Hugh Elder

Hugh has over 40 years' experience as a solicitor and 9 as a mediator, supporting dispute resolution, litigation, arbitration and mediation, especially in the fields of:

• Contract and other commercial disputes, including competition;
• Employment;
• Inheritance disputes and other probate and trust issues;
• Landlord & tenant, dilapidations, boundary and other property disputes including TOLATA claims;
• Professional negligence claims; compliance and costs issues within the legal profession;
• Shareholder and partnership disputes

An approachable facilitative style encouraging parties to work together, while (in private, confidential meetings) using his experience to help each party undertake a realistic appraisal of the merits of their case.  

Hugh prepares thoroughly and works hard with parties to help bring about a resolution with which they can live, and then move on.

* Qualified as a solicitor in 1973 and engaged continuously in full-time practice until retirement in August 2017. 

* A firm believer in the merits of mediation as part of the dispute resolution process.

* Represented numerous clients as a solicitor at mediations over 20 years. Now mediating on his own account; completed more than 20 mediations.

* Accredited as a mediator by CEDR in 2015; registered with, and panel member of, the Civil Mediation Council.  Also a registered member of CEDR adjudication panel (consumer disputes).

* President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association from 1998 to 2000 at the time of the Woolf Reforms, which encouraged and incentivised litigants to mediate.

* Managing partner of Gordon Dadds, with which firm he spent most of his career, from 2003 to 2013.

* Acutely aware of commercial pressures and demands on those running businesses and the need to find a realistic and workable solution to time-consuming and expensive disputes without just papering over cracks.

* Advised numerous private individuals unaccustomed to being involved with the legal system, developing a reputation for guiding them through an unfamiliar process with tact and sensitivity.

* An approachable facilitative style encouraging parties to work together, while (in private, confidential meetings) using his experience to help each party undertake a realistic appraisal of the merits of their case.  

* Hugh prepares thoroughly and works hard with parties to help bring about a resolution with which they can live, and then move on.

• 20 November 2023

  Kitchen installation

  Outcome: Settled
• 27 October 2023

  Property

  Outcome: Settled after date
• 20 September 2023

  Commercial/Property (residential development)

  Outcome: Settled after date
• 11 July 2023

  Commercial (7 parties) fixed interest bond

  Outcome: Did Not Settle
• 31 March 2023

  Contested probate

  Outcome: Settled
• 16 January 2023

  Commercial

  Outcome: Adjourned
• 15 December 2022

  Shareholder Agreement

  Outcome: Settled after date
• 23 November 2022

  Solicitors' costs

  Outcome: Settled
• 30 August 2022

  Building Dispute

  Outcome: Settled
• 19 August 2022

  Trespass

  Outcome: Did Not Settle
• 17 August 2022

  Small claims consumer (commercial)

  Outcome: Settled
• 15 June 2022

  Shared driveway

  Outcome: Partial Settlement
• 11 September 2019

  Small claims consumer claim against tour company (religious pilgrimage)

  Outcome: Did Not Settle
• 14 August 2019

  Employment (small claims)

  Outcome: Settled
• 13 August 2019

  Small claims consumer dispute (telecoms)

  Outcome: Did Not Settle
• 12 August 2019

  Boundary wall dispute (small claims)

  Outcome: Did Not Settle
• 24 May 2018

  Landlord & Tenant

  Outcome: Settled
• 26 February 2018

  Contested probate

  Outcome: Settled
• 11 December 2017

  High value employment case

  Outcome: Did Not Settle
• 29 November 2017

  Commercial Distributorship Agreement

  Outcome: Settled after date
• 31 March 2017

  Building Dispute

  Outcome: Settled
• 6 October 2016

  Solicitors' costs

  Outcome: Settled