Helen Curtis is a accredited civil mediator and practising barrister. She brings skills used in litigation namely energy, insight and stamina to effective use in the mediation process. Specialising in, but not limited to, community care, Court of Protection, Education including SEND, employment, discrimination, housing, judicial review, and public law.
Offering ‘excellent interpersonal skills’ and an ability to ‘keep the focus on coming to an agreement’. Helen helps parties mediating disputes involving strong emotion, grievance. With a constructive approach beginning at the first point of contact, before mediation listening to what the parties are looking for from their mediation. Calm and relaxed style, ‘remaining unbiased’ and adapting the mediation process to accommodate the parties’ concerns. This varies depending on the issues within the dispute, the nature and size of the claim. Helping parties reach resolution in cases which are commercially sensitive and complex, and where disputes have been ongoing for years. She doesn’t shy away from grasping what lies at the heart of the dispute, even where parties are poles apart.
Helen’s experience of dealing with vulnerable clients in litigation infuses the mediation process with stability and enables her to build rapport whether remotely or in person. She has mediated community neighbourhood disputes and facilitated restorative conferences.
Using her experience as a qualified civil mediator to raise awareness of mediation. Speaking at the SHLA conference on 13 March 2025. Helen had judged mediation competitions. In Paris at the International Chamber of Commerce Mediation Competition and in London with the University of Law. Having been instrumental in organising Mediation Awareness Week in 2016, 2017 and 2018, Helen remains committed to furthering the understanding and use of mediation across the conflict spectrum.
Helen was part if the approved mediation pilot (now concluded) for Court of Protection disputes. She continues to mediate at legal aid rates for these disputes.
Helen is always willing to have a confidential and informal discussion with parties prior to taking on a mediation.
To make an enquiry for Helen Curtis’s mediation services email mediationclerks@gclaw.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form.
Publications
- Family Mediation – For better or worse, co-author with Kate Aubrey-Johnson, LAG April 2011
- Making Mediation work for you: a practical handbook – Kate Aubrey-Johnson with Helen Curtis, LAG, June 2012
Memberships
- Civil Mediation Council Ltd
- Restorative Justice Council
What the parties say
- Remained unbiased – party in civil dispute
- Very personable and has excellent interpersonal skills – counsel in discrimination dispute
- Very calm nature showing empathy to the situation – party in multi-party insurance claim
- Helen was very good at managing the situation…and keeping the focus on coming to an agreement – party in landlord/tenant dispute
- Personable, straight to the point, kind – solicitor in probate dispute
- Very professional and did a wonderful job summarizing the issues…Helen gave each party ample time to speak and there was no feeling of being rushed – party in landlord/tenant dispute
- Firm but fair. Relaxed and matter of fact. Very clear – parties to a harassment dispute
- Helen was approachable, friendly and very clear throughout…she was extremely patient dealing with a difficult and longstanding issue – solicitor in a housing dispute
- honesty, straight-forward and direct, very professional and friendly and engaging – parties to a damages claim
- Very well prepared, engaged very sympathetically with emotional client – solicitor for party in IT dispute
- Stamina! Patience too. Explained things in advance – party in deputyship dispute
- Helen was excellent – well-prepared, knowledgeable, very pleasant and sympathetic to my client – counsel in statutory will dispute