Helen is a trained, accredited mediator – including online training – with ‘excellent interpersonal skills’ and an ability to ‘keep the focus on coming to an agreement’. Helen is experienced in mediating disputes where there is a high degree of strong emotion, grievance and parties are seemingly entrenched. Helen’s constructive approach begins at the first point of contact, prior to the mediation when she listens to what the parties are looking for from their mediation. She is noted for her calm and relaxed style, ‘remaining unbiased’ and she adapts the mediation process to accommodate the parties’ concerns. This varies depending on the issues within the dispute, the nature and size of the claim. Helen helps 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 brings the skills used in litigation namely energy, insight and stamina to effective use in the mediation process. Helen arranges separate online meetings via zoom or MS Teams prior to the mediation to ensure the parties are comfortable with the technology if the mediation is going to be online and can ask any questions in advance of the mediation to get the most out of the mediation day itself. 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.
Helen speaks at seminars to raise awareness and understanding of mediation and has been invited to speak at the next SHLA conference on 13 March 2025. As a former volunteer with CALM Mediation, Helen mediated community neighbourhood disputes and facilitated restorative conferences. Helen had judged mediation competitions both at the International Chamber of Commerce Mediation Competition in Paris 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. As a mediator on the panel approved for the mediation pilot (now concluded) for Court of Protection disputes, Helen continues to mediate at legal aid rates for these disputes.
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