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Home Key PeopleHenry Mendus
Henry Mendus
Partner, Dispute Resolution Team
T: +44 (0) 845 201 3154
M: +44 (0) 7540 665 699
Click here to listen to Henry's views on effective use of mediation.
What are your specialist areas?
I have over 25 years' experience of advising companies in relation to all manner of disputes. My main focus is in relation to complex, high value contractual claims and shareholder and partnership disputes. I act for a broad range of clients from household names to start-up companies.
I was also the clerk to the Oxford University disciplinary court for many years and this provided me with particular expertise in relation to disciplinary procedures and advising educational establishments.
Litigation? Isn’t that extremely expensive and time consuming?
Litigation, especially once court proceedings are issued, can be very expensive. Through careful management, I aim to limit my client’s exposure on costs and as a trained and CEDR-accredited mediator I am keen to avoid the need for protracted and expensive litigation wherever possible. I embrace all forms of alternative dispute resolution and have acted in numerous mediations and arbitrations, as well as referring cases to expert determination and adjudication. Most recently I have advised a technology company in relation to a £3 million dispute which was referred to the International Chamber of Commerce for arbitration.
I work closely with our corporate and commercial lawyers at White & Black so that I am able to advise clients about the implications of certain clauses in contracts before any disputes have even arisen. By offering a different perspective and using my experience of what actually happens when disputes arise, our clients are hopefully able to avoid litigation altogether.
What about international experience?
Disputes involving large corporations rarely confine themselves to the UK, and complex asset recovery disputes often have international elements. I’ve advised on these sorts of matters many times in the past and I have strong relationships with a number of international lawyers which have been developed over many years. I think it is important to work with international lawyers who adopt a similar approach to you and therefore at White & Black we have a list of approved contacts who we work with regularly. This creates a seamless transition for our clients without any unnecessary delays.
What does client service mean to you?
Dealing with clients and understanding their business is the most important and rewarding aspect of my job. I firmly believe in working collaboratively with my clients so that I can provide the most relevant and suitable advice. I invest a lot of time in getting to know my clients, which pays dividends when dealing with disputes as it gives me a very valuable insight into the structure and workings of my client’s business. I pride myself on making myself available to my clients at all times. This often makes me a “first port of call” for many. If I am not able to help personally, I can usually refer them to one of my colleagues, safe in the knowledge that they will be treated to first class service.
What do clients say about you?
Henry’s advice is impeccable; he is able to quickly grasp the important issues and deliver prompt, intelligent advice. He is a pleasure to work with and I am always impressed by his extensive legal knowledge and tireless dedication to his work. In the many years I have worked with Henry, he has never let us down and we have never lost a case. I respect and trust Henry implicitly and would recommend him to anybody who, like us, appreciates high quality professional advice.
John Hoy, Chief Executive, Blenheim Palace
Henry is a consummate professional. I have total confidence in Henry's ability and trust him to achieve my goals. His procedural knowledge and legal understanding are excellent. He has an extraordinary eye for detail and gets to the root of complex problems quickly and incisively. I value Henry's commercial and pragmatic approach; he understands and delivers my business objectives.
Kelvin Bryon
