Our Mediators – Mediate UK – UK's No 1 Family Mediation Service

Meet Our Expert Family Mediators

Our team of accredited family mediators offers professional mediation services online and in person, across England and Wales. We help families resolve conflicts around separation, parenting, finances, and more without going to court. Every mediator listed here is a member of the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and bring many years of practical experience to each case.

Rachel Poole

PPC, FMCA, CIM

Rachel Poole

Accredited Family Mediator

PPC, FMCA, CIM

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of Family Mediators Association

Rachel is a highly skilled accredited family and child-inclusive mediator with extensive experience in complex financial cases, drawing on her career in the City's finance sector. Her calm, balanced approach helps clients feel supported and understood throughout the mediation process. As a qualified child-inclusive mediator, Rachel can, where appropriate and with parental agreement, offer children a safe and supported space to express their thoughts and feelings as part of the process. Rachel is also a Professional Practice Consultant (PPC), a role that recognises her expertise and experience. As a PPC, she provides mentorship, guidance, and supervision to both newly qualified and accredited mediators, helping to develop the next generation of practitioners.

Chris Yaffes

FMCA, CIM

Chris Yaffes

Accredited Family Mediator

FMCA, CIM

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of Family Mediators Association

Member of Resolution

Chris is an accredited family mediator and child-inclusive mediator with over a decade of experience, having practised since 2013. A key focus of his work has been supporting expatriate, transnational, and international couples, drawing on his own diverse cross-cultural background. Chris originally trained as a lawyer in South Africa, where he practised family and criminal law before relocating to New York. There, he pursued a Master's degree in International Relations and transitioned into the non-profit sector, working as a writer, researcher, and documentary film producer. In 2011, Chris moved to the UK and began his training as a mediator, combining his legal expertise, international perspective, and communication skills to help families work through complex separations successfully.

Penny Hogan

FMCA

Penny Hogan

Accredited Family Mediator

FMCA

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of Family Mediators Association

Member of BACP

Member of NCPS

Penny is a trained family mediator working towards accreditation, having completed her mediation training in 2021. Her background as a trained counsellor brings a unique dimension to her mediation practice. Penny's counselling experience has equipped her with strong listening skills and an empathetic approach, allowing her to help families work through the emotional complexities that often accompany separation. She understands that mediation is not just about reaching practical agreements, but also about ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected throughout the process. She is committed to supporting families in finding constructive, collaborative solutions that prioritise the wellbeing of everyone involved. Penny's calm, patient approach helps to reduce tension and conflict, making the mediation process more productive and less daunting for those going through separation or divorce.

Neil Sykes

FMCA

Neil Sykes

Accredited Family Mediator

FMCA

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of College of Mediators

Neil is an accredited mediator and separation coach with a proven track record of delivering practical, effective solutions. Since 2017, he has helped families work through the challenges of separation at every stage of their journey. The consistent feedback from clients, many of whom credit Neil's guidance as essential to resolving their situation, inspired him to leave his 20-year career in the public sector to focus exclusively on family mediation and separation coaching. His approach is grounded in pragmatism and realism, helping clients achieve fair divorce settlements and child arrangement plans whilst minimising long-term financial and emotional costs for both parents and children.

Mitchell Robertson

WTA

Mitchell Robertson

Trained Family Mediator

WTA

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of College of Mediators

Mitchell is a trained family mediator working towards accreditation, bringing valuable experience from his financial background where negotiation and collaboration were at the heart of his work. As a derivatives broker and later as a business analyst with a software provider, Mitchell developed his skills in bringing parties with different interests and resources together to find common ground and reach mutually beneficial agreements. Having experienced divorce firsthand, Mitchell discovered how empowering and productive mediation can be in resolving difficult separations. This personal insight, combined with his professional expertise, inspired him to retrain as a mediator. He is passionate about helping others work through their own separations constructively, whilst avoiding the stress and expense of lengthy court proceedings. Mitchell's blend of financial acumen, negotiation skills, and personal understanding enables him to support clients with both empathy and practical insight.

Kate Miller

FMCA

Kate Miller

Accredited Family Mediator

FMCA

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of Family Mediators Association

Kate is an accredited family mediator with a strong legal background and extensive experience in mental health support. She holds a law degree and a master’s in International Human Rights Law and has worked for several years as both a paralegal and supervising paralegal. Kate has supported individuals through Citizens Advice and a Family Law Clinic, where she helped clients though complex personal and legal challenges. She is also a qualified Mental Health First Aider and is involved on a peer-led mental health support group dedicated to creating inclusive and supportive environments. Kate's combination of legal expertise and understanding of mental health enables her to approach mediation with both practical insight and emotional awareness. She is committed to helping families resolve conflict constructively, ensuring that clients feel supported and respected as they work towards fair solutions during separation.

Hannah Shapey

FMCA

Hannah Shapey

Accredited Family Mediator

FMCA

Member of Family Mediation Council

Member of College of Mediators

Hannah is an accredited family mediator with a strong background in education and family support. Before training as a mediator, she spent over ten years as a secondary school teacher, where she developed a keen interest in supporting families. Her experience in education has given Hannah valuable insight into how family circumstances can impact children and young people, and the critical role that clear communication and practical solutions play in their wellbeing. She brings this understanding into her mediation practice, helping separating couples find constructive ways forward on child arrangements, finances, and property matters. Hannah's has excellent communication skills, patience, and the ability to explain complex information clearly. She is skilled at creating a calm, structured environment where families can have difficult conversations and work towards solutions. Her approach is collaborative and empathetic, ensuring that both parties feel heard and supported.

FAQs:

What is a family mediator?

A family mediator is a trained professional who helps separating or separated families reach agreements about issues such as child arrangements, finances, and property, without the need for court intervention.

Do you offer online mediation?

Yes, all of our mediation services are delivered online, allowing us to support families across the UK with flexible, remote sessions. We also have a network of branches where we can hold face-to-face mediation sessions.

Are your mediators accredited?

All our mediators are experienced family mediators and members of the Family Mediation Council. Most mediators are accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and hold FMCA certification. Others are experienced and Working Towards Accreditation (WTA). You can check the individual profiles of each mediator for more information.

How long does mediation take?

It depends on the complexity of the issues, but most families reach an agreement within 2–4 sessions. Your mediator will guide you through the process and help you move forwards to agreement. 90% of of our clients who go on to joint mediation do reach an agreement.

Can mediators give legal advice?

No, mediators can never give legal advice, even if they are solicitors. This is because they are acting neutrally for both parties. Legal advice can be helpful and we offer this for a fixed fee should you require it from an expert lawyer.

Book a Family Mediator

To get started, you can book a MIAM online and one of our experienced family mediators will take you through the process and we can then invite the other party if appropriate.

Click Here to Get Started