How do my partner and I engage in the Mediation process?

During the time that she practised as a solicitor (she was formerly a partner with Downie & Gadban, Solicitors, of Alton, Hampshire), Stephanie Hollidge-Goode gained wide experience over more than 16 years in many and varied aspects of the law. Prior to retiring as a Solicitor at the end of 1999, in order to practise full-time as a Lawyer/Family Mediator, she gained long and specialist experience in dealing with all matters arising between divorcing and separating couples. Although, when practising as a Solicitor, she specialised in Family Law, her experience over 16 years as a General Practitioner enables her to utilise and draw upon — for the benefit of separating couples — her wide experience of the theory and practice of the Law in those areas which need often to be addressed, such as: dealing with Family Companies; dealing with business partnerships; employment matters; the sale and purchase of properties; taxation matters; Wills and Family Trusts, and so on.

Stephanie Hollidge-Goode B.Ed.(London)(Hons), M.C.F.M., undertook training as a Lawyer Mediator under the late Professor John Haynes Ph.D, who was generally held to be a leading authority on Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is a Member of the British Association of Lawyer Mediators, the Solicitors' Family Law Association, and the Family Mediators' Association.

She is also a Full Member of the U.K. College of Family Mediators, and a Solicitors' Family Law Association trained Mediator.

She is committed to the Mediation Process as an alternative for those couples who seek to work together with her towards resolving issues arising from their separation or divorce, prior to or after their separation, in a mutually constructive and non-adversarial way, and one designed to enable couples to maintain dignity, fairness and goodwill both during and after the period of separation.