Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
BOOK REVIEW BY PHILLIP TAYLOR MBE
THE MEDIATOR’S TALE
The CEDR Story of Better Conflicts
By Eileen Carroll QC (Hon) and Dr Karl Mackie CBE
ISBN 978 1 52651 583 4
BLOOMSBURY PROFESSIONAL LAW
bloomsburyprofessionallaw.com/online
BRILLIANT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS INTO MODERN MEDIATION
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
“The Mediator’s Tale” has been published by Bloomsbury Professional “to celebrate the 30th anniversary of CEDR's emergence as the world's leading independent disputes consultancy”. The book arrives at a particularly pivotal moment for the future of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution option in view of the massive build-up of unheard cases in the courts. But mediation is not to the taste of all litigants, or “participants” as we call them! However, you may change your mind when you read this tale.
The authors, Eileen Carroll QC and Dr Karl Mackie give us a fresh light on the personal motivations and strategy behind what they describe as “a unique example of disruptive innovation in the legal system, while sharing their professional insight into how we can achieve better conflict management in our personal and professional lives”.
In their own words, Carroll and Mackie begin their tale by charting “the personal and organisational drivers behind the success of CEDR in the UK and internationally, drawing out important insights for other innovators and campaigners for change to a traditional system”. Don’t you just love the description of how they describe their task- “very mediation”, but don’t be put off!
The main part of the book then draws on experience spanning thirty years to illustrate key insights in “a matter of fact” way as to how the mediation process, and other independent conflict intervention techniques which deliver results. The book explains how such techniques can be made to work “most effectively”; and how one can adapt these skills and systems for old and new dispute contexts, with the “challenges for the future of better conflict management” (as they put it).
This splendid work also offers tips to assist the reader analyse their own personal experiences in conflict and dispute resolution. The purpose is to offer suggestions on what they can learn from “the insights of leading practitioners, while becoming familiar with a fascinating and unique lifetime's professional practice, and the diverse experiences of a leading independent institution in the field”.
Without doubt, this important and readable book is one which any mediator or potential mediator should include in his or her library as ADR continues its upward journey as a realistic way of resolving disagreements without recourse to the courts.
The date of publication of this new paperback edition is cited as 7th December 2021.
BOOK REVIEW BY PHILLIP TAYLOR MBE
THE MEDIATOR’S TALE
The CEDR Story of Better Conflicts
By Eileen Carroll QC (Hon) and Dr Karl Mackie CBE
ISBN 978 1 52651 583 4
BLOOMSBURY PROFESSIONAL LAW
bloomsburyprofessionallaw.com/online
BRILLIANT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INSIGHTS INTO MODERN MEDIATION
An appreciation by Elizabeth Robson Taylor MA of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator
“The Mediator’s Tale” has been published by Bloomsbury Professional “to celebrate the 30th anniversary of CEDR's emergence as the world's leading independent disputes consultancy”. The book arrives at a particularly pivotal moment for the future of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution option in view of the massive build-up of unheard cases in the courts. But mediation is not to the taste of all litigants, or “participants” as we call them! However, you may change your mind when you read this tale.
The authors, Eileen Carroll QC and Dr Karl Mackie give us a fresh light on the personal motivations and strategy behind what they describe as “a unique example of disruptive innovation in the legal system, while sharing their professional insight into how we can achieve better conflict management in our personal and professional lives”.
In their own words, Carroll and Mackie begin their tale by charting “the personal and organisational drivers behind the success of CEDR in the UK and internationally, drawing out important insights for other innovators and campaigners for change to a traditional system”. Don’t you just love the description of how they describe their task- “very mediation”, but don’t be put off!
The main part of the book then draws on experience spanning thirty years to illustrate key insights in “a matter of fact” way as to how the mediation process, and other independent conflict intervention techniques which deliver results. The book explains how such techniques can be made to work “most effectively”; and how one can adapt these skills and systems for old and new dispute contexts, with the “challenges for the future of better conflict management” (as they put it).
This splendid work also offers tips to assist the reader analyse their own personal experiences in conflict and dispute resolution. The purpose is to offer suggestions on what they can learn from “the insights of leading practitioners, while becoming familiar with a fascinating and unique lifetime's professional practice, and the diverse experiences of a leading independent institution in the field”.
Without doubt, this important and readable book is one which any mediator or potential mediator should include in his or her library as ADR continues its upward journey as a realistic way of resolving disagreements without recourse to the courts.
The date of publication of this new paperback edition is cited as 7th December 2021.
