The Non-Court Dispute Resolution Forum

The First Conference to Focus Exclusively on NCDR Featuring Multiple Perspectives on All Methods

14 October 2025 | Central London | In-Person

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Agenda

Networking & Registration
9.00am

Co-Chairs Opening Remarks
9.30am

Claire Blakemore, Partner
Withers

Harry Oliver KC, Barrister
1KBW

An Overview of NCDR
9.40am

  • Evolution of MCDR and a summary of different NCDR forums 
  • How legal, judicial, and public perceptions of NCDR have evolved 
  • The interaction of the Court and NCDR

James Carroll, Managing Partner
Russell Cooke

Katherine Kelsey, Barrister
1KBW

Discussing the Court’s Approach to NCDR
10.25am

  • How judges are encouraging or compelling NCDR 
  • Recent case law and practice directions 
  • Cost implications: when and how judges penalise refusal to engage 
  • Should the Family Court mirror Civil Court powers on NCDR enforcement?

Nicholas Allen KC , Barrister
29 Bedford Row

Claire Yorke, Partner
Mishcon de Reya

Rhys Taylor, Barrister
36 Family

Andrew Day, Barrister
St Ives Chambers

Networking & Refreshment Break
11.10am

Exploring Mediation: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid
11.30am

  • International mediation
  • Mediation in high-conflict and difficult cases
  • The future of mediation 

Suzanne Kingston, Consultant
Penningtons Manches Cooper

Karen Barham, Consultant & Mediator
Moore Barlow

Arbitration in Practice
12.15pm

  • A case study-based session where the vantage point and decision making of the solicitors, barristers and arbitrators are considered 
  • When would arbitration work for your clients and how do you achieve agreement with your opponent? 
  • Covering both full proceedings and interim applications

Sam Longworth, Partner
Stewarts

Suzanne Todd, Partner
Withers

Duncan Brooks KC, Barrister
QEB

Networking & Lunch Break
1.00pm

Exploring the 1 Lawyer 1 Couple Model
2.00pm

  • What is it and how does it differ from other collaborative approaches 
  • Screening for suitability: risks, red flags, and conflict of interest 
  • Ethics and regulation: where are the guardrails 
  • Client feedback and outcomes: do people feel heard and supported?

Henry Hood, Senior Partner
Hunters Law

James Pirrie, Director
Family Law in Partnership

Examining NCDR in Cases of Conduct and Abuse
2.45pm

  • When is NCDR inappropriate? 
  • How mediators/arbitrators handle allegations of coercive control or abuse 
  • Safe practice: screening tools and safeguarding procedures 
  • Alternatives for high–conflict or vulnerable parties 
  • Screening in an era of metal health–awareness

Samantha Singer, Barrister
QEB

Stacey Nevin, Partner
Kingsley Napley

Networking & Refreshment Break
3.30pm

Highlighting Regional Perspectives: How NCDR is Practiced Outside of London
3.50pm

  • How regional courts are interpreting and promoting NCDR 
  • Differences in uptake and support between regions 
  • Firm–level innovation in delivering NCDR services outside London 
  • What can be learned and replicated nationally

Bethany Scarsbrook, Barrister
St John's Chambers

Jo O’Sullivan, Family Mediator
O'Sullivan Family Law

Supporting Client Needs During NCDR Proceedings
4.35pm

  • Managing client needs during NCDR proceedings 
  • Emotional and psychological support: the role of counsellors, coaches, and therapists 
  • NCDR in children cases and reaching child–focused outcomes

Connie Atkinson , Partner
Kingsley Napley

Co-Chairs Closing Remarks
5.20pm

Claire Blakemore, Partner
Withers

Harry Oliver KC, Barrister
1KBW

9.00am
Networking & Registration
9.30am
Co-Chairs Opening Remarks
Claire Blakemore - Partner - Withers
Harry Oliver KC - Barrister - 1KBW
9.40am
An Overview of NCDR
  • Evolution of MCDR and a summary of different NCDR forums 
  • How legal, judicial, and public perceptions of NCDR have evolved 
  • The interaction of the Court and NCDR
James Carroll - Managing Partner - Russell Cooke
Katherine Kelsey - Barrister - 1KBW
10.25am
Discussing the Court’s Approach to NCDR
  • How judges are encouraging or compelling NCDR 
  • Recent case law and practice directions 
  • Cost implications: when and how judges penalise refusal to engage 
  • Should the Family Court mirror Civil Court powers on NCDR enforcement?
Nicholas Allen KC - Barrister - 29 Bedford Row
Claire Yorke - Partner - Mishcon de Reya
Rhys Taylor - Barrister - 36 Family
Andrew Day - Barrister - St Ives Chambers
11.10am
Networking & Refreshment Break
11.30am
Exploring Mediation: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid
  • International mediation
  • Mediation in high-conflict and difficult cases
  • The future of mediation 
Suzanne Kingston - Consultant - Penningtons Manches Cooper
Karen Barham - Consultant & Mediator - Moore Barlow
12.15pm
Arbitration in Practice
  • A case study-based session where the vantage point and decision making of the solicitors, barristers and arbitrators are considered 
  • When would arbitration work for your clients and how do you achieve agreement with your opponent? 
  • Covering both full proceedings and interim applications
Sam Longworth - Partner - Stewarts
Suzanne Todd - Partner - Withers
Duncan Brooks KC - Barrister - QEB
1.00pm
Networking & Lunch Break
2.00pm
Exploring the 1 Lawyer 1 Couple Model
  • What is it and how does it differ from other collaborative approaches 
  • Screening for suitability: risks, red flags, and conflict of interest 
  • Ethics and regulation: where are the guardrails 
  • Client feedback and outcomes: do people feel heard and supported?
Henry Hood - Senior Partner - Hunters Law
James Pirrie - Director - Family Law in Partnership
2.45pm
Examining NCDR in Cases of Conduct and Abuse
  • When is NCDR inappropriate? 
  • How mediators/arbitrators handle allegations of coercive control or abuse 
  • Safe practice: screening tools and safeguarding procedures 
  • Alternatives for high–conflict or vulnerable parties 
  • Screening in an era of metal health–awareness
Samantha Singer - Barrister - QEB
Stacey Nevin - Partner - Kingsley Napley
3.30pm
Networking & Refreshment Break
3.50pm
Highlighting Regional Perspectives: How NCDR is Practiced Outside of London
  • How regional courts are interpreting and promoting NCDR 
  • Differences in uptake and support between regions 
  • Firm–level innovation in delivering NCDR services outside London 
  • What can be learned and replicated nationally
Bethany Scarsbrook - Barrister - St John's Chambers
Jo O’Sullivan - Family Mediator - O'Sullivan Family Law
4.35pm
Supporting Client Needs During NCDR Proceedings
  • Managing client needs during NCDR proceedings 
  • Emotional and psychological support: the role of counsellors, coaches, and therapists 
  • NCDR in children cases and reaching child–focused outcomes
Connie Atkinson - Partner - Kingsley Napley
5.20pm
Co-Chairs Closing Remarks
Claire Blakemore - Partner - Withers
Harry Oliver KC - Barrister - 1KBW

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Contact Us

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