Solicitor (without Practicing Certificate) and Mediator
Kimpton House, Durford Wood, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 5AS
Mediation accreditation and experience
Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Accredited Mediator since May 1999.
Mediator for CEDR, and mediating member of Solent Mediation Group.
Types of matters mediated include:
Civil and Commercial matters
Sale of Goods and Services
Neighbourhood Issues
Landlord and Tenant
Family Property
Environmental
Shipping
Insurance
Probate
Has mediated, co-mediated, and represented clients in, many mediations. These have included two party and multiparty mediations; and have covered a wide range of conflict situations as illustrated by the following examples:
Dispute between landlord and commercial tenant re services provided by landlord
Dispute between airtime provider and regional dealer regarding performance of retailing and servicing contract.
Dispute as to specification and payment for aluminium coils supplied to commercial roofing business.
Dispute between neighbours as to parking arrangements
Dispute as to quality and payment for 'instant' hedging
Dispute between landlord and tenant regarding operation of covenants in the lease
Dispute between local authority and school re operation of cleaning contract
Dispute as to payment for landscaping services
Dispute between neighbours as to nuisance
Family dispute relating to occupation of family home
Dispute between County Council and Farmer re contamination of a borehole by leakage from landfill
Dispute between house-owners and housing developer re properties contaminated with waste material.
Family dispute as to provision of a will
Dispute between IT services provider and customer re quality of hardware and services
Long standing dispute between residents of the village of Pagham, local owners of agricultural land, the Environment Agency, English Nature and West Sussex County Council regarding effects on the village and local designated wildlife sites of a scheme to re-route flow from the River Lavant to Pagham Harbour to safeguard Chichester from flooding.
Dispute as to standard of refurbishment of a ship
Professional indemnity claim against solicitors for mishandling of personal injury claim.
Outcomes
All disputes mediated by Christeopher Napier have reached a settlement at the mediation.
Personal style
Comments from parties and co-mediators:
“We would use Christopher Napier again as he was a very solid mediator”.
"We found him to be very balanced, he reality-tested well and he was extremely fair”.
"We would definitely use him again”.
“He was very friendly and helpful”.
“He established good rapport with our clients and they were very happy with the mediation day and the outcome”.
“His work gave us our life back”
“Had a very full grasp of the facts and issues”
“Quiet manner…thoughtful and on the ball….had clearly built a good rapport with both sides”
Professional background
Litigation partner of Clifford Chance until retirement in April 1999. Whilst at Clifford Chance, regularly appeared in Legal 500, Chambers and European Counsel as a leading commercial litigation and environmental lawyer. A shipping law specialist in earlier years of practice.
Qualified as a solicitor after serving 14 years as a Seaman and specialist navigating officer in the Royal Navy, mainly in submarines. Became partner of Clifford Chance in 1983.
Practised from home as a solicitor and mediator 1999 – 2004. Now practises from home as a mediator.
Has often given presentations on mediation
Other experience of assisted dispute resolution
Trained in stakeholder dialogue facilitation by the Environment Council and practices in this area as opportunity arises, mainly in the environmental arena.
Regular user of arbitration process in earlier years of practice.
