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News
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 Seventy-nine-year old David Shapiro, former chairman of the Panel of Independent Mediators, parted company with law firm SJ Berwin on 31 January where he has been employed as a consultant since arriving in the UK 12 years ago.
Shapiro, labelled 'the doyen who made it happen' in last year's edition of the Chambers & Partners directory, has been a stalwart, if controversial, figure on the UK mediation scene. Speaking to The Mediator magazine, Shapiro confirmed that he is leaving in order to write an expert opinion on the fairness of a number of US class action settlements, which would have brought him into conflict with an existing SJ Berwin client. The expert opinion work takes Shapiro back into the class action field he pioneered as a plaintiffs' lawyer in Washington DC in the 1960s and early 1970s.
Commenting on the break with the firm Shapiro said, 'Nobody does anything this serious whole raft of reasons and with mixed emotions.' He added: 'I may be leaving SJ Berwin, but I'm sure as hell not retiring'
A press release issued by the firm states that Shapiro is 'retiring from the firm' and wishes him well with his new challenge. In his honour the firm is to inaugurate an annual ADR Lecture series entitled The David Shapiro Annual 'Outrage' starting this summer.
Shapiro wished to thank for the firm for 'twelve great years during which everyone has provided me with fantastic support. I will miss them all: lawyers, secretaries, support staff...even management.'
Shapiro confirmed that he will resume his mediation practice in May 2008 once the class action project is complete, possibly operating as a door tenant at a set of chambers.
Phillip Howell-Richardson, who joined the firm in 2005, will succeed Shapiro as head of the CEDR award-winning ADR unit. Phillip was recently admitted as a fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and is the honorary chairman of ADR Net. He added, 'David will continue to be a magnificent friend and inspiration. We broke the mould here, bringing mediation to the heart of English High Court Procedure. My challenge now and in the future is to build on SJ Berwin's great platform to develop ADR internationally.'
(David Shapiro is contactable at
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from 8 February)
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