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stephen-ritchie

Mediation and Arbitration Profile

STEPHEN RITCHIE

Year of Call: 1978

Areas of Mediation

Civil
Commercial
Employment
Debt
Family

Biography

I have been in practice as a barrister since 1978 with experience in all areas of litigation. I am a member of the Bar Council and of the Advocacy Training Board.

As Chair of the Bar Council Mediation Steering Group I have been involved in the setting up and publicising of the Barrister Mediation Service [BMS]. We have arranged a pilot scheme with Citizens Advice Bureau and are endeavouring through ‘roadshows’ to educate solicitors and expand the use of barristers as mediators amongst them and the public at large.

Having been involved in mediations in the employment and commercial fields I recently completed a family mediation course and am a convert to its effectiveness in resolving what may first appear to be intractable disputes.

Informing the public, practitioners and government of its advantages and how it should work is an important next step in the development of BMS. It is not just about saving the parties the costs of litigation, mediation of a dispute is also capable of maintaining relationships and resolving issues peripheral to the main argument.

Qualifications

Chairman of the Bar Council Mediation Steering Group 2012 – date

QUB/SLS Mediation Course 2004.

Mediation, Negotiation and Mediation Advocacy provided by Core Solutions October 2011 with assessment in January 2012.

Family Mediation course provided by QuEST August 2013 with assessment in September 2013.

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