About Paul Houghton

Since 1994 I have mediated approaching 850 disputes ranging widely in subject matter and value. Having trained initially with CEDR, I am also a member of the Association of Northern Mediators and am a Registered Mediator with the Civil Mediation Council.

My experience of the mediation process is not only confined to being a mediator, but also includes acting as a solicitor representative and, unusually, being a “client”, as a consequence of my work handling professional negligence claims against my previous law firm.

I began my legal career in commercial litigation, having started as a solicitor in Scotland in 1984. I moved to England in 1988 and requalified in English law before becoming a partner and Head of Commercial Litigation at two large national law firms, and, latterly, at a regional law firm where I worked for over 15 years. I am now a full time Mediator.

“I have just completed what was without doubt one of the most challenging multiparty mediations I’ve been instructed in. Paul was our mediator and he went far beyond the call of duty. We see a lot of mediators and participate in them as a team in Leicester most months. I unhesitatingly recommend Paul. Quick to understand the real issue, practical and persuasive . He’s right up there and we will be proposing Paul as a matter of course from now.” – Partner - Leicester

Over the last five years, I have mediated disputes with a combined claim value of over £82m. Settlement rates have been in excess of 85% during that period.

My litigation practice mostly involved commercial contract matters (many concerning engineering related work), and professional negligence claims, covering a wide range of professions. However, as a mediator, my experience is far wider - as the Cases Mediated page on this website shows. The cases range in value from two party claims with no monetary value through to multi-party claims and tens of millions of pounds.

The vast majority of cases that I mediate are dealt with in a single day, but when necessary can take longer, occasionally being adjourned for specific purposes and reconvened at a later date.