The family team at Berry Smith is supporting Family Mediation Week 2025, which takes place between Monday, 27th and Friday, 31st January, with the aim of raising awareness of the benefits of mediation within the family justice system.

On Day 2 of Family Mediation Week 2025, we take a closer look at the role of a mediator and how they differ from your solicitor.

Mediators are the foundation of successful family mediation, and it is important that you can put your trust in them as they work to support and help you discuss important issues and make decisions together in a constructive and supportive environment.

Katie McColgan and Benjamin Delve, our family mediators at Berry Smith, are trained solicitors with over 50 years’ experience in family law practice between them.

Your first formal contact with a family mediator will be in a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. This meeting is conducted by the mediator with each person separately; it is not a joint meeting. It provides a safe space to share your feelings and views on the issues (and mediation itself) without judgment.

If, after the first meeting, everyone decides to proceed with mediation, the mediator will hold a joint meeting. They do not act as a judge or decision-maker in this meeting and will not make any judgments about anyone’s involvement. Instead, with the benefit of specialist training, they help you frame the issues—ensuring that all voices are heard in a supportive and constructive manner—and work to enable progressive discussions. Their focus is on identifying points of common value, narrowing areas of disagreement, and helping you reach decisions together.

The techniques mediators use create a structured yet flexible environment that helps to keep discussions productive and focused.

If you would like to discuss whether mediation or any other alternative dispute resolution should be considered in your specific case, or you need advice on any other family law matter, please do not hesitate to contact the family team by email at family@berrysmith.com or by telephone on either 02920 345511 or 01656 645525.