Nigel Dunlop Barrister, Mediator, Author

Nigel was brought up in provincial New Zealand and graduated in both psychology and law at the University of Otago where he was President of the Students' Association.

Currently a barrister with over 35 years of legal experience, Nigel first commenced practice as a solicitor in 1978 in Wellington with one of the predecessor firms of Buddle Findlay.

He later moved to Christchurch, initially practising with Cuningham Taylor and then Duncan Cotterill before establishing his own law firm. Ten years later he became a barrister and, in 2008, he relocated to Auckland.

Nigel's legal experience is wide ranging; apart from his role on statutory tribunals his specialties have been criminal, family and youth law. Nigel also has considerable experience in conducting investigations and also acts as an arbitrator.

Nigel initially trained as a mediator in 1983 and has undertaken further mediation training on a regular basis since then.

Amongst others, he has conducted mediations for the Family Court; Department of Business, Innovation and Employment; Health and Disability Commissioner and Domain Name Commissioner.

"I gravitated to mediation because it facilitates communication between parties giving rise to sensible outcomes." Nigel tells us. "The parties engage directly with one another as people should. By contrast in court, the parties do not speak to one another but to the judge, or communicate indirectly through lawyers. Courts are important and I deeply respect their role, but they do not promote personal understanding, goodwill and reconciliation which are important in civil society. In the end, it is people who count for most, not facts and law."

It's this affinity for mediation and experience that has contributed to his high settlement rate.

Professional Contact

• nigel@nigeldunlop.co.nz
• 09 302 0875

Awards and Recognition

Accredited mediator with AMINZ (Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand), LEADR (Association of Dispute Resolvers) and NZLS (New Zealand Law Society).

Past President of the Canterbury District Law Society and Council member of the New Zealand Law Society.

Member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal (since 1992), having been appointed for successive terms by Ministers of Health. He is currently the Convenor of the Tribunal.