Specialists in Mediation and
Conflict Coaching
Welcome to The Independent Neutral, a specialist mediation and conflict coaching service dedicated to helping organisations and individuals resolve disputes constructively and reach agreement without the need for litigation.
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At The Independent Neutral, we believe that mediation and conflict coaching are powerful tools for resolving conflicts and creating lasting solutions. Our approach is grounded in the principles of neutrality, confidentiality and collaboration. We work with you to understand your unique situation and tailor our services to meet your specific needs.
MEDIATION
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process that involves a neutral third-party mediator who helps facilitate communication and negotiation between parties in dispute. We help you identify and discuss the issues, explore possible solutions and reach an agreement that works for everyone involved.
​What are the benefits of Mediation?
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Parties are in control: mediation is a flexible process that keeps the parties in control of the outcome. The mediator will help the parties overcome deadlock and unlock solutions, but the parties always remain the decision-makers about whether and on what terms to reach a settlement.
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Saves time and money: mediation is a cost-effective and efficient process which enables the parties to avoid time-consuming and expensive litigation. With very high success rates, the vast majority of mediations result in agreement either on the day or soon afterwards.
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Future-focussed and constructive: mediation enables the parties to unlock solutions which create value and preserve relationships. By moving the focus away from legal positioning and towards understanding commercial interests, mediation provides the opportunity to achieve outcomes which benefit all parties.
CONFLICT COACHING
What is Conflict Coaching?
Conflict coaching is a one-on-one process that helps individuals develop strategies to manage conflict more effectively. We work with you to explore and understand the underlying causes of conflict and develop a plan for moving forward in a positive and constructive manner. We specialise in working with Directors, Chairs, Executives, Shareholders and Partners. Our conflict coaching is a highly individualised and flexible service, tailored to the needs of each client.
What are the benefits of Conflict Coaching?
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Improved communication: we help our clients raise their awareness of verbal and non-verbal communication and develop techniques to ensure the most effective communication.
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Navigate challenging relationships: we will work with you to explore and understand relationship roadblocks and how these can be overcome to facilitate constructive ongoing working relationships.​
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Develop skills to resolve future conflicts: our objective is to provide our clients with the tools to identify and pro-actively manage conflicts before they become intractable, helping to preserve and enhance social capital and reduce the emotional toll of conflict.
ABOUT
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Our founder, Karima Fahmy, is a corporate lawyer, a CEDR-accredited mediator and an ICF-certified coach.
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Karima has extensive experience of helping parties reach mutually satisfactory outcomes and resolve differences through negotiation, facilitated conversations and mediation.
Karima Fahmy, Founder
Karima spent the first decade of her career at Hogan Lovells, working with clients across a broad range of commercial sectors including Energy & Infrastructure, Banking, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications, in the UK and internationally. Karima subsequently moved into industry and held the role of General Counsel at a large international Real Estate investment and development business.
In addition to her mediation practice, Karima sits as a Non-Executive Director on Boards in the Real Estate and Education sectors.
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As an experienced business leader, Karima brings insights grounded in commercial reality and is adept at helping parties identify practical and workable solutions. She is experienced at navigating highly complex and sensitive commercial and stakeholder contexts, often with international and multi-cultural aspects.
Areas of Practice
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International disputes
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Commercial contracts
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Construction
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Property
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Energy
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Infrastructure
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Funds
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Banking & finance
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Insurance
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Professional negligence
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Joint Ventures
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Partnerships
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Shareholder and Director disputes
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Family businesses
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Employment & employee relations
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Workplace