Andrew Paton

Andrew was accredited by ADR Net in 1990 and by CEDR in 1993. He has mediated in excess of 1200 cases. This has included more recently many mediations conducted online. Whilst with Pinsent Masons he took on 60 cases per year. He is a former director of ADR Net Ltd; founder member of PIM (Senior Mediators), was Chairman of the Association of Midland Mediators for 12 years ending in 2012 and served on the CEDR training faculty from 1993 to 2005.

Listed in the top tiers of both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. Listed in the international directory, Who’s Who Legal: Mediation.

From initial appointment through to the final resolution (whether at or after the mediation itself) Andrew is “totally engaged” with the process. He brings with him conspicuous energy and enthusiasm and also has a sense of humour that, when appropriate, can be used to get past obstacles standing in the way of progress.

Andrew features in the top bands of both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. The current editions of the directories state:

Legal 500 2021

Andrew Paton is ‘a master of his craft, who helps parties get deals done‘, he joined Independent Mediators as a full-time mediator in 2016; previously he worked as a mediator through Pinsent Masons LLP while practising as a solicitor. He is ‘one of the longest serving and most experienced mediators on the circuit, and his experience shows in the way he is able to cope with challenging situations and chart a way through them. He is very thorough but never loses sight of the wood for the trees – he keeps the parties focused on the bottom line‘. Paton has mediated over 1145 matters to date, with over half of his mediations in 2019 involving professional negligence claims relating to solicitors, accountants, financial advisers, insurance brokers, architects and other construction professionals.

Chambers & Partners 2021

Andrew Paton of Independent Mediators is an expert mediator with a wealth of experience in professional negligence disputes. He is also experienced in insolvency, partnership and employment cases. “Andrew is so effective. He gets to core issues very quickly and is very proactive.” “He is measured and empathetic while also being constructively engaging and challenging.”

Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2021

Listed as one of the World’s top mediators in this International Directory. Andrew Paton “knows the field back to front”. He brings a “confident and highly competent approach in order to get the job done.” Andrew is “a favourite mediator” with a wealth of experience in professional indemnity disputes. Respondents note: “He always gets it done.”

“I thought Andrew did a good job. He was sufficiently serious and focussed around the issues but did bring a well needed sense of humour to, what was essentially a mediation about rat poo. As a Brummie, I would certainly recommend Andrew to others in my firm. His involvement assisted the process..”

“Obviously a very experienced mediator, Andrew kept the process going and skilfully helped both parties move to a settlement they could live with.”

“Andrew is an excellent Mediator who has with me a 100% record. He is very fair.

“Andrew is highly regarded and his skills as a mediator are second to none. He kept the process moving and did so in a professional and friendly manner. His experience enabled him to keep the parties actively engaged in the mediation process throughout.”

“Proof of the pudding..Andrew gently achieved a (thus far) successful conclusion to a very hard long drawn out matter.”

“Andrew was adept at getting the parties to move towards settlement quickly. He cajoled where necessary and called parties on their cases/positions as necessary.”

Andrew joined Pinsent & Co (now Pinsent Masons) in 1981 as a newly qualified solicitor at their Birmingham office and became a partner in 1986. Andrew initially had a fairly general practice incorporating property, construction and general commercial litigation before developing an interest in professional indemnity insurance. He took over management of the Insurance Litigation Group at his firm in 1995 continuing through to 2003 when he moved to an in-house role being responsible for dealing with claims and complaints and handling all professional indemnity insurance matters. Andrew retired from Pinsent Masons in April 2016.

Talks and Training Andrew has given include:

Closely involved in training mediators and lawyers as a member of CEDR’s training faculty from 1993 to 2003. Andrew speaks regularly on mediation topics. He also provides training courses in preparation and presentation at mediations. He has trained lawyers, business people and other professionals in mediation skills and in the skills of using mediation effectively for their own disputes. He also conducts training in-house for law firms, insurance companies and others.

Books/articles:

Author of many articles on ADR and speaker at conferences including, most recently, The Solicitors’ Claims Conference at Clyde & Co.

In his spare time Andrew enjoys dinghy racing, cycling, walking and riding his motorbike.