Elizabeth J Bilton LLB (Hons)
Elizabeth J Bilton heads the team of Family Mediators at Midlands Mediation
She started out in her career by qualifying as a Solicitor in 1993. She has consolidated her legal practice by gaining experience in all aspects of traditional family disputes in addition to achieving qualifications as an Advanced Family Panel member and member of the Children’s Panel with the Law Society (for further information see her linked profile with www.biltonhammond.co.uk)
In 1997 Elizabeth trained as an All Issues Mediator with Resolution, which is the leading training organisation for solicitors in professional practice (www.resolution.org.uk)
Elizabeth set up Midlands Mediation in 1998. She has developed her Mediation experience and developed a team of professional and experienced Mediators who would be able to meet the diverse needs of families in conflict.
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Diane Roome BA (Hons)
Diane qualified as a Solicitor in 2001, having previously worked for Lord Chancellor’s Department (now the Ministry of Justice).
Diane is a member of Resolution and friend of Resolution Children Committee. She is also a Resolution Accredited Specialist Family Lawyer, her specialism’s being private Children Law and Financial Issues between separating couples.
Diane is a Law Society Accredited Mediator. She can offer legally aided mediation and she is also qualified to consult directly with children in mediation.
Diane also acts as a Professional Practice Consultant (effectively a mentor) for other Mediators.
In May 2012, Diane and a friend in Cambridge, Elisabeth Sneade co-published a book for people going through separation and divorce. The title is “Managing Separation and Divorce” which is published by Emerald Publishing. It has 5 star reviews on Amazon. It can be purchased from Amazon either as a paperback or as an E-book. It is full of tips (and no law!) for those facing separation and divorce and provides help and advice about some of the practicalities.
Mark Bilton LLB (Hons) Sheff, MBA
Mark has over 25 years experience as a solicitor. He was admitted to the roll in 1985. Mark is our Managing Partner and a solicitor with considerable experience of advising clients on Commercial and Private law issues as well as being a qualified Mediator.
Mark has been a qualified commercial mediator since 2005 and qualified in 2010 as a family mediator.
Mark’s 25 years practice experience and MBA business qualification makes him a good choice for mediating many different types of issues including the following:
- Family property disagreements
- Building disputes
- Will disputes
- Contractual disputes
- Partnership and business disputes
- Employer/Employee disputes
- Company disputes
- Landlord and Tenant disputes ( commercial and domestic)
- Property and Boundary disputes
Mark is happy to talk to people considering mediation and to their legal advisers. We can mediate where lawyers are present and when they are not. Our most successful mediations are shuttle mediations and many disputes can be resolved in this way. Mark has recently said:
“too much money and time is needlessly spent on legal proceedings, many of which can be resolved at a fraction of the cost by mediation and avoiding the stress of the prospect of going to court”.
Jennie Byrne LLM
Solicitor, Specialist Family Lawyer / Child Lawyer, Matrimonial Department (Chesterfield), Family Solicitor Mediator through Resolution
Jennie joined our Matrimonial Department in 2008, and is primarily based at our Chesterfield office.
Jennie has been dealing with family cases since 2005. Jennie’s case work as a Solicitor covers the full spectrum of family cases, including domestic violence and abuse, financial disputes upon separation and disputes in respect of children following relationship breakdown. Jennie also advises and represents parents in Public Law matters involving Social Services. Jennie has provided advice to couples who are to marry as well as those wishing to separate. She is able to advise in respect of divorce proceedings as well as civil partnership dissolutions.
Jennie is able to provide advice in respect of all issues resulting from separation including change of name.
In 2010 Jennie completed her Masters in Child Law and therefore has some specialist knowledge in cases involving children.
Jennie is a member of Resolution First for Family Law and fully supports the ethos which this organisation promotes.
In 2010 Jennie trained with Resolution First for Family Law as a Solicitor/Mediator for family matters and as a result is able to provide an independent advice to facilitate discussions and decisions relating to family issues.
Clive Needham
Clive joined the team having completed mediation training in 2010.
His own experiences of the mediation process encouraged him to train towards becoming a Family Mediator, starting with graduation with a Law Degree in 2008 and latterly completing the foundation course in Mediation.
Clive is able to call upon his 25 years experience as a community based Police Officer, where dispute resolution was a key skill in resolving many issues.
Clive is fully commited to using his skills and experience to assist people to reach an amicable outcome to their dispute.
Chris Dawes LLB (Hons)
Chris qualified as a Solicitor in 1977 and has worked in general practice since then, specialising in family law since 1993.
A member of the Law Society Children Panel, Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) and the Association of Lawyers for Children, Chris trained as a Family Mediator with the Law Society.
Chris represents children in care proceedings through their Children’s Guardian, as well as children directly when separate representation is necessary. Chris also acts for parents, grandparents and other family members in care proceedings. When required he represents adults through the Official Solicitor. Chris will represent individuals who have been invited to intervene in care proceedings. He regularly advises and assists in relation to Child Protection Conferences and Public Law Outline (PLO) meetings and other Social Care queries. Chris also represents parties in applications for orders for placement of children for adoption.
Chris represents both parents and children in disputes concerning residence, contact arrangements for children, adoption, prohibited steps and specific issues. Chris provides a sympathetic, common sense and professional approach in representing the best interests of his clients.
Clive is fully committed to using his skills and experience to assist people to reach an amicable outcome to their dispute.
Dale Turner (T.M.C.M) Family Mediator
Dale joined the team in 2012 and he completed his mediation training during 2011.
Dale worked most recently as manager and contact supervisor within a local child contact centre gaining extensive knowledge of the issues and concerns of both parents and children in relation to family break ups and in particular in relation to child contact arrangements.
Dale is also able to call upon his 25 years experience as an Accountant and is more than capable of dealing with a variety of financial issues and has a self confessed aptitude for numbers.
Dale is fully committed to the ethos that underpins mediation and is able to bring to the table his varied skills and expertise to assist people to reach an amicable outcome to their dispute.
Sherrall Pickford LLB Hons Birmingham
Sherrall has over 25 years experience as solicitor. She qualified in 1983 and has worked in general practice, Family law and Criminal law.
She has spent many years being involved in court proceedings with the victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault – she knows how these things affect individuals, children and families. Sherrall knows how court proceeds impact on the families.
Sherrall has developed excellent communication skills through years of assisting people who have survived traumatic situation. She is able to set people at their ease. She is also alive to child protection issues.
Through years of working litigation and appearing in court she has also skilled exploring solutions in difficult situations.
Sherrall qualified as a workplace mediator in 2008.
Sherrall cross qualified as a family mediator in 2012.
