Michelle Lynch - B.L, B.C.L (Barrister at Law)

Founding Director - Mediator

Michelle Lynch BCL, Barrister-at-Law (UCD & Honourable Society of Kings Inns) first encountered Mediation as a method of resolving workplace issues, whilst working as the Senior VP of The World Trade Centre in New York. Additionally, as Executive Director of The Ireland Funds she was a proponent of “mediation first”, where appropriate. Since that time, she has endeavoured to incorporate such an approach in her business dealings.

She qualified as a Mediator with Friarylaw ADR in 2008 and has incorporated those skills in her business offerings to a wide range of clients. She has a recognised proven ability in dealing with the voluntary sector, government entities, lending institutions, and individuals. A well-known and respected business woman, she was a founding director of Crannagh & Co, which serviced 28 of the Fortune 500 companies, the business was successfully sold to a major accounting firm.

During her time with Crannagh & Co she co-founded Debt Management Mediation ltd with renowned Commercial Mediator Karen Erwin. The crippling difficulties experienced by individuals and businesses alike due to financial indebtedness to lending institutions, and the lack of communication was a key driver to the initiative.

Most recently Michelle was the CEO of Presonus Europe ltd, a subsidiary of a major US manufacturing and sales company with a sales force throughout EMEA . During her time with the company she used her mediation skills to resolve a myriad of commercial and workplace related issues, both nationally and internationally She has a particular interest in Workplace Relations, Commercial / Civil, and Family Mediation. She is a member of The Mediators Institute of Ireland, and has worked collaboratively with some of its most senior members.

Michelle has lectured and provided professional training to a wide range of clients and made numerous National TV, Radio and Print Media appearancesGeneral :

Barbara Johnston - Employment Law Specialist

Founding Director - Mediator

Barbara Johnston is a highly-respected professional mediator and facilitator and the founder of Cavan Family Mediation Service, based in the Cavan/Monaghan area. She is a Certified Mediator with the MII (Mediators' Institute of Ireland) since 2008. Her extensive career covers a wide remit from residential child care to commercial and manufacturing and her personal experience includes counselling, facilitation and mediation. Barbara has also worked in various aspects of education, both professionally and in a voluntarily capacity

Barbara has been in private practice since early 2007 and in addition to community and family, and separating couple’s mediation she specializes in conflict resolution with an emphasis on Workplace, Employment and Commercial mediation. Her skills in mediation, facilitation and investigation were finely honed through her own business Employment Relation Services, in workplace disputes involving employees and management. She has trained and lectured on a wide range of topics under the mediation umbrella.

Her time spent working in various aspects of education, has meant that she is particularly adept in this field of mediation also. Barbara has served on the Board of The National Parents Council post primary as Company Secretary and a Director for many years. She is still involved at a national level in promoting the partnership of parents in education.

As a volunteer mediator with Mediation Border Counties Barbara has considerable experience in handling the personal and difficult decisions that arise in family and separating couple’s mediation. She remains committed to the belief that mediation is the most compassionate and sensitive processes for managing family conflict or family breakdown. Barbara passionately believes that Mediation should be an integral part of conflict resolution. A solution reached between two parties is usually preferable to one imposed by an outside body.

Such is Barbara`s professional reputation brought about by referral and many years of successfully concluded mediations that it has spurred the creation of a new company with Michelle Lynch, `Lynch & Johnston Mediation Services ltd`. Ensuring a wider range of experts and services to meet a growing need, Lynch & Johnston have an unequalled team in the professional realm of mediation, facilitation and investigation. The company also provides training and coaching.

Pat Brady

As a Director of Workplace Solutions Pat Brady is has extensive experience in HR, employment law theory & practise and dispute resolution. He is an Accredited Mediator (CIArb) and a Certified Mediator (Mediators’ Institute of Ireland) and a qualified Arbitrator, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Pat is an experienced workplace investigator and one of the very few Certified Workplace Investigators (CIArb). Pat commenced his role as Adjudication Officer at the Workplace Relations Commission formally on October 1st, 2015. This includes continuing to act as an Equality Officer under the terms of the Employment Equality Acts.

Karen Erwin

Karen Erwin is a professional mediator and facilitator specialising in conflict resolution with an emphasis on Workplace, Employment and Commercial mediation. Karen’ s extensive career as a commercial litigation and employment partner for 15 years in A&L Goodbody Solicitors first established her impressive dispute-resolution skills.

Ciaran Dolan

Ciaran Dolan is an economist, mediator and barrister who has represented the agri-food sector for over thirty years. He provides an expert and accredited mediation service for all disputes in the farming and Agri-Business sector. He is a member of the Disputes Committee of GMP+ International which is a worldwide organisation for the certification of animal feed. He was a member of the National Statistics Board and has served on various other public sector bodies and committees including the National Economic and Social Council and The European Advisory Committee on Statistics.