Band 3
Provided by Oliver Hallam
Private Wealth and Succession
Contentious Trust and Probate
Family Business
Partnership and Company Disputes
Rural and Agricultural Disputes
Property and Land Disputes
Sport Disputes (Equestrian, Football, Motorsport)
Professional Negligence
Elder Law
Oliver is a full-time, accredited mediator (CMC registered and internationally accredited) specialising in civil and commercial disputes. He works nationwide and internationally, drawing on a robust legal background. Oliver trained as a solicitor at Allen & Overy LLP, a Magic Circle firm, and spent ten years at Wrigleys Solicitors, a top-tier firm for private wealth matters, where he was a partner in the private client team.
With over a decade of mediation experience, Oliver has successfully resolved a wide range of disputes including those involving trusts, tax, company, partnership, property, employment, probate and elder law. He is particularly known for his work in private wealth, sport, and family business disputes. Oliver’s psychotherapeutic approach, combined with his legal expertise, enables him to help parties navigate complex, sensitive and often highly emotional conflicts.
Oliver is a practitioner of non-evaluative mediation, empowering parties to find their own solutions while challenging assumptions through careful reality testing. He mediates in person, online and by telephone, offering bespoke processes tailored to each case.
• CEDR Panel Mediator
• Sport Resolutions Panel Mediator (2024–2027)
• Civil Mediation Council (CMC) (former Director and current member of the CMC Commercial Mediation Working Group)
• International Mediation Institute (IMI)
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb)
• Association of Northern Mediators (Director)
• Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
• Contentious Trusts Association (ConTrA)
• Family Firm Institute (FFI)
Oliver is an active advocate for the use of mediation in resolving complex disputes. He is keen to see mediation develop and is a member of the civil and commercial mediation working group of the CMC. He frequently presents to law firms, chambers, and professional networks on mediation strategy, early intervention, and the benefits of alternative dispute resolution. He also writes on mediation and regularly contributes to sector events and conferences.
Registered and Accredited Mediator:
CEDR International Mediation Accreditation
Regent’s School of Psychology and Psychotherapy, London Mediation Accreditation
STEP Trust and Estate Practitioner Diploma (TEP)
STEP Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising (Distinction)
Solicitor (non-practicing)
Elder Mediation – Craig Ward
Member of STEP Contentious Probate, Family Business and Mental Capacity Special Interest
Groups
Online Mediation – Relate London North West and Calm Scotland
Special Industry Accreditation (SIA) – The Property Ombudsman
Oliver has mediated a wide range of disputes involving individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. His recent experience includes:
• Inheritance & Contested Probate: Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, complex succession planning disputes, and contested wills.
• Trusts & Estates: Breach of trust claims, constructive and resulting trust claims, estoppel disputes, and conflicts between trustees and beneficiaries.
• Family Business: Director and shareholder disputes, succession planning conflicts, and multi-generational governance issues.
• Agricultural and rural: a wide range of farming and agricultural land issues, family farming enterprises and landed estates.
• Property: Disputes involving landlord and tenant matters, TOLATA claims, boundaries, rights of way, restrictive covenants, overage, and development issues.
• Sports: Disputes between professional players and agents, boardroom conflicts at football clubs, and a range of issues in motorsport and elite equestrian sport and breeding contexts.
• Professional Negligence: Claims against solicitors, trustees, and financial advisers.
• Commercial & Contractual: Contract disputes, joint venture breakdowns, and shareholder agreements.
• Elder Law: Court of Protection/Office of the Public Guardian deputyship and attorney disputes with vulnerable participants.
Private Wealth and Succession
Trust and Probate
Family Business
Partnership and Company Disputes
Rural and agricultural Disputes
Property and Land Disputes
Sport Disputes
Professional Negligence
Elder Law
Feedback
“Oliver has endless patience, even in the most trying situations. He listens carefully and can be trusted only to reveal what the clients want to say.”
“Oliver shows commercial awareness in understanding our stance on offers, in addition to showing emotional intelligence, and he can put clients at ease.”
“A no-nonsense, robust, common-sense approach tempered with sensitivity. He clearly understands the law in a difficult area and demonstrates acute insight into what matters most to all parties.”
“Patient, hardworking and sensitive in a difficult dispute. Reassuring to clients and effective in achieving resolution.”
English (fluent)
French (conversational)
Spanish (conversational)
Provided by Chambers
Oliver Hallam works on civil and commercial mediations. His legal background in private client law gives him the in-depth expertise to navigate a range of disputes across different areas, including property, employment, probate and professional negligence.
Provided by Chambers
Oliver Hallam has a calm, collected and measured style in dealing with both solicitors and clients. He has a calming demeanour.
Oliver is fantastic at dealing with private client trusts. He gets the complexities.
Oliver is a thoughtful mediator with excellent client service. He is responsive and has a good understanding of party dynamics.
Oliver is very thorough and stands independently in the room to work towards a settlement. He has a very good manner with clients - very encouraging and friendly but stern where he needs to be.
Oliver is very good at putting parties at ease in stressful situations.
Oliver Hallam has a calm, collected and measured style in dealing with both solicitors and clients. He has a calming demeanour.
Oliver is fantastic at dealing with private client trusts. He gets the complexities.
Oliver is a thoughtful mediator with excellent client service. He is responsive and has a good understanding of party dynamics.
Oliver is very thorough and stands independently in the room to work towards a settlement. He has a very good manner with clients - very encouraging and friendly but stern where he needs to be.
Oliver is very good at putting parties at ease in stressful situations.