John Sturrock QC

John Sturrock QC is described as a “thought leader” and “internationally recognised as a major player” in mediation, with a reputation as a “spellbinding mediator and great thinker” and “by far the best in the market”. He is known for his “knowledge and gravitas”, “keen intellect”, “preparation to get at core issues” and “massive wealth of experience in difficult negotiation situations”. He is “universally regarded as Scotland’s finest mediator” with a practice that extends throughout the UK, mainland Europe, Middle East and Africa.

As an internationally recognised Mediator, John has mediated many hundreds of disputes in a wide range of commercial, professional, public sector, political and other settings. Many of these matters have raised complex issues, some have involved multiple parties, most have resolved in a day. The value of claims has ranged from tens of thousands of pounds to hundreds of millions. He is recognised for his innovative approach to helping parties to resolve difficult matters.

Since leaving active practice at the Scottish Bar in 2002, he has pursued a full-time career as a mediator, facilitator, conflict specialist and coach. He has mediated in government, commerce, industry, the professions, sport, the public sector, senior management and other sensitive and complex matters and has facilitated many high-level dialogues. He has recently acted as mediator in complex private/public sector infrastructure/construction and engineering projects with claim values in the £hundreds of millions.

John’s style is engaging and innovative with an emphasis on being rigorous on the issues when necessary, while recognising the need for respect and dignity amongst all concerned. His approach is to value parties’ autonomy in making choices and to ensure that these choices are fully-informed and fully tested. He is facilitative and thorough, working energetically alongside parties with a lightness of touch and focussed perseverance. Adept at working with people at every level, he is respected for his ability to get to the heart of matters, while using the process creatively.

With a legal background, he is able to help parties assess legal and factual risks where appropriate. His many years in business, including engagement with major plcs and other corporate interests in strategy work, enable him to encourage a commercial approach to problem-solving, ensuring that decision-makers can take responsibility for making realistic choices about the outcome.

Noted as "one of the best teachers of mediation", he also specialises in conflict management training and coaching for senior government officials, civil servants, executives and sports leaders. For many years, he has worked with senior civil servants and various parliamentary bodies throughout the UK (including the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments and the Northern Ireland, Welsh and London Assemblies) on effective scrutiny of policy. He was a special adviser on dialogue to the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. He works regularly with senior officials at the Scottish Government on policy and political issues at the highest levels. He has trained Cabinet Office officials in London. He sits on the Stewarding Group of the Citizens Assembly in Scotland.

He has worked with UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport, Sportscotland, and many sports’ governing bodies and athletes for a number of years, particularly in the lead up to the London Olympics.

He is a founder of Collaborative Scotland, an initiative to bring respectful dialogue to Scottish politics and public affairs, and is the author of its Commitment to Respectful Dialogue. He is a frequent writer and commentator on mediation and collaboration in the political world.

YEAR OF CALL: 1986 YEAR OF SILK: 1999