Solicitor and mediator moves into Acklam Hall

April 21st 2017

SOLICITOR and MEDIATOR Samantha Lowe has launched an innovative legal service at Acklam Hall where she is offering her expertise to clients in a bid to save them time, money and heartache.

After graduating from University of Northumbria at Newcastle with First Class Honours in LLB Law with French Law she joined top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway where she worked for nine years.

Her legal consultancy service based in a new office at the recently restored Grade I Listed mansion in Middlesbrough allows Samantha to work for several law firms at any one time on a fee-share basis. She is taking this fresh approach to the needs of clients, by working in an innovative new way with dispersed law firm Setfords which is a market leader in providing consultant lawyer support with around 160 lawyers across the UK.

"Clients are becoming more savvy when it comes to what they want from lawyers and how they want their lawyers to work for them and more importantly how they want to pay them", she said.

"As a consultant I can offer flexible arrangements that best suit them from monthly retainers, to paying varied hourly rates and fixed fees and, due to technology, I can offer my services nationally and internationally, my most recent client lives and works in South Africa and Vietnam", explained Samantha who has been recognised in Chambers and Partners since 2014 and was listed as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500.

As well as continuing to practice as a litigator, she is now using her skills to focus on mediation and conflict resolution - crucial services that she believes are not widely offered in the region. Samantha is launching Concentus mediation specialising in commercial litigation, contested trusts and estates.

Specialist commercial mediators in the region are lacking - specialist, dynamic, female, commercial mediators even more so, she said.

"As a litigator I have a steely edge but as a person I have a great ability to empathise and listen, I'm patient and I know when it's right to push on for an outcome and when it's best to give both parties time to get a breath of fresh air and clear their heads. Something that is necessary in disputes, especially those involving inheritance and high-flying emotions."

Samantha, 33, who lives with her husband and daughter in Yarm, added: "Mediation is a massive cost saving exercise both financially and emotionally, It allows closure much earlier on in proceedings, it can avoid court hearings and prevents clients from having to get bogged down in too much detail and costs.

"It allows them to take control of the outcome and try to mould a solution themselves, to try to find a resolution that satisfies both parties.

"I want to focus on something not readily available in the region. I am keen to emphasise that people dont have to instruct mediators from London or Leeds for this expert service -the talent is here in the region."

For more information email sam.lowe@concentus-mediation.co.uk or call 07940 231 652.