Education

2015: MSc Art Law & Business (Distinction) (Christies/University of Glasgow)
2006: Called to the Bar (Inner Temple)
1991: Admitted as a solicitor
1989: Solicitor Finals & Law Society Prize: Innes and Howard Watson Prize for Family Law
1988: BA (Hons) Law and French
1986: Diplôme Programme de Civilisation Française & Européene Contemporaine

Mediation Training

Family Mediator (Resolution)
Civil and Commercial Mediator (ADR Group)
Civil and Commercial Mediator RICS

Harvard Law School: Advanced Mediation: Mediating Complex Disputes
Accredited Faith Dispute Mediator (BIMA)
Workplace Mediator (CEDR)
Multi-Level International Mediation. OxPeace, Oxford University.

Panel Member Family & Civil ADR-ODR International
Panel Member CAfA (Court of Arbitration for Art) The Hague.

Mediation for Financial Remedy and Divorce

Division of family finance within divorce is frequently highly charged.  At a time when parties are navigating separation and transition to separate lives, with all the attendant emotional stresses of this, they each have to face a detailed assessment of financial needs and provision going forward. Letters passing between lawyers serve to increase costs and the issuing of court proceedings, whilst putting the process into a formal timetable, often generates additional fear, cost and stress. Gathering financial information in mediation, early in the process and clarifying the extent of the financial landscape can help ease this process and help start the discussions necessary to reach proposals which each party believes are workable.  It is efficient both in terms of costs and time. All discussions are confidential and cannot be referred to outside of mediation. Parties can reach out to lawyers for independent advice throughout the process.  Experts can be jointly invited into the process to assist in clarifying matters such as tax, valuations, pensions etc. Proposals can be written up into a final consent order, which can be submitted for sealing by a court without the need for any attendance. Mediation can be  arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle.  Legal representatives can also be present.

Mediation for unmarried couples

Separating couples who are not married experience all the same challenges as those divorcing. However their legal rights are treated very differently.  Property division falls under different detailed law and some areas of children disputes are also considered by the courts using different criteria. Litigation for separating couples can be extremely costly. This is because the subject matter and the law are complex and it follows that the necessary pleadings also tend to be lengthy and complex. Further there are significant risks for each party having  to pay the other’s legal costs, depending on the outcome of the applications.  In addition, there are of course the stresses and emotional costs of being in contested litigation.   Mediation in the light of this can be an extremely efficient and cost effective process.  Mediation can be  arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle.  Legal representatives can also be present.

Mediation for all Children issues.

Issues surrounding arrangements for children upon separation are some of the most emotive areas for resolution.  The issues come at a time when the whole family are navigating change and transition, and when the adults are often in conflict between themselves.  Mediation allows for sensitive child-focussed discussions.  Constructive solutions for successful separate co-parenting, addressing communication problems and joint parenting plans for the future structure of child arrangements can all be  addressed in mediation. In this way the stresses and costs of contested proceedings can be avoided. Mediation for children issues can be  arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle.  Legal representatives can also be present.

Mediation for Inheritance Act disputes.

The death and the loss of a family member can affect people in a variety of ways.  Families can often start disagreeing as early as finalising the arrangements for the funeral:  selection of music, choice of photographs, type of coffin.  There can even be disputes as to cremation or burial.  When it comes to contesting bequests in a Will or the validity of a Will, there may be a number of interested beneficiaries.  For disputes such as these to descend into litigation is extremely costly.  The  costs of litigation will often be paid by the estate, leaving significantly depleted funds for final division.  Everybody loses.  Agreeing to mediate in such circumstances is both cost effective and efficient. Mediation for disputes arising upon the death of a family member can be  arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle, or a mixture of both.  Legal representatives can be, and often are, present.

Mediation  for business succession and family wealth disputes

Family wealth questions, such as what should be sold to pay for a parent’s care, or disputes as to how those exercising Powers of Attorney are making decisions, can be costly if allowed to escalate to litigation. Feelings run high and threats of litigation through solicitors tend to escalate situations. Mediation provides a time efficient and cost efficient way of  entering constructive dialogue to reach proposals everyone can live with.

Other family wealth issues can be the difficult discussions around the succession of family business, transfer of shareholdings, passing control to adult children can sometimes be fraught. Again, mediation with a neutral third party can assist in facilitating constructive processes and solutions , keeping l is sue s private. Mediation for  family wealth disputes can be  arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle, or a mixture of both. Legal representatives can be present.

Mediation for Art and Cultural Heritage Disputes

Nicola was awarded a distinction for MSc in Art Law and Business (Christies).  Her time spent in both her international studies and in-house at Christies, London, has provided Nicola with a thorough understanding of the  detailed workings and nuances of the art market.  Nicola was part of the international steering group for the foundation of the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA), situated in the Hague, presenting at its inaugural launch. She is a frequent speaker at conferences & universities in UK and Europe on the role of mediation in Art and Cultural Heritage matters.

Disputes regarding ownership, authenticity, insurances and a wide range of contract terms are all suitable for mediation. Mediation for  art and cultural heritage matter can be  arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle, or a mixture of both. Legal representatives can be present.

Training

Nicola is a sought-after trainer both in the UK and Europe.

In-house: Nicola regularly delivers in-house training at all levels: from paralegals to associates, supervisors & senior partners.  She also works at a senior level with partners and senior managers at in-house ‘Away Days’.

Bar Council: Author of the Bar Council’s Litigation Course
Co-author of the Bar Council’s Public Access Course
Co-author of the Public Access Sharpener
Co-author Public Access for Clerks.

Resolution: ‘Advocacy’; ‘How to Thrive and not just Survive in Family Law’; ‘Excellence in Communication Skills.

Royal Academy, London/Maastricht University: Mediation and NCDR for the EMCL Cultural Masters Programme.

Essex University: Annual one-day Mediation workshop.

Speaking Engagements

May 2024: Legal Keynote: Communication Skills Stowe Family Law, ‘Stowefest’, Leeds

February 2024: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 19th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

January 2024:  Delivery of Mediation Workshop for Reading Mediators.

September 2023:  Nicola asked by the Family Mediators Association to return to deliver her Mediation Skills Workshop at their annual conference.

June 2023: Annual one-day Mediation workshop for University of Essex.

April 2023: Training Jersey Family Law Association

February 2023: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 18th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

January 2023: Nicola has been invited again as Guest Lecturer in Brussels by the Royal Academy/Maastricht University for their Executive Masters in Cultural Leadership post graduate course. “ADR in Art and Cultural matters”.

December 2022:  Nicola has been made Head of 4PB NCDR Group in Chambers.

December 2022:  Nicola has been made Head of 4PB ADR Group in Chambers.

December 2022:  Nicola Delivered in-house training to solicitors in Oxfordshire: How to thrive and not just Survive in Family Law

November 2022: Nicola delivered 3 days of bespoke advocacy training in St Helier, Jersey, to members of Jersey Family Lawyers Association.

October 2022: Nicola was keynote speaker at University College Cork, Ireland: “I hear what you say, but what are you telling me? Understanding the language of disputes and using it to maximum advantage in Mediation.”

September 2022:  Nicola was asked by the Family Mediators Association to deliver a Mediation Skills Workshop: Skills for Diffusing and De-escalating Conflict in Mediation, at their annual conference.

September 2022: Nicola Wallace was invited to deliver a workshop at the annual Family Mediators Association Conference, Kings College, London; “The interface between Family Law & Mediation…coming out of the shadows. Diffusing and de-escalating conflict: theory and practice.”

June 2022: Nicola delivered a one-day Mediation workshop for the University of
Essex.

March 2022: Nicola has been invited again as Guest Lecturer in the Netherlands by the Royal Academy/Maastricht University for their Executive Masters in Cultural Leadership post graduate course.

February 2022: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 17th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

November 2021: Nicola was a panel member for Bar Council Complaints seminar.

May 2021: Nicola delivered her one-day course Using Words Well for Resolution at their annual conference.

February 2021: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 16th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

November 2020: Nicola was a panel member for Bar Council Complaints seminar.

February 2020: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 15th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

January 2020: Nicola was invited as Guest Lecturer in Brussels by the Royal Academy/Maastricht University for their Executive Masters in Cultural Leadership course, The role of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Art and Cultural Disputes.

November 2019: Nicola delivered a workshop Using Words Well at Resolution DR conference, Nottingham.

September 2019: Nicola delivered 4 days of in-house advocacy training in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

February 2019: Nicola has again been invited to be a judge at the 14th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

June 2018: Nicola was invited as a panel member to speak about succession planning and protection of personal property and assets in divorce at the Art Business Summit, Adare Manor, Ireland.

June 2018: Nicola was invited to be part of the small team of International Lawyers, led by William Charron of Pryor Cashman LLP, New York, who have been developing a centre of excellence for Art and Heritage disputes “Court of Arbitration for Art” (CAfA) in the Hague. Nicola presented on the subject of Mediation at the launch of CAfA at the AiA Conference, The Hague.

February 2018: Nicola was invited to be a judge at the 13th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

3rd November 2017: Nicola was invited to speak as a panel member on the subject of mediation at The Art Business Summit, Dublin.

June 2017: Nicola was part of the Faculty at Harvard Law School, assisting in the delivery of the Advanced Mediation Course: Mediating Complex Disputes.

February 2017: Nicola was invited to be a judge at the 12th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris.

November 2016: 21st Ius Commune Congress, Maastricht University: ‘The role of Mediation in Art & Heritage Disputes’.

November 2016: As part of Art Resolve, Nicola presented ‘Mediation in Art and Heritage Disputes’: Art Law conference, Sotheby’s Institute.

November 2016: Nicola presented ‘Mediation – Managing the Litigation Risk’: Art Law conference, K & Gates LLP.

March 2016: Nicola was invited again to present at the MACCH conference, Maastricht University –‘The Role of Mediation in Art-related disputes.’

November 2015: Nicola was invited to deliver a lecture at Hague University of Applied Sciences.