Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho appointed Civil Mediation Council (CMC) Chair

39 Essex Chambers is delighted that member Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho will be Civil Mediation Council (CMC) Chair. Kelly was counsel, led by Edwin Glasgow KC, to the CMC, CEDR and Ciarb in the recent landmark case Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil CBC [2023] EWCA Civ 1416. She is a member of CEDR’s Panel and their Faculty of trainers and the Sport Resolutions’ Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators respectively.

Her tenure will begin on June 2024 onwards following on from Rebecca Clark who will be stepping down at the end of May. Kelly said about her new role: “I am delighted to have been appointed to be the next Chair of the Civil Mediation Council. On behalf of the CMC and its members, I would like to thank Rebecca for her leadership, hard work and commitment. I am fortunate to follow on from the fantastic work she has done and the progress that has been made during her tenure.”

Kelly continues: “My appointment begins during an exciting and important time for dispute resolution. I believe firmly in the value of dispute resolution to business, legal disputes, our communities, workplaces, schools and society as a whole. There is much to do, and CMC members have a great deal to contribute. If you would like to know more about the CMC, or would like to get (more) involved, I would be glad to hear from you.

It is a real honour to take on this role, and I very much look forward to working with my Deputy Chair, Nicolas Fournier, the Board, and the CMC team, each of which are extremely capable and dedicated to the CMC and its aims.”

Prior to her tenancy at 39 Essex Chambers, Kelly was a solicitor in a US headquartered law firm in London where she was involved in litigation at every level of English tribunal and Court, as well as the CJEU, and she was a solicitor in the legal arm of a Big 4 Accounting practice. She was a blue-book stagiare at the European Commission, a judicial assistant to the Court of Appeal, and taught on the LLM course at King’s College London and the LLB at Birkbeck, together for over 10 years. She is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.