say that you are a ''go the extra mile'' person is an understatement. You slightly misstate the position when you say at the outset that it doesn't matter to you if the parties reach an agreement, because you actually convey unequivocally to the parties how much you care about the process and getting the parties to see sense. That is a rare commodity even among mediators these days. Quite a few of the big name mediators wholeheartedly still believe in the process but have lost the zest for individual mediations because they have done so many. You are exceptional because you have the experience of having done so many mediations and yet you have not become jaded by the experience''.

''In a society that is plunged in turmoil and disagreement it provided great relief and comfort to witness your skills and diplomacy in focusing straight on and resolving the problem. Your professional services provided a panacea to conflict''.

''Martin Plowman was first class as ever. He is the best mediator in this area and always our first choice''.

''Excellent service, especially as I was a litigant in person, Mr Plowman took time to explain the legal minutiae and how this would affect the claim and any settlement''.

''He was very professional and yet human''.

''I was amazed at what you were able to achieve''.

''Thank you for the settlement expertly achieved. It was an impressive alternative to the full Monty and I will certainly recommend you and mediation-1st ''.

''Your commitment and unsparing work to find a solution acceptable to both was most impressive''.

''Martin Plowman at mediation-1st is a first rate mediator. He is well briefed and courteous to lay and professional clients alike. He has a commanding yet warm manner with clients and they feel content at the end of the process that they have taken ownership of the settlement''.

''Please accept our sincere thanks for all your help yesterday - whilst it's not the most fun afternoon any of us have had for a while (!) it was a pleasure to deal with such a professional and helpful communicator''.

''I felt Mr Plowman was very professional. He made me feel at ease. Although the result was not quite what I wanted, I felt Mr Plowman was first rate. I would recommend him to anyone''.

''We were filled with admiration for your skill and resourcefulness, human understanding and basically your brilliant handling of what appeared a very thorny situation for us''.

''We still talk about the mediation and your diplomacy and humour in dealing with a very difficult and emotional situation''.

''You were so calm and reassuring and I was amazed at the outcome. I feel as though you did the very best on my behalf, I couldn't have asked for more''.

''Martin was superb. My client was extremely happy with the result''.

''I have seen a good number of mediators in action over the last 10 years or so and thought you demonstrated great skill and patience and was very impressed by your handling of this dispute''.

''There is nothing to improve upon. Martin is an excellent mediator. My clients were very impressed with Martin as was I''.

''It was heartening that we were able to resolve this dispute so successfully. I know that the process, and particularly the way in which you conducted the mediation, made the whole experience less painful for my lay client that would otherwise have been the case''.

''...we were made to feel relaxed and at ease whilst talking with you, which is great considering we were a little daunted by the whole situation''.

''Many thanks again for your considerable input yesterday in bringing this difficult and unfortunate case to a satisfactory conclusion. As ever your patience was rewarded!''

''Thank you for your efforts in reaching a settlement. I viewed this case as particularly difficult and was not at all optimistic about the outcome''.

''Many thanks for your help yesterday. I was particularly impressed that we never seemed to be leaned on''.

''Your sympathetic and professional approach was much appreciated. I never thought this could have been resolved. This I can only put down to your experience of similar disputes''.

"Martin managed to help us achieve a sensible commercial settlement in a case fraught with emotion and animosity between the parties. He remains my 'go to' mediator".

''We sincerely hope (this is meant in the nicest possible way) that we don't have to meet again, but should we find ourselves in a similar position in the future we would have no hesitation in acquiring your very professional services''.

''May I take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent mediation in what was undoubtedly a difficult case. We were both delighted with the result''.

''Thank you very much for making what seemed a tricky challenge if not exactly ''easy'' then certainly relatively pain free...and above all, done! Both of us very much appreciated not just your professional expertise - the place was positively oozing with it - but your kindness and patience''.

''I thought you did an outstanding job in helping to resolve a very difficult dispute, taking into account the number of complex legal issues, the extent of personal feeling involved between the parties and the significant sums issue. I found your approach throughout the day to be highly constructive and you dealt with the personalities involved very skilfully. I would have no hesitation in recommending you''.

''We would like to thank you for negotiating an efficient out of court settlement...[your fee] was a small sum of money to pay for such a flawless service from initial contact right through to completion''.

''The sum of money involved in our claim must appear trivial compared to some disputes you must have handled in the past, yet the proceedings were handled almost oblivious to the actual value but rather more importantly to the fairness to the parties involved''.

''Yours is an excellent service and the first bill I have ever been happy to pay''.

''Your cool and quiet manner poured oil on much troubled water, which has simmered for some 18 months, and at times nearly boiled over''.

''I found the mediation to be a very positive experience''.

''We both felt the way you went about things, the complete sense of ''fair play'' (wow is that sadly lacking in today's society!), professionalism and empathy were faultless. Thank you''.

''You can't imagine how I was dreading the day but now feel so relieved that we can move on after your tactful resolution of the situation''.

''I am convinced that without your skills as a Mediator this unfortunate dispute would still be running on unresolved''.

"I am amazed this case settled - largely down to Martin.   Thanks!'

"Martin managed to mediate a settlement in a case which my clients thought was inevitably bound for court....by far the best mediator I have used".

''Let me tender thanks for your help and great patience on Monday; without them the settlement (which very pleasantly surprised me) certainly would not have been achieved''.

''We are astonished at the miracle you worked...[your fee] is a small reward for your skill and patience - and extra hours!''

"I thought that Martin Plowman did a very good job in difficult and to a degree hostile circumstances. My clients are very happy with the result".

"Both my client and I were very impressed with Mr Plowman. He was very clear in his explanations and very fair and impartial.  My client (defendant) was very satisfied with the outcome. Thank you."

''If you want to get a dispute resolved, the best money you will spend is on Martin's services''.

''Difficult to see how Martin's services can be improved. Excellent''.

''We can't leave you without expressing our thanks and admiration once again for the manner in which you have conducted this case. We have learned a lot about the law, but we have also learned something about how to conduct disputes, and work towards a peaceful resolution. We have been on your website and seen the accolades from satisfied customers. You probably don't need any more, but we would like to put our names at the bottom and say, ''All of the above are true''

''Many many thanks to Martin Plowman!!''

 

Feedback received from an independent mediator after observing Martin mediate:

  

"I was reflecting on [the mediation in which I observed you] and in particular it struck me that you seem to have an intuitive sense of where people might move to.

The contrast with the other mediator I observed recently was remarkable in that respect.

This skill plus the fact that you are constantly able to understand issues by your wide and quick recall of law - which you wear lightly and simply use to inform yourself and direct the mediation, never to advise - puts you in a pretty unique position.   

I feel quite priviliged to see you in action".  

 

David Richards

 

"I can't thank you enough for all the hard work you have put into this situation.  I am very happy with the way you have handled this".
 
"The whole process of setting up the meeting and Dave Richards' skill in communicating between us at the session was very good.  His insightful comments, gentle suggestions and explanations of the bigger picture of the legal process, enabled our understanding/perspective to negotiate with the defendant and to come to a settlement".
 
"Thanks for everything Dave.  I've learned a valuable lesson in life, in business, and in friends".

 

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