Elaine Richardson

As well as being a family mediator since 2011, I am also an experienced family solicitor and collaborative lawyer. I have been involved in family law for over 30 years. I will be able to share the information that I have gained and my experience with you.

I can sort things out because I am a specialist in family breakdown, separation and conflict resolution. I appreciate that separating is painful, difficult and frustrating.  In mediation, I can start conversations and achieve improvements in communication between you and your former partner so that you can make practical decisions that feel fair and get on with your lives.

All my mediation services are now online using Zoom virtual meetings.  I am experienced in mediating online.  It is quick to schedule, no travel time is needed, no travel costs are incurred and location is no obstacle.

I mediate all family issues, including (but not limited to) separation, divorce, cohabitation, children’s issues and finances.  I offer different types of mediation including separate spaces mediation (where people sit in separate rooms) and hybrid mediation (where I can hold confidences and solicitors are involved in the mediation process).  I am also qualified to meet with children in the mediation process, independently of their parents, if this is agreed. 

I am an accredited mediator, which means that I have successfully completed an advanced portfolio-based exam with The Law Society. Therefore, I am able to sign court application forms, should you require me to do so.

I supervise mediators as their Professional Practice Consultant (‘PPC’) and I supervise lawyers as their Family Law Supervisor. I train other family justice professionals as a trainer for Resolution.

I am a long standing member of Resolution, a community of family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way. I am a co-chair of the national Dispute Resolution section of Resolution and I have been chair of two local branches. I was a member of the national Family Law Committee of the Law Society for 9 years.  All this experience means that I have extensive and up to date knowledge about the family justice system. 

I am recognised nationally as a family law expert and in 2019 I was the winner of the Resolution John Cornwell Award, which recognises a family law practitioner who has gone above and beyond to support separating families in a non-confrontational manner. 

I am listed in Chambers and Partners, the world’s leading legal rankings and insights intelligence company, for 2022/2023 and the link is here - https://chambers.com/lawyer/elaine-richardson-uk-1:519760 .

You can access more information about mediation and look at my listings on the website of the Family Mediation Council (FMC) at https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/ and the website of Resolution (First for Family Law) at http://www.resolution.org.uk/ .