Divorce and Separation Centre

Christopher Richards

Managing Director and Family Mediator

Christopher is the managing director of Family Mediation Limited. He has been a family mediator since 1986. Having originally a background in social work and family therapy, he has learned, by mediating with thousands of separating couples, to help them resolve all issues of difference- financial, parental, psychological and legal.

Lesley Saunders

Family Mediator

Lesley has been a mediator, supervisor and trainer since 1993, initially in the community between neighbours and within families and later in the workplace; within the County Court; between businesses; with education authorities and parents; with service providers and people with disabilities and more recently with separating couples. Lesley is an experienced trainer in all aspects of conflict resolution and management.

Shomini Whiting

Family Mediator

Shomini completed family mediator training 4 years ago, having previously been a social worker, working with all client groups, but mainly with children and families. Her previous experience has included Court work and helping couples in crisis. She is a member of the Family Mediators' Association.

Mike Stepan

Family Mediator

Mike came to mediation after 39 years in international advertising. Mediation is an outlet for his interest in families, his expertise in acting as go-between and his financial knowledge.

The training and the challenges involved in helping clients come to fair and practical decisions have given him a very friendly and professional approach.

Margaret Pendlebury

Family Mediator

Margaret has been a mediator since 1992 and a Professional Practice Supervisor since 1999. Her previous background was as a children and families social worker.

She is a practitioner, trainer and practice consultant to several mediation services. She is skilled in helping separating couples negotiate financial issues, whilst maintaining a focus on the well-being of the children. She is on the Professional Practice Committee of National Family Mediation and is committed to developing the highest standards of mediation practice.

Mumtaz King

Family Mediator

Mumtaz is a qualified solicitor specialising in property law. She trained as a family mediator in 2005, and is a member of the Family Mediators' Association. Mumtaz is also a member of His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami's Ismaili National Conciliation and Arbitration Board for the United Kingdom, where she has been co-mediating for the past 6 years.

She is committed to helping couples stay in control by resolving their disputes through mediation, where couples are in control of the decisions they make - ones they can live with. She believes that Mediators bring a sense of positive energy into the room, which does not exist in a court environment.

Susan Tilley

Family Mediator

Sue originally trained and practised as a family lawyer. She later became a family mediator and has practised in several voluntary mediation Services.

She is now also a Professional Practice consultant to mediators, a mediation trainer and a law lecturer at the University of Westminster.