Mediation’s Moment

Based on the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution’s latest report on the UK mediation industry (see Jacqui Joyce’s article in the Estates Gazette dated 10 November 2025), mediation is continuing to deliver results with an 87% success rate (70% of cases settling on the day and 17% settling shortly after).  This is impressive - as are the estimated savings in wasted time and costs of £5.9bn. Given these figures, it is unsurprising that the courts were keen to promote compulsory mediation (as per the CA decision Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil in 2023 where it was held that the courts can lawfully stay proceedings to require ADR).  The profession is a natural choice for lawyers who still dominate the industry but it’s good to see that demand for training is coming from other sectors.   Diversity also appears to remain a challenge with only 8% of mediators from ethnic minorities (compared to 18% of solicitors).  The hot topic of AI is also discussed with mediators increasingly thinking about how it may assist in the administrative side of mediation, rather than any direct involvement in the process.  It will be interesting to see how long this remains the case. 

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