Kate Jackson

Qualified as a lawyer both in England & Wales and also in New York, Kate has been a CEDR accredited mediator since 2005 and has successfully mediated disputes in a variety of commercial sectors including banking, general commercial, insurance, intellectual property, employment, private client, public sector, real estate and professional negligence. This has included more recently many mediations conducted online.

Kate has over 25 years of dispute resolution experience, previously practising as a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer in both London (with Allen & Overy LLP) and in New York (with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP). She has also spent two periods working as a lawyer in investment banks, a six month secondment to Morgan Stanley’s New York in-house Institutional Securities litigation team in 2000 and two months with Barclays’ Corporate and Investment Banking litigation team in 2012.

Kate is experienced in handling high value, high profile disputes and is able to understand new and complex cases quickly. Her clients have ranged from large public and international companies, where Kate is used to dealing at CEO and board level, to individuals with personal grievances. Kate is commercial, innovative and numerate.

Kate is listed as a leading mediator in the current editions of The Legal 500 (Band 1), Chambers and Partners Directory (Band 1) and in 2017 was selected to feature within the list of the 5 ‘Most Highly Regarded Individuals’ in England in International Directory Who’s Who Legal: Commercial Mediation 2017. The same directory also featured her in their list of Thought Leaders in Mediation.

In addition to her commercial mediation practice, Kate is also an active member of the Approved panel of mediators for the London Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and has been appointed to the Court of Appeal Mediator Panel.

“Extraordinarily good”, Kate “engenders immediate trust and confidence, with her gentle listening skills and robust handling of challenging issues”. Kate can “master her brief in a very complicated matter with real speed” and her “understated dexterity and tenacity” and “in-depth knowledge of the law is a huge advantage”, enabling her to settle cases “that at first seem impossible to settle”. She works with “dogged determination” and “with good humour and a wonderful, relaxed manner”.

She uses her “demonstrable legal and commercial capability to bridge the gulf between the parties”. “Kate Jackson has everything you need in a mediator- a swift and comprehensive grasp of the facts and issues, efficient but charming management of the process, a great manner with lay clients and a highly practical and commercial focus on a resolution”. “Kate has both the technical expertise required to understand the legal issues in play as well as an incredibly intuitive approach to dealing with the parties’ respective requirements for achieving a successful outcome”. Described frequently as “calm and firm” with a “pragmatic approach”, Kate is also noted for “maintaining the momentum” in the mediation process.

Kate is listed in the top bands of the current editions of The Legal 500 and the Chambers and Partners.

Legal 500

Kate is ‘One of the very best mediators around‘, ‘she quickly gains the trust of parties with her friendly approach. Her calm manner, keen intellect and common-sense pragmatism, mixed with quiet steeliness (when necessary), help resolve disputes that appear intractable‘. Qualified as a lawyer both in England & Wales and New York, Jackson recently mediated over 40 high-value, complex commercial mediations, including multi-party and multi-day mediations. In addition to her thriving commercial mediation practice, Jackson mediates specialist areas, such as media, sports, art, aviation, trusts and online gambling; and of the cases that she mediated in 2022/23, the claim values ranged from hundreds of thousands of pounds to £800m. [Legal 500 2024, Band 1]

Kate qualified as a lawyer both in England and Wales, and New York. Kate ‘displays all the hallmarks required of a first-rate mediator – knows when to listen, when to interject, when to offer guidance/reassurance, and when to leave the parties to make their own choices, while maintaining impartiality‘. A full-time mediator since 2009, ex-Magic Circle litigator Jackson is experienced in mediating high-value, high-profile disputes for large public and international companies, as well as individuals with personal grievances. [Legal 500 2023, Band 1]

Working full time as a mediator since 2009, Kate joined Independent Mediators in 2015. She is described as ‘a fantastic mediator, who is calm, pragmatic and thoughtful‘. Qualified as a lawyer both in England and Wales, and New York, ex-Magic Circle litigator Jackson is experienced in handling high-value, high-profile disputes; and her clients range from large public and international companies to individuals with personal grievances. [Legal 500 2022, Band 1]

Kate Jackson is ‘phenomenally knowledgeable and thinks of everything‘, is appointed in approximately 50-55 high-value, complex commercial mediations a year. Others note that she is ‘very well prepared and able to push both sides on their cases; she proposes considered alternatives and keeps pushing for a resolution. In short, she is exactly what parties look for in a mediator‘. [Legal 500 2021, Band 1]

Kate Jackson ‘establishes gravitas immediately and fosters confidence – the parties know that they are getting informed interaction and this is what really sets her apart’. Jackson has been accredited as a mediator since 2005 and is appointed in over 50 high-value, complex commercial mediations each year. Qualified as a lawyer both in England and Wales and New York, Jackson has successfully mediated disputes in a variety of commercial sectors, including banking, general commercial, insurance, IP, employment, private client, public sector, real estate and professional negligence. Jackson’s clients range from large public and international companies to individuals with personal grievances. [Legal 500 2020, Band 1]

Chambers & Partners

Kate Jackson is a  pre-eminent mediator with foremost abilities in financial service sector cases, where she leverages her experience working in investment banks. She is also strong in insurance and professional negligence matters. “I learn from Kate during mediations. What’s most impressive is how extremely good she is at calming parties to keep them willing to negotiate. She doesn’t pull any punches and is frank and stands her ground. She’s persistent and ensures we’re committed to the deal, keeping it moving and reaching a settlement.” “She’s a great mediator. The clients warm to Kate – she’s clear and concise and really reads the room, which helps.” “Kate approaches all of our mediations with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity. She works tirelessly to help bring the most intransigent defendants to the negotiating table.” “Kate is extremely approachable and considerate of the parties. She has an ability to get the job done efficiently but also sympathetically, which is a real skill.” [Chambers and Partners 2024, Band 1]

Kate Jackson is a pre-eminent mediator with foremost abilities in financial service sector cases, where she leverages her experience working in investment banks. She is also strong in insurance and professional negligence matters. “She’s great with the clients and is a calm mediator.” “She is a consummate professional.” [Chambers and Partners 2023, Band 1]

Kate Jackson of Independent Mediators is a pre-eminent mediator with foremost abilities in financial service sector cases, where she leverages her experience working in investment banks. She is also strong in insurance and professional negligence matters.
“Kate is an incredibly level-headed, calm and commercial mediator.” “She kept her eye on the ball and was very good at directing the discussion towards a settlement.” [Chambers and Partners 2022, Band 1]

Kate Jackson Kate Jackson of Independent Mediators is a pre-eminent mediator with foremost abilities in financial service sector cases, where she leverages her experience working in investment banks. She is also strong in insurance and professional negligence matters. “Kate is a really top-notch mediator; she has a very good manner with clients and can get to the heart of issues.” “She is a first-class, absolutely brilliant mediator.” [Chambers and Partners 2021, Band 1]

Kate Jackson is applauded by interviewees for her “determined, smart and very astute” approach to mediation. Her first-class practice demonstrates expertise in financial services, insurance and professional negligence disputes, among others, and is appointed both domestically and internationally. One source reports: “Kate was fantastic to deal with and always very helpful.” [Chambers and Partners 2020, Band 1]

Who’s Who Legal: Mediation

Kate Jackson is listed as one of the World’s top mediators in this International Directory.

Kate is commended for her “excellent manner and communication skills” that make it “easy to strike up a rapport with her”. [Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2022]

Kate “has developed an outstanding reputation in the field” and “she has a very effective approach and mediation style.” [Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2021]

She is recognised as a leading figure in complex disputes and is a successful commercial and corporate mediator. Sources celebrate Kate’s “exceptional approach to mediations” and ability to successfully mediate disputes across a wide range of commercial sectors. [Who’s Who Legal: Mediation 2020]

The following quotes are from parties Kate has recently mediated with:

‘With [her] calm and capable manner and an informal and inclusive style of dealing with parties in dispute [she] facilitated and advanced discussions between the parties even when emotions were running high. At short notice [she was] fully across the complex legal issues and used [her] demonstrable legal and commercial capability to bridge the gulf between the parties.’

‘Kate has a rare combination of talents: compassion and attentiveness to the needs of individuals in the room, combined with laser-like clarity. She engenders immediate trust and confidence, with her gentle listening skills and robust handling of challenging issues. She is a highly accomplished and skilful mediator.’

‘I cannot speak highly enough of Kate. She worked diligently to get over obstacles that were put in the way of a mediation that our opponents cancelled twice. She showed dogged determination and on the day she kept going with good humour and a wonderful, relaxed manner. My client thought she was excellent and it helped that she got a deal none of us expected. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Kate.’

‘Kate Jackson had everything you need in a mediator- a swift and comprehensive grasp of the facts and issues, efficient but charming management of the process, a great manner with lay clients and a highly practical and commercial focus on a resolution.’

‘In a difficult and combustible mediation, Kate proved a calming and measured influence. Kate endeavoured to look beyond the histrionics and personalities to work towards a commercial solution that was in everyone’s benefit. Without her skilfulness, it is highly likely the mediation would have lasted all of 5 minutes. We definitely recommend Kate.’

‘Kate was probably the best mediator we have come across. We would definitely use her again.’

‘Kate was extraordinarily good. She concluded a settlement which I never considered possible…She also managed to master her brief in a very complicated matter with real speed.’

‘Kate maintained a calm attitude even when the mediation scenario got intense. Her in-depth knowledge of the law was a huge advantage to the parties which helped the case settle with both sides satisfied.’

‘Kate’s understated dexterity and tenacity in bridging a seemingly unbridgeable rift between the parties triumphed and resulted in a well balanced settlement which neither party had truly felt to be possible and all in the space of just one day of determined mediation.’

‘Kate was highly professional throughout the mediation process. She has an excellent manner with the parties – she listens with empathy and consideration, yet concisely summarises the position and focuses the parties on the pertinent issues. I would definitely recommend Kate and would instruct her again.’

‘My client and I were very impressed by the way in which the mediation was conducted. Despite a big gap between the parties at the outset, and aggressive tactics from the other side, we managed to achieve a resolution, against the odds.’

‘Kate Jackson proved to be an excellent choice of mediator. She was efficient, fair, pragmatic and listened with understanding and empathy.’

‘This was one of London’s highest value international mediations with one party appearing on Skype from the Cayman Islands. Only the most experienced lawyers and mediator could deal with a case like this. That was achieved as was a settlement.’

‘Kate used the time we had effectively and brought the matter to a sensible resolution for all concerned. Kate was particularly sensitive to the personalities of the parties and was able to diffuse the situation when one party threatened to leave. Would highly recommend and would definitely provide instructions again.’

‘From the off-set Kate was proactive and attentive. During the mediation Kate demonstrated an in depth knowledge of the facts of the case as well as the relevant legal points. She was calm and firm throughout and her pragmatic approach helped the parties achieve the right result in a difficult case.’

‘I was impressed with the way Kate maintained the momentum of the mediation, making sure that the parties got on with matters, picking the right moments to have debates on particular aspects of the merits, and ensuring that the mediation did not develop into a staring contest.’

‘Kate has both the technical expertise required to understand the legal issues in play as well as an incredibly intuitive approach to dealing with the parties’ respective requirements for achieving a successful outcome.’

‘The mediation was successful because Kate got the parties to focus on achieving a practical, commercial settlement instead of their historical grievances and entrenched legal positions. My client was very pleased with the outcome facilitated by Kate.’

‘I sometimes feel that there’s an element of going through the motions in mediation, and that the settlement will always come irrespective of the input of the mediator. However, that wasn’t the case yesterday, and I would say that you did genuinely make a difference. On the way back [client] was particularly impressed by your ability to stop him getting up and walking out, which I can say from past experience is high praise indeed!’

‘Kate was recommended to me as a mediator and with good reason; she is a professional, empathetic and hard working mediator. Kate maintained constant contact with both parties throughout the course of the day and, as a result of her dedication, settlement was achieved quickly and efficiently and I would not hesitate to instruct her again.’

Qualified as a lawyer both in England & Wales and also in New York. Kate has over 25 years of dispute resolution experience, previously practising as a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer in both London (with Allen & Overy LLP) and in New York (with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP). She has also spent two periods working as a lawyer in investment banks, a six month secondment to Morgan Stanley’s New York in-house Institutional Securities litigation team in 2000 and two months with Barclays’ Corporate and Investment Banking litigation team in 2012.

Kate has trained lawyers, business people and other professionals in mediation skills and in the skills of using mediation effectively for their own disputes. She also conducts training in-house for law firms, insurance companies and others.

Examples of recent publications;
‘Practical Advice for Commercial Lawyers: How to Run a Good Mediation’ Legal Week, July 2012
‘Use of Shuttle Mediation in the Community’ Lambeth Mediation Service Annual Report, January 2012
‘Still a Need for Change: Next Steps in the Promotion of Settlement in International Arbitration’
International Bar Association Newsletter, September 2011, co-authored with Dr Karl Mackie
‘A simple mediation clause could avoid costly litigation’ The Lawyer, 26 July 2010, co-authored with Eileen Carroll
Article on the facilitation of settlement in international arbitration The International Bar Association Newsletter, September 2010, co-authored with Dr Karl Mackie