How to Choose a Mediator in the UK: A Practitioner’s Guide

How to choose a mediator? Most of what comes up when you search for a mediator falls into two categories: a directory listing dozens of names with no way to judge who is actually good, or a single provider’s panel page recommending its own members. Neither answers the question you actually have, which is how to tell a strong mediator from an average one before you have paid a fee or committed a day to the process.

This guide is written from the other side of the table. Effective Dispute Solutions has handled more than 6,000 mediations over 24 years, and our founders hold accreditations from the bodies covered below. What follows is the same checklist we would want a client to use if they were vetting us: the six qualifications that actually matter, how the main UK accreditation bodies compare, the questions worth asking before you hire anyone, and what mediation typically costs so you can spot a fair quote from an inflated one.

The Six Qualifications That Actually Matter

Mediation is not a licensed profession in the UK, which means anyone can call themselves a mediator. Accreditation is how you tell the difference between someone who has been trained and assessed against a recognised standard and someone who has simply decided to offer the service. Six credentials cover almost every reputable practitioner. For a deeper walkthrough of how to spot a genuine credential, see our guides on what to look for in a UK mediator and how to verify a mediator’s credentials.

CEDR Accreditation 

The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution runs the most widely recognised mediator accreditation in the UK. Earning it requires completing an assessed training course and demonstrating live mediation skill in front of an examiner, not just attending a workshop. When a mediator lists CEDR accreditation, it means an experienced mediator has assessed their ability to run a mediation, not just their knowledge of the theory. The criterion to pass is rigorous, and many do not pass. 

The Academy of Experts (TAE) Accreditation 

TAE are a respectable outfit and providers of commercial mediation training. They were established in 1987 and have trained thousands of mediators across the Globe. Just like CEDR their qualification is a serious commitment and is not a qualification that is just handed out. Their assessment just like CEDR’s is extensive whereby a potential mediator has to run a mediation from start to finish in a structured manner. Ensuring that they demonstrate a myriad of skills that they have been taught. 

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Accreditation & Membership 

CIArb accreditation is no less than CEDR’s or TAE. In fact a number of Effective Dispute Solutions mediators to include their director Harvinder Singh Bhurji are on the CIArb’s mediation panel. And their faculty of global mediation training. Over the years the CIArb’s course has been rewritten to adapt to the latest mediation trends and the most effective way to resolve disputes. Membership of the CIArb is highly sought after. But yet again is not an easy thing to obtain. Therefore your mediator may not hold membership, but if they do, it certainly shows they are an experienced professional. 

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Again RICS is yet another contender to be respected. You do not need to be a surveyor to train through them. However a lot of surveyors do. Just like the others their qualification is a serious one and comprehensive.

It is argued RICS accreditation matters most for boundary, property, and land disputes. You do not need to be a chartered surveyor to train through their dispute resolution pathway, but many RICS-accredited mediators are, which gives them technical fluency in property and land matters that a generalist mediator may lack. See our guide on boundary dispute mediation for more on when this specialism matters.

The ADR Group (ADRG)

Another name to recognise who alongside the other three mentioned is a name that is established. Harvinder Singh Bhurji our director was actually their Director of Mediation Training, commercial and workplace between 2018 – 2020. 

Civil Mediation Council (CMC) Registration 

The CMC maintains the UK’s public register of mediators who meet its Registration Standards, which cover training hours, supervised practice, insurance, and a code of conduct. Registration is checkable in minutes: search the mediator’s name on the CMC’s public register. For example Harvinder Singh Bhurji will appear on there. If a mediator claims CMC registration but does not appear on the register, treat that as a warning sign rather than an oversight.

Comparing UK Accreditation Bodies

How to Verify a Credential Yourself 

Do not take an accreditation claim at face value. The CMC’s public register lets you search by name for free. CEDR does not publish a full public list, but you can ask the mediator for their certificate or accreditation number and, if in doubt, contact CEDR directly to confirm it. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide on verifying a mediator’s credentials in the UK.

What to Ask Before You Hire a Mediator 

Track Record Questions 

“How many mediations have you conducted?” Experience compounds. Effective Dispute Solutions has run more than 6,000 mediations across 24 years, and that volume is what we would use as the benchmark to hold any practitioner against. A mediator who has handled a few dozen cases is not necessarily unqualified, but you should weigh that against the complexity of your dispute.

“What is your settlement rate?” Settlement rate is not a perfect metric since cases vary in difficulty, but it is a useful sense check. We settle around 90% of the mediations we run, and a mediator unwilling to discuss their settlement rate at all is worth a second look.

Fit Questions 

• “Do you specialise in my type of dispute?” A mediator experienced in workplace conflict is not automatically the right choice for a construction or boundary dispute. Ask directly, and look for evidence in their case history. Our family and wills mediation team, for instance, is separate from our commercial specialists.

• “What is your process and how long does it typically take?” A clear answer with defined stages is a good sign; a vague one is not.

• “Are you regulated or accredited, and by whom?” This should be an easy, specific answer, not a general claim of experience.

• “What are your mediation costs and what do they cover?” Ask whether preparation time, room hire, and follow-up are included or billed separately. See our full breakdown of mediation costs in the UK.

• “Can you provide references or case examples (anonymised)?” Confidentiality means names and details will be withheld, but a credible mediator can still describe the shape of past cases.

• “What happens if mediation doesn’t reach an agreement?” A good mediator will explain your options clearly rather than treating this as an unlikely scenario not worth discussing.

What Mediation Costs in the UK 

Typical Fees by Dispute Type 

Costs vary by dispute type and complexity. Workplace and employment mediations are often resolved in a single day and tend to sit at the lower end of the range. Commercial and construction disputes, which frequently involve more parties, documents, and preparation time, tend to cost more. Boundary and property disputes and family or wills disputes fall in between, depending on how many parties and how much technical or legal detail is involved.

Fees by Dispute Value 

For commercial disputes, fees are often scaled to the value in dispute, since higher-value claims typically involve more preparation, more documentation, and longer sessions. Ask any mediator you are considering to explain how their fee structure scales, not just their day rate.

Who Typically Pays 

Cost is most commonly split equally between the parties, though this is agreed at the outset and can be structured differently, for example if one party has proposed mediation and wants to cover the initiating cost. Confirm the split before the session is booked, not after.

Red Flags to Watch For 

• No verifiable accreditation or registration, or reluctance to provide one

• Refusal to share a settlement rate or years of experience

• No clear description of process or expected timeline

• Pressure to commit quickly, or a fee structure that is not explained upfront

Why Practitioner-Led Mediation Outperforms a Directory Listing 

A directory tells you a name and a specialism. It does not tell you how many mediations that person has actually run, what their settlement rate looks like, or whether they hold the accreditation they claim. Effective Dispute Solutions has conducted more than 6,000 mediations over 24 years, our founders hold CEDR and CMC accreditation, and our team covers workplace, commercial, boundary, construction, and family and wills disputes across the whole of the UK. The bulk of our cases come from London, Kent, Surrey, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. Browse our mediator profiles to see individual accreditations and case history before you decide.