THE CONFLICT RESOLUTION CENTRE - Key Persons

"You don't even know he's in the room, but he is always directing proceedings" Regarded as a highly effective and experienced mediator of commercial and other disputes, Lawrence Kershen has practiced as a commercial mediator since 1994. His expertise covers a range of disputes in a variety of sectors with a ‘great track record'. With over 30 years experience as a barrister, his understanding of law and litigation helps the negotiation and problem solving process towards the parties' desired outcome. Lawrence worked as a barrister from 1967, sat as a Recorder of the Crown Court, and was appointed QC in 1992. His litigation experience includes commercial contracts and tort as well as complex and large-scale criminal cases. Lawrence has led mediation and negotiation training programmes in the UK, Europe and South Asia. Most recently he has completed trainings for judges in Egypt and Morocco. He is qualified as a trainer of communication skills including NeuroLinguistic Programming and Non-Violent Communication. He acted, until recently as Chair of the Restorative Justice Council.

Suzanne's core area of practice is EU and competition law where she has represented businesses, public authorities and NGOs for over 15 years. She focuses on disputes in industries that are subject to sector regulation (communications, energy, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, transport and water) or which relate to the interface between competition law and intellectual property. Suzanne will work with the parties and their advisors to design a process that will facilitate resolution of their dispute. Where desired by the parties, she can deploy more evaluative approaches including through Early Neutral Evaluation. Prior to her Call to the Bar Suzanne was a director in the economics and strategy practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers and is conversant with economic and financial issues arising in highly technical disputes. Suzanne enjoys the flexibility to act as a lead-mediator or subject-matter expert co-mediator in cases which can benefit from her specialist competition law, regulatory and economics expertise. Reflecting the international focus of her practice, Suzanne is happy to travel out of London or overseas for the convenience of the parties. She has acted as counsel in international arbitrations in complex commercial disputes with a competition law dimension. As such, she is sensitive to the use and potential of alternative dispute resolution and the opportunities to create value through the settlement process. Suzanne also advises governments and regulators on the design and implementation of dispute resolution policy and procedures including mediation in competition law and economic regulatory matters.