Extending our commitment to resolving matters without court intervention in suitable circumstances, a mediator can facilitate discussions in a confidential, voluntary and neutral manner whereby the parties can decide a way forward between them without a decision being made for them in the courts.
Extending our commitment to resolving matters without court intervention in suitable circumstances, a mediator can facilitate discussions in a confidential, voluntary and neutral manner whereby the parties can decide a way forward between them without a decision being made for them in the courts.
The discussions are led by Kristy Underwood, who is dual qualified as a mediation and a family lawyer. Whilst the majority of her lawyer files settle without court intervention, she has been representing clients in court since 1993, both with and without counsel.
Mediation is a non-advice-based service, and both parties are able to obtain independent legal advice before, during or after the mediation process. Kristy is able to provide information as to factors the court would take into account.
Family Mediation
Family mediation helps former partners make decisions about finances, property and children. Kristy provides a supportive environment where both parties can:
In certain circumstances, family mediation may be suitable in relation to a family member’s time with a child.
Kristy has successfully completed the Resolution Mediation course to enable her to deal with family mediations.
Civil and Commercial Mediation
Kristy also mediates a wide range of civil and commercial disputes. These include:
Her specialist qualification in Tort and advising clients in litigation matters through the Court for over 30 years allows parties to resolve complex or sensitive issues efficiently and discreetly, helping to preserve relationships and protect reputations.
Kristy has specialist business and management knowledge by virtue of her CMI (level 7 diploma) in strategic management and leadership, which has resulted in her being a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, which is the highest accolade in management.
Kristy is an accredited civil & commercial mediator, having completed The ADR Group’s civil & commercial mediation course
Workplace Mediation
Extending Kristy’s civil offering, she can also mediate disputes between employers/managers, managers/staff and deal with workplace mediation. She is an accredited workplace mediator having completed a separate course through The ADR Group.
The Mediation Process
Mediation involves joint and private sessions where parties discuss their issues in a safe, confidential setting. Kristy acts as an impartial facilitator, guiding discussions and ensuring both sides are heard. Any proposals reached can then be formalised into a document by the mediator or the parties’ legal representatives, as appropriate.
Why Choose Mediation?
About Kristy Underwood
Kristy Underwood is a qualified mediator. She is also a lawyer with extensive experience in family, civil (including employment), wills and probate and has a particular interest in business matters. She has dealt with hundreds of court hearings without a barrister and uses her extensive knowledge of the law and court involvement to help navigate parties away from the court process.
Qualifications and memberships:
Kristy’s mediation work is guided by empathy, integrity and a focus on positive outcomes for everyone involved.
You can find out more about our other family law services here.
*As at November 2025, Kristy is the only Chartered Legal Executive holding Litigator & Advocate status in both family & civil proceedings.
Our team members below specialise in Mediation and will be able to help with all your questions.
"Over the past few months, Kristy Underwood at stevensdrake has been providing me with help and advice on a complex case. Her knowledge, expertise & attitude have been invaluable, massively reducing the amount of stress on our family. I can't thank Kristy and her team enough for all of their help. Hopefully I'm never in need of these services of again, but if so - I know who I'll be reaching out to!"
"I wanted to take a moment to share my experience with Kristy and her team regarding my ongoing family law case, which has been quite complex. I cannot express enough how impeccable their support has been. They have provided exceptional guidance and have helped me navigate the challenges I faced during this difficult situation. Their professionalism and expertise have been instrumental in addressing my legal needs with sensitivity and understanding, and priced at a affordable cost enabling me to carry out this task. If anyone is seeking assistance in family law matters, I highly recommend reaching out to Kristy and her team, the have gone above and beyond for me. Thank you so much for all your support."
"My partner and I have recently used the services of stevensdrake solicitors, specifically Kristy Underwood. Kristy was not only professional and knowledgeable in everything to do with litigation and family law but she also went above and beyond to deal with matters outside of her working hours. I cannot recommend her enough, she fought long and hard to ensure that we got more than we originally expected. Cannot thank Kristy enough for her amazing work!"
"I would like to take a moment to share my experience working with stevensdrake solicitors. Specifically, I had the privilege of having Kristy Underwood handle my case, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. Kristy is truly brilliant. From the very beginning, she demonstrated a deep knowledge of the law and a clear understanding of the issues at hand. Her professionalism, dedication, and attention to detail were second to none, and it was clear that she always had my best interests at heart. It’s rare to find a solicitor who combines expertise with such a personable and approachable demeanor, and Kristy does just that. I felt supported throughout the entire process, and her guidance made all the difference. If you're looking for an excellent solicitor, I would wholeheartedly recommend Kristy Underwood and the team at Stevensdrake Solicitors. You can trust that you're in very capable hands."
stevensdrake © 2019 All Rights Reserved. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Number 525527. *stevensdrake* and *stevensdrake solicitors* are trading names of stevensdrake limited (registered in England and Wales under number 7159192). A list of the directors is displayed at the above address. stevensdrake are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for debt collection and insurance mediation. It is registered the FCA under registration number 702596.
