Overview
Gavin is an experienced mediator who combines his financial experience as a chartered accountant with his legal skills to guide parties to reach agreement. After 25 years of Corporate Finance experience Gavin retired from Deloitte in 2006, where he was head of Transaction Support services in Central Europe and partner in charge of Corporate Finance in Poland. He was also a partner in Deloitte’s UK and South African practices prior to transferring to Central Europe, and during his career has practiced in the UK, Central Europe, Germany and South Africa.
He is also a qualified advocate of the High Court of South Africa.
Gavin now practises as a mediator in complex commercial mediations, particularly Corporate Finance related, with an emphasis on mediations involving parties in disputes relating to:
- Contractual agreements, including sale & purchase agreements, Private Equity & VC investment agreements and shareholder agreements, management contracts, supplier agreements;
- post-acquisition issues including closing balance sheet disputes, vendor reps & warrantees, new management, restructuring and downsizing;
- advisor negligence;
- fee disputes
- cross-border and multi-cultural disputes.
Gavin also undertakes mediations on all other aspects of commercial activity where parties are unable to reach agreement and are faced with or are actively engaged in litigation.
Recent commercial mediations include:
- Claim by receiver in bankruptcy against creditor – complex dispute relating to interest charged on financial loans
- Professional negligence claims – solicitors, auctioneer, accountants
- Partnership sale – purchase consideration dispute
- Private business dissolution – net asset split between shareholders dispute
- Negligence claim against private bank – failure to manage investment portfolio
- Inheritance dispute – acrimonious sibling dispute over ancient country house, farm estate & share portfolio, with inheritance tax complications
Amounts in dispute have ranged from £5000 to many millions.
Gavin has also conducted over 50 family mediations, involving disputes relating to child custody, contact, financial settlements and maintenance. See family mediation CV.
Location
Gavin mediates across the South West and in London.
Professional background and Experience
- Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales)
- Advocate of the High Court of South Africa
- Accredited civil and commercial mediator (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) (2006)
- Accredited Family Mediator (ADR Group) (2008), (Family Mediation Council)(2010);
- Neighbourhood mediator.
- Deputy Chairman of the Association of South West Mediators
Experience includes:-
Gavin’s corporate finance expertise covers every aspect of corporate finance activity, from initial capital raising, flotations (AIM, LSE, NYSE, Luxembourg), listed corporate takeovers and mergers, acquisitions, disposals, Private Equity and Venture Capital, project and structured finance and also general business advisory. Sector experience includes financial sector (banks and leasing, insurance), infrastructure (water, electricity, transport, airports), telecoms, oil & gas, media, property, construction, manufacturing, food and drinks.
Nationality
British and South African
Education
University of London, United Kingdom, (LLB; LLM International Maritime Law)
University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, (LLB; Bachelor of Commerce)
University of Cape Town, South Africa, (Higher Diploma in Accountancy)
February 2011
