Research and consultancy

I carry out research on ADR and specifically mediation, and I also provide consultancy on dispute resolution process design and on complaints handling.

My research focuses primarily on mediation and ombuds, but I am interested in people’s views and experiences of legal services and of dispute resolution more generally, and particularly in areas where there are issues of public interest, power imbalances and individual rights. I am experienced at carrying out qualitative interviews, both in person and by telephone, and I bring sensitivity and professionalism to that work.

I am a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Essex. In 2019 I co-authored (with Nick O’Brien) a book proposing a re-alliance between human rights and administrative justice and exploring democratic design approaches to this re-alliance – Reimagining Administrative Justice: Human rights in small places (Palgrave 2019).

My writing on older people and on disabilities issues reflects my practice as a specialist mediator. My current research project explores a counter-narrative of the origins of Alzheimer’s as told through the perspective of the first person to be diagnosed with the disease.

Other projects include:

  • consultant on research on medical treatment disputes and mediation as a form of therapeutic justice (led by Dr Jaime Lindsey, University of Oxford) (2023-2025)
  • leading A Place at the Table, a knowledge-exchange project on young people’s participation in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) mediation (2019)
  • researching dispute resolution for human rights and equalities complaints for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (2016)
  • researching the use of informal resolution approaches by UK ombuds (2012-2014)
  • developing and managing the ADRnow website (2003 – 2013)
  • researching mediation in judicial review with the Public Law Project (2009 – 2011)
  • reviewing the complaints process, Ofsted (Dec 2007 – Feb 2008)
  • mapping complaints-handling bodies for the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council (Nov 2005 – July 2007)
  • conducting independent evaluations of the mediation pilots run by the Ministry of Justice at Manchester County Court (Sept. 2004 – June 2006)
  • training in mediation for Law Society caseworkers (Sept–Oct 2005)
  • researching quality assurance in ADR for the National Consumer Council (March–April 2005)
  • producing a “Redress Strategy Paper” for the National Consumer Council, exploring current issues in access to justice, including ADR, legal aid and small claims (May 2004)
  • producing a guide to ADR in the UK – Advising on ADR (Advice Services Alliance, 2000)