Profile
As a chartered accountant with extensive commercial experience, Chris Makin’s early mediation work focused on finance-related areas such as shares, partnerships and contracts. Since then, his skills and reputation have brought him success mediating in other matters of probate, boundaries and rights of way, defamation, construction, and much more. His particular talent lies in analysing individuals in order to ‘speak their language’ and identify what really matters to them in order to move towards settlement.
WHY CHOOSE CHRIS?
- Versatile, experienced mediator – Chris has undertaken further training in advanced mediation techniques and time-limited mediations. He also lectures to legal and other professionals on mediation. Chris mediates disputes across a wide range of issues, focusing on the people rather than the industries – with excellent results.
- Excellent commercial understanding – As a practitioner accountant Chris built four practices, including three from scratch. He built the largest sole practice in Leeds with 18 members of staff, and later became a partner in an international firm. His management experience and wide-ranging client list – from market traders to PLCs – have seen him work successfully with people at all levels of business and from diverse sectors.
- Highly empathic communicator – Chris listens closely and talks to people from all walks of life on their terms, able to quickly identify what is important to them in order to move seemingly entrenched positions towards settlement. One case saw Chris settle in one day a legacy dispute that had raged for 23 years, while others brought resolution where warring parties had even refused to sit in the same room at the start of the mediation process.
- National coverage – Based in Yorkshire and in London (Gray’s Inn), Chris works across the UK, including within Scotland’s independent legal framework.
MEDIATION EXPERIENCE
Chris has mediated successfully across diverse commercial and civil disputes, including:
- Partnership
- Professional negligence
- Business and share valuations
- Director
- Contract
- Construction
- Boundary, rights of way and encroachment
- Civil fraud
- Insolvency
- Architect disputes
- Housing disrepair
- Defamation
- Intellectual property
- Expensive motor cars
- Probate, Inheritance Act and TOLATA
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“Chris Makin managed to move entrenched parties to address difficult issues and resolve a situation that looked impossible.”
"This was an extremely satisfying outcome to this long-running dispute."
"We picked a first-rate man for a very difficult case."
"Great mediator! All disputes should if possible be settled this way."
WHAT CHRIS SAYS
“I am a good listener and can empathise with all sorts of people; I have successfully worked with individuals from market traders to a prominent businessman knighted for services to industry. It’s all about finding out what life experiences and values they have.
“In mediation, I prepare very carefully. I listen, I empathise. I find the true needs of the parties. And by remembering to talk in terms of their language, in terms of what is important to them, I find out how their dispute may be settled.”
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Time-Limited Mediations training
- Advanced Mediation Techniques training
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – member (2006)
- Academy of Experts – Investigations Committee member, Fellow (1994)
- Chartered Institute of Management – Fellow (1984)
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) – Fellow (1979), associate (1968)
- Accredited Mediator (QDR) - Academy of Experts 1998
- Accredited Expert Determiner (QDR) - Academy of Experts 1998
BEYOND MEDIATION
- ICAEW – Served on several committees; currently on the Ethics Committee and honorary counsellor for Chartered Accountants with ethical problems
- Spokesman on forensic accountancy for the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants
- Speaker and co-organiser of the annual training conference for the Institute of Chartered Accountants Forensic Special Interest Group
- Writer for professional journals
Chris shares a love of music with his music teacher wife, Gillian, and is principal double-bass for Leeds Symphony Orchestra and West Riding Opera. He collects clocks, is interested in military history, and is a member of Huddersfield Lions Club.
His daughter, Rebecca, has followed him into chartered accountancy.
Contact Chris today to discuss your dispute.
History
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Date
Nature of dispute
Outcome
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10 January 2023Doctor's retirementOutcome: Settled
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6 October 2022Collision at seaOutcome: Settled
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7 September 2022Preferential payments in insolvencyOutcome: Did Not Settle
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26 April 2022Diversion of tradeOutcome: Settled
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14 April 2022Accountancy feesOutcome: Did Not Settle
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14 April 2022Professional Fee DisputeOutcome: Settled
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29 July 2021Property disputeOutcome: Settled
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22 March 2021Professional neglicenceOutcome: Did Not Settle
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22 March 2021Professional NegligenceOutcome: Did Not Settle
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20 May 2020S994 £7m shareholder disputeOutcome: Did Not Settle
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12 May 2020ShareholderOutcome: Did Not Settle
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16 July 2019Buy to let managementOutcome: Settled
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11 July 2019Boundary disputeOutcome: Settled
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1 November 2018Director/shareholder disputeOutcome: Settled
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26 June 2018Flood damageOutcome: Settled
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27 April 2018Sale of companyOutcome: Settled
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25 April 2018Directors, S994, conspiracyOutcome: Did Not Settle
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4 January 2018S994 unfair prejudice £2mOutcome: Settled
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31 October 2017ToLATAOutcome: Did Not Settle
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18 October 2017Housing disrepairOutcome: Did Not Settle
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12 June 2017Doctors' partnershipOutcome: Settled
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10 February 2017Accountant professional negligenceOutcome: Did Not Settle
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24 November 2016Insolvency - pursuit of assetsOutcome: Settled
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2 September 2016Farming partnership cessationOutcome: Settled
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20 July 2016Solicitor retirement disputeOutcome: Did Not Settle
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20 November 2015Accountancy feesOutcome: Settled
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5 October 2015Trailer Hire ChargeOutcome: Settled
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20 February 2015Architect partnership retirementOutcome: Settled
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18 November 2014ProbateOutcome: Did Not Settle
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8 August 2014Property maintenanceOutcome: Settled
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18 July 2014Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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30 April 2014LLP retirementOutcome: Settled
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17 January 2014Solicitor partnership retirementOutcome: Settled
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15 January 2014Tax professional negligenceOutcome: Settled
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9 December 2013Intro fees to CMC solicitorOutcome: Did Not Settle
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20 November 2013Partnership dissolution at end of marriageOutcome: Settled
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14 October 2013Services to PPI companyOutcome: Did Not Settle
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16 August 2013Construction joint ventureOutcome: Did Not Settle
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3 May 2013Divorce financesOutcome: Settled
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18 April 2013Inheritance ActOutcome: Settled
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22 February 2013ProbateOutcome: Settled
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28 November 2012Property & trust fundsOutcome: Settled
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15 November 2012Provision of plumbing servicesOutcome: Settled
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3 August 2012Minority shareholderOutcome: Settled
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14 July 2012Right of wayOutcome: Settled
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20 June 2012Tax investigation fees insuranceOutcome: Settled
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16 March 2012Accountants' professional negligenceOutcome: Settled
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10 February 2012Partnership cessationOutcome: Settled
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22 November 2011Professional negligenceOutcome: Did Not Settle
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16 November 2011PartnershipOutcome: Settled
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17 January 2011Boundary disputeOutcome: Settled
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7 December 2010Commercial supply of electricityOutcome: Settled
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27 September 2010Misuse of beneficiary's fundsOutcome: Settled
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15 September 2010Unpaid rent; goods suppliedOutcome: Settled
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21 May 2010Leaking restaurant roofOutcome: Did Not Settle
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11 March 2010Unpaid legal feesOutcome: Did Not Settle
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18 November 2009Family loans & propertyOutcome: Did Not Settle
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11 November 2009Renovation of 35' boatOutcome: Settled
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13 October 2009Neighbour harrassmentOutcome: Did Not Settle
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8 September 2009Debt claimOutcome: Settled
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26 August 2009Joint venture property developmentOutcome: Settled
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23 June 2009Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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9 June 2009Interior decorator servicesOutcome: Settled
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1 May 2009ProbateOutcome: Did Not Settle
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1 April 2009Tax professional negligenceOutcome: Settled
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27 January 2009Propounded codicil disputeOutcome: Settled
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30 October 2008Diversion of tradeOutcome: Settled after date
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21 October 2008Unfair prejudice (S994)Outcome: Did Not Settle
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30 September 2008Partnership dispute - greyhound syndicateOutcome: Settled
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19 June 2008Contract supply of chickensOutcome: Did Not Settle
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22 April 2008Defective plumbing contractOutcome: Settled
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12 March 2008Supply of goods; loss of profitOutcome: Settled
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3 March 2008Family partnershipOutcome: Settled
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25 January 2008Ownership of house' Gujurati speakersOutcome: Settled
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11 January 2008ConstructionOutcome: Settled
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13 December 2007£25m company sale/purchaseOutcome: Did Not Settle
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28 November 2007Legal costs re property disputeOutcome: Settled
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4 October 2007Ship repairsOutcome: Settled
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27 September 2007Breach of contractOutcome: Settled
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28 August 2007Employment in KurgystanOutcome: Did Not Settle
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7 August 2007ProbateOutcome: Settled
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13 July 2007Booking of conference venueOutcome: Settled
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12 July 2007Supply of temporary workersOutcome: Did Not Settle
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27 June 2007ProbateOutcome: Settled
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8 May 2007Bankers' negligence in contruction contractOutcome: Did Not Settle
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20 April 2007DefamationOutcome: Settled
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20 March 2007Defective flying lessonsOutcome: Did Not Settle
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7 March 2007Professional negligence, tax mitigationOutcome: Settled
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2 February 2007Professional negligenceOutcome: Settled
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31 January 2007Co director disputeOutcome: Settled
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7 November 2006Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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1 November 2006Sisters in partnership disputeOutcome: Did Not Settle
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27 October 2006Probate & property disputeOutcome: Settled
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9 October 2006Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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22 September 2006Professional negligence re trust deedOutcome: Settled
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14 July 2006Housing - wrongful evictionOutcome: Settled
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2 March 2006Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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28 February 2006Rejected motor vehicleOutcome: Settled
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22 January 2006Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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10 January 2006Joint venture - housebuildingOutcome: Settled
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6 January 2006Electrical contractingOutcome: Settled
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14 December 2005Construction - boundaryOutcome: Did Not Settle
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12 December 2005Construction encroachmentOutcome: Did Not Settle
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18 October 2005Sale of businessOutcome: Settled
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9 September 2005DefamationOutcome: Settled
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20 August 2005Sale of companyOutcome: Settled
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12 July 2005Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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16 June 2005Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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28 May 2005Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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14 May 2005Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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28 April 2005Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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7 February 2005Rejected motor vehicleOutcome: Settled
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17 January 2005Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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10 December 2004Accountancy feesOutcome: Settled
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3 December 2004Housing disrepaieOutcome: Settled
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19 November 2004Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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28 September 2004Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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28 June 2003Partnership fraudOutcome: Settled
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15 May 2003Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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22 June 2002Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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20 March 2001Partnership dissolutionOutcome: Settled
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8 December 2000Housing disrepairOutcome: Settled
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28 July 1999Business interruptionOutcome: Settled
Insurance
- Insurance Provider The Academy of Experts Group PI Insurance
- Certificate Status Certificate on file
- Expiry Date 28 February 2025
- Level of Cover 5000000
CPD & Training
- Mediation Training Provider The Academy of Experts
- Date Qualified as Mediator 18 June 1998
- Training Certificate Download PDF
Approved Mediator
- Profile submitted Checked
- Independent feedback Checked
- History Checked
- Insurance provider Checked
- Insurance certificate Checked
- Expiry date Checked
- Level of cover Checked
- Training requirement Checked
- Qualification date Checked
- Training certificate Checked
- E.U. Code of conduct Checked
- Observations completed Checked
- Annual CPD log Checked
- Mediator status Checked
- Specialist panels Checked
- Geographical location Checked
- Professional status Checked
- League table position Checked
Approved Mediator - Clerksroom Mediator Database