You went beyond any other mediator I have come across in 11 years to enable the parties to reach a resolution of what proved to be a very contentious and awkward case.”
Litigation Solicitor
I have real-world business experience
I have twenty years experience in business, having built two businesses from start-up to seven-figure exit. One was a property maintenance field service business, the other a hotel reservation software business. My business experience can help me get up to speed very quickly on the real business issues underlying your dispute. I can also connect very effectively with people from all walks of life, and bridge the gap between them.
Early in my career I worked at OC&C Strategy Consultants, so I know something about how big corporates work, through client work at OC&C. I have seen the tensions that can arise in all sorts of commercial relationships and transactions, and I understand how to resolve these tensions.
I am very good at understanding, and explaining, things
I will be on top of the detail. I will understand the numbers. I will ask careful probing questions that get to the nub of an issue. I will be able to explain your points clearly to the other side.
And you'll get crystal clear explanations from me as I relay points back to you from the other side.
I am calm and friendly. I am naturally curious and I love hearing about complex problems which might seem intractable. I build rapport with people easily and can work with almost anybody.
I am academically very capable (Oxbridge science degree; top 1% in UK Civil Service numerical / verbal reasoning tests).
I have seen many different types of dispute
- Disputed loan: I mediated this dispute between two private individuals which revolved around whether money one had paid to the other was a loan or payment for construction services.
- Intellectual Property: I mediated a settlement between a travel company and an IT contractor, regarding ownership of computer software built for the transport company by the IT contractor.
- Director's Personal Guarantee
: I acted as mediator in this claim against a director's personal guarantee, in the financial services sector. - Construction disputes: I have mediated several disputes involving construction contracts.
- Partnership disputes: I have acted as mediator in several disputes involving former business partners.
- Release of escrow retention: I acted as mediator in this dispute between a business buyer and seller over the timely release of money held in escrow after the sale of the business. The dispute had been rumbling along for several years, but settled by lunchtime on the day of mediation.
- Contract dispute: I mediated this simple contract dispute which had become very acrimonious, with one side accusing the other of criminal conduct and refusing to pay the contract sum. The matter settled at mediation, saving both sides considerable legal costs which would have far outweighed the disputed amount had this gone to trial.
- Boundary dispute: I acted as mediator in a long-running dispute over the location of a boundary fence.
- Non performance of international contract: UK business had failed to fulfil, via its German subsidiary, its obligations to a counterparty. Counterparty was threatening to sue. I reached an agreement whereby the UK business made a payment to the counterparty to drop the claim and terminate the contract. Payment was considerably lower than the potential legal costs of defending the claim.
- Shareholder dispute involving a share purchase option: 40% shareholder wanted to exercise an option to acquire the remaining 60%. Selling shareholders felt that the option terms undervalued the business and were reluctant to co-operate. I reached an agreement with the option holder to let their option lapse, maintaining good relations among the shareholders, leading to a successful trade sale twelve months later.
- Shareholder dispute regarding ongoing funding: A majority shareholder was asked to inject further funds into a company. They demurred, because other shareholders were not contributing pro-rata. I helped all shareholders agree on a structure which allowed the business to continue, and for the majority shareholder’s contribution to be appropriately recognised.
- Employment matter, discrimination: I mediated this claim for loss of earnings and injury to feelings due to alleged discrimination relating to the employee's return to work from maternity leave.
- Employment matter, unfair dismissal: The CEO and Chairman had dismissed one of the founding team without due process. The employee-founder was asking to be reinstated or compensated for unfair dismissal. I negotiated a settlement agreement to everyone’s satisfaction.
- Employment matter, absence due to stress: I helped an education employer to resolve a precarious situation involving a key member of their leadership team. The leader was absent due to stress, and had raised possible grievances with the employer. The situation was itself adding to the leader’s stress, and there was a risk that they would end up being on long term sickness absence due to stress. I negotiated a settlement allowing both sides to bring the situation to a swift and cost-effective conclusion.
- Share purchase/asset purchase agreements: I have twice negotiated the terms of share purchase agreements to trade buyers of businesses that I have founded. I understand the delicate tensions that can arise in these types of negotiation. I have also assisted with the negotiation of one transaction where the business was changing hands through an asset purchase agreement.
- Education Funding Dispute: As a school governor, I persuaded the local authority that their decision to withhold certain funding from the school was not consistent with their funding policy. The policy had been poorly worded, so the matter was far from clear. Through careful explanation and negotiation, I persuaded the local authority to honour my interpretation of the policy, securing the funding for our school, and then to rewrite the policy so that it was clear for future schools in future years.
- Education Admissions Dispute: I represented a family at an Admissions Appeal Panel after their son was unlawfully denied a place by the admissions authority. The admissions policy did not comply with the law. The panel directed the admissions authority to admit the child. The admissions authority later amended their policy to bring it into line with the law.
- Housing Rental Arrears/Possession Claims: I served as a mediation panel member during the Ministry of Justice Rental Mediation Pilot in 2021, taking referrals from the court to mediate landlord / tenant disputes. This included completing 8hrs of training on mediating landlord-tenant disputes.
- Sport - Discrimination I have mediated a dispute involving a discrimination claim against a sporting organisation. The dispute settled at mediation.
- Neighbour noise / nuisance / boundary disputes: I have assisted in resolving several neighbour disputes on a pro-bono basis for the Winchester Mediation Service.
- Disputes where I have been involved in the mediation as an accredited observer: forfeited deposit on an aborted property purchase; householder / builder dispute; telecom contract dispute; director insolvency, unlawful dividend; boundary / right-of-way matter.
My fees are lower
Most of my dispute resolution experience comes from before I obtained my formal accreditation, so I am charging very reasonable fees while I build my official 'flying hours'
My fee to mediate a dispute with a value of up to £25,000 is just £600 (split equally between each side, so that's £300 each). Fees for larger cases are available on my fees page.
I am fully accredited and insured
Accredited by ADR Group as a Civil & Commercial Mediator
Registered Mediator with the Civil Mediation Council
Member of the Society of Mediators
£2m Professional Indemnity insurance with Hiscox
People speak highly of me
People who I have helped in the past say lovely things about me:
“Bruce was great, very professional, knowledgeable, made us all feel at ease and helped both parties come to an agreement by seeing the other person's point of view. Highly recommend.”
Business owner, construction dispute
“Throughout the course of this matter, we have struggled to communicate effectively with the other side. It seemed that you were able to break down important aspects of the case, so that the parties were able to re-evaluate their positions, in a way that they had been unable to do before - this was extremely beneficial.”
Litigation solicitor, construction dispute
“Mr Greig grasped the issue that required mediation very well, he listened, had empathy for the situation and solved the matter to both parties' satisfaction and put an end to a long and exhausting process and stopped the matter being taken to the courts.”
Claimant in a wrongful conversion claim
“Bruce helped us resolve a very contentious employment issue, keeping us away from the employment tribunal and resolving the situation to everyone’s satisfaction. The employee had been under a lot of stress and one wrong move from us could have pushed her to go off sick for stress, which would have dragged the situation on for months and cost us a lot of money. Bruce's calm and firm approach brought about a swift resolution which allowed everyone to move on.”
Public Sector Employer
“Bruce was very calm, clear and concise which was very much appreciated and I was put at ease immediately. I was a little fearful of the process having never experienced it before, so thank you.”
Unrepresented party at a mediation
“You went beyond any other mediator I have come across in 11 years to enable the parties to reach a resolution of what proved to be a very contentious and awkward case.”
Litigation solicitor, contract dispute
“Bruce, we were very impressed with your work on this mediation. We often have similar cases where your approach and experience would be very effective so we certainly hope to use you again on future cases.”
Litigation solicitor, M&A dispute
“I thought you were very helpful and looked to find any avenue to resolve. I would recommend you to anyone in search of mediation.”
Litigant-in-person, partnership dispute
“You command respect and provide a reassuring presence, which isn't true of all mediators that I have used.”
Barrister, partnership dispute
“I have found you very professional, approachable, fair minded, a good listener.”
Litigant-in-person, claim against director's personal guarantee
“Bruce helped us enormously during a very stressful time. His presence in the room while the lawyers picked over our case was very reassuring. He managed to explain some complicated statistical points in a way everyone could understand, he had total command of the detail and helped everyone stay focussed on the important issues.”
Claimant in a clinical negligence claim
“Bruce helped us reach a settlement with the local authority regarding tens of thousands of pounds which we felt was owed to the school under the local funding policy. The council had forcefully insisted that the money was not due to the school. But Bruce skilfully guided us to a fair settlement, securing additional funding for the school, avoiding redundancies, and providing clarity for the local authority going forward.”
Chair of Governors, education funding dispute
“I think that the day went very well, you were professional, on time and responded quickly to my initial enquiry. I was very happy with your services.”
Employee in a discrimination claim
“I just wanted to say thank you. It appears that both parties are happy ... and they were very complimentary about you. I’m very pleased with the result.”
Environmental Protection Officer
“We have mentally rebooted our relationship with [the other party] and very much look forward to seeing how things develop in the forthcoming months. Your help was invaluable and much appreciated.”
Landowner in noise / boundary dispute
“We are extremely grateful for all your expertise and persistence to bring this most troublesome of issues to an agreed conclusion.”
Party to a discrimination claim
“Your composed, pragmatic manner lent itself well to keeping things focused on achieving a resolution.
We would certainly not hesitate to contact you for your services in future.”
We would certainly not hesitate to contact you for your services in future.”
Litigation solicitor, construction dispute
“Bruce dealt with a situation where effective communication between the parties was impossible - they were ex-partners with a gulf between their expectation as to what was a fair outcome. After half an hour, continuing seemed pointless as agreement seemed impossible. After four hours Bruce had facilitated an agreed settlement. He worked hard for it! He uses clear, simple but non patronising language which puts people at ease. And I’d recommend him without hesitation.”
Litigant-in-person
CV
Download my CV here: Bruce Greig CV.pdf
Questions?
If you would like a no obligation chat about your dispute, drop me an email or give me a call: bruce@brucegreig.com | 07515 116800 | 01962 435075
