Before training as a mediator, Lesley worked for 25 years in research and marketing. She worked with national companies and household names, assessing the impact of their products and services.
Lesley brings her considerable energy, enthusiasm and organisational skills to the development of a second career in mediation. She trained with the Family Mediators Association in 2015 and began work as an administrator with a local mediation practice, which enabled her to understand the client’s journey, from initial phone call to completed mediation. She has built up considerable experience in individual meetings with clients and has an excellent appreciation of the importance of explaining the process of mediation and encouraging clients to understand the opportunity that mediation offers to reach agreements and avoid expensive stressful court proceedings.
Lesley has developed a particular interest in financial mediation and has undertaken extensive training to develop her expertise in this area. Lesley says: “Each financial case is different, and there are so many different solutions that can be discussed. I enjoy the challenge of helping people through the process and empowering them to reach workable practical agreements.”
Lesley offers online mediation and says that the process translates well to financial mediation where people are able to access paperwork easily and often feel more relaxed in their own surroundings.
Lesley is a presenter on the Family Matters Separated Parents Information Programme and says the knowledge and information gained through delivering the programme has been invaluable to the development of her practice as a mediator.
Lesley is able to offer online mediation across the UK and, when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, looks forward to returning to face to face mediations across the Yorkshire area. Some of the clients that Lesley has helped during lockdown have said:
“Thank you Lesley. Personally I found you to be clear, responsive, impartial, and I kept faith that you would help guide us through, and you did. Thank you.”
“Lesley was a very helpful and patient mediator who made a difficult process much easier, and I am pleased with the results that she helped us achieved.” Ms O
“Overall I was really happy with the whole process during this really difficult period in my life. I found the mediation sessions really helpful and we managed to get an agreement that suited us both. The online session as fine, getting us to that final agreement.” Ms M
“Thank you very much for all your help. You helped to guide us through a very difficult process in a calm and informative manner.” Ms D
“I have attended 5 mediation sessions, four of them in person and the fifth by video conference owing to coronavirus restrictions/precautions. As I suspect with many who attend mediation sessions, it was not something I envisaged participating in. It was not an experience I found particularly comfortable. nd ensure that our daughter’s needs have remained our primary focus. The mediation sessions have taken place over a 5-month duration, which to my mind has been helpful in allowing time to reflect, to compromise and reach agreement. It has also enabled legal advice to be sought where needed. Whilst circumstances have been challenging, there has been no unnecessary pressure or deadlines resulting from the mediation process. I know you provided quite an amount of relevant literature and sources of useful information at our first meeting, which I found useful. During the sessions we were able to explore various options, some at your suggestion, in order to conclude an agreement.” Mr Q
“Thank you for all your help. You have been brilliant.” Mr A
“I am currently acting for a client who, together with his wife, has been in mediation with Lesley Dudleston, a Mediator with Family Matters, discussing financial issues. They have arrived at proposals acceptable to both of them and I have received the documentation prepared by Lesley setting out the background and the proposals together with a separate schedule of financial information. Both documents are excellent, clear and concise, providing all the necessary information in straightforward and clear terms. They are very well drafted indeed. Lesley has, I believe, assisted the client and his wife greatly, as well as assisting us in advising the client on them.” A Solicitor, South Yorkshire
Lesley is accredited by the Family Mediation Council and is a member of Resolution
