GLOBAL MEDIATION - Key Persons
Adam is a criminal barrister. He graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a law degree and was called to the Bar in 1993 by the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn.
His day-to-day role as Managing Director involves core business oversight including strategy and direction as well as maintaining Global Mediation's reputation as a class-leading service provider.
Adam has presented cases in courts and tribunals throughout the UK and overseas, including the US District Court in Palm Beach; Washington DC, the US Court of Appeals for the 11 th Circuit and the US Supreme Court and he continues to practise criminal law.
Adam became a CEDR Accredited mediator in 1999 before founding Global Mediation and his experience is extensive and varied. He has participated in mediations in both the UK and the US and has acted variously as mediator, legal advisor, case manager and party and was involved in assisting with the set up of dispute resolution systems, including advising key Government of Ireland officials.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Specialist Mediator Team
Emma is now a member of the Specialist Mediator team at Global Mediation where she both mediates and develops and offers training and coaching. Emma's core belief in listening to everybody's story underpins her work as a mediator, theatre maker and coach. In addition to her work in mediation, Emma is a member of the Higher Education Faculty at Shakespeare's Globe, and lecturer at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
A Business & Economics graduate from Southampton University, Jeff qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1988 and joined BDO Stoy Hayward. He then joined Hays Allan (now Hays McIntyre) and from there he left to join a 10-partner firm, Bellman Messik and got partnership in 1993 at the age of 29. The firm split in 1999 and a breakaway company was formed, Sobell Rhodes, which Jeff joined firstly as a salaried partner and then as an equity partner.
2003 saw the formation of Jeff Lermer & Associates, originally with three staff. Today they have 13 staff including accountants, managers and administrators.
As Finance Director, Jeff is primarily responsible for finance, budgeting and planning and has been with Global Mediation since its inception, joining the board in 2006.
Jeff became an accredited mediator in March 2013 and carries out financial and commercial mediations.
Natalie has been with Global Mediation since its inception in 1999 and was instrumental as a founder member of the business.
She holds a Psychology degree as well as a Diploma in Business Management and puts her skill set to good use when called upon.
Job Titles:
- Designated Safeguarding Officer and Consultant
- Member of the College of Mediators
Emeritus Professor Irvine Gersch is the past Director of Programmes in Educational and Child Psychology at the University of East London. Prior to this, he worked as a teacher, an educational psychologist and as Principal Educational Psychologist. He has been on the board of Global Mediation since the company's inception and now works as a Consultant, with special responsibility for training, quality assurance, safeguarding and business development.
He is widely published on subjects including school leadership and management; listening to children and behaviour management; parenting; mediation and conciliation in special educational needs; the future of SEN and psychology, and coaching and mentoring.
He has acted as advisor for the Government in SEN and has received two annual awards from the British Psychological Society for distinguished contributions to the profession of educational and child psychology in 2002 and 2016.
Irvine is currently a member of the College of Mediators and the Civil Mediation Council Panel of Assessors, having served on the DfE working party, developing standards and training for SEND mediators.
Irvine is recognised as an accredited SEND Mediator, awarded by the College of Mediators and the Civil Mediation Council. He has a PhD in Leadership, and is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, and Higher Educational Academy, and is a chartered Psychologist. He has co-edited a text book on mediation and remains passionate about mediation as a vital tool in today's world.
Usman joined Global Mediation in September 2019 and now acts as an Area Lead in his role as a Senior Case Manager.
Coming straight from City University, with an undergraduate in Law, he wishes to expand his horizons and to gain some valuable real-world experience while using his knowledge and skills to help those around him.
He possesses previous experience working as a private/public school tutor, teaching a range of subjects from the 11plus up until GCSE as well as experience as a sales and marketing intern for a technology start-up.
His role consists of liaising with parents and local authorities to confirm mediations, dealing with email enquiries and providing other forms of administrative support.