
5 March 2020
Separation and divorce usually involve a major crisis for a family where emotions can run high, especially if there are children to consider.
However, with mediation it can be handled calmly, where both sides work together to find the best solution for them and their children.
Sheila Parkes, who heads Haymarket Family Mediation at Phillips Solicitors incorporating Brain Chase Coles, believes mediation is one of the most sensible and cost-effective ways of resolving family problems when a relationship has broken down as it provides clients with a safe environment for them to meet with a neutral experienced mediator who will assist them in finding a resolution that works for them both.
In fact, for the majority of people, mediation is a quicker and cheaper option for resolving family difficulties than going to court, where the outcome can never be accurately predicted. Sheila believes separating couples are the best people to make the decisions that will affect their future and that of their children rather than a judge imposing a decision.
Sheila says “In my experience mediation is an effective way of resolving issues in a dignified, respectful, constructive and co-operative manner. Mutually acceptable solutions can be found even in the most difficult cases, whether the disagreement is about child-care arrangements or how the family assets should be divided.”
Sheila and her team at Haymarket Family Mediation are based at Town Gate, 38 London Street, Basingstoke and can offer mediation with clients together, by shuttle (where each client is in a different room), or even by skype – whatever suits the clients more. Sheila is also qualified to see children as part of the mediation process in appropriate cases.
Haymarket Family Mediation is approved by the Legal Aid Agency to offer Legal Aid for those who qualify financially. This is a welcome benefit to clients who may otherwise have nowhere else to turn to for help. Mediation can also be used for cross generational issues such as with grandparents.
If you feel that mediation is right for you or to find out more information, please contact Sheila by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01256 854652.
Disclaimer
This article is current at the date of publication set out above and is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.
Contact Us
Please call us or email and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
- 01256 460830
- [email protected]

The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 became law on 19th June and amends elements of the existing law[1] – albeit much of it is yet to come into effect. We think many of the updates ...
More
Exploring legal careers and inspiring future solicitors Last week, Phillips Law welcomed a group of Year 10 students from Testbourne School to our offices, providing them with insights ...
More
We are pleased to announce that Joanna Moroney and Matt Blankley have joined our Corporate & Commercial team. Joanna Moroney – Legal Director Joanna brings nearly a decade of ...
More
Lessons from Standish v Standish[2025] UKSC 26 Introduction Yesterday the UK Supreme Court took the opportunity to clarify the law as to how the sharing principle applies to non-matrimo ...
More
At Phillips Law, we believe in the power of community, creativity, and connection. That’s why we were absolutely delighted to sponsor the very first Family Day at The Grange Festi ...
More
We are incredibly proud to announce that Sian Lias, legal director and co-head of the Wills, Trusts and Probate team at Phillips Law, has been shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year at the ...
More