Leading mediator and former chairman of the ADR Group, Phillip Howell-Richardson, is to join Independent Mediators on 1 March 2010, following a five-year stint at City law firm SJ Berwin. The move brings Independent Mediators' total to six mediators, all of whom are recognised as market leaders by The Legal 500.

Commenting on his decision to leave an established City law firm in favour of a virtual chambers established only three years ago, Howell-Richardson was succinct: "I want to take the chance to get out on my own and to create more time to work with a wider spread of solicitors and clients so that I can increase the number and range of the mediations I do."

A former senior partner at Morgan Cole in Cardiff, and latterly London, Howell-Richardson's move to SJ Berwin in 2005 signalled a shift in his practice towards City and international work. Underlying the latest move is a wish to tie together the two strands of his career.  "I will continue to undertake international and City based mediations, they bring challenges I enjoy, but I would like also to be more readily available to those regional firms who instructed me in the past " he said.

His move is the latest high-profile endorsement of the chambers model, and of Independent Mediators in particular. The organisation is now home to half of the Legal 500's top-tier mediators, and represents the market's greatest concentration of quality.

While describing the "law firm consultancy model" as very good for the firm, the tie-up with Independent Mediators will relieve Howell-Richardson of much of the admin he currently handles personally. "At the moment, working in this way, I do everything. From initial calls to follow through, from top to bottom. It's great to have that taken away and to concentrate on mediation, and that is a significant plus."

Howell-Richardson, 59, rubbishes any suggestion that the move is a shift towards retirement: "No way," he says. "I've no interest whatsoever in retiring.  The new position will give me more time and greater opportunities to develop my mediation practice"

Howell-Richardson will remain available to SJ Berwin as an ADR consultant and will continue to support the firm in its ADR activities.