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Chambers Directory
“Bill Marsh excels at mediating high-value and international commercial disputes across a broad range of industries.”
“He’s one of the best-known mediators around. He has a good client manner and is excellent with lay clients.”
“Bill is really impressive. He’s very realistic in terms of setting expectations. He has a good manner and tests boundaries without being confrontational.”
“He is very connected to the mediation. He appreciates the tension and takes the time to understand frustration and what the clients are trying to achieve. He goes above and beyond and invests a lot of time in reading the material.”
2024 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
“Bill Marsh excels at mediating high-value and international commercial disputes.”
“He’s simply brilliant! Bill got to grips with the issues quickly and was very effective at defusing a fraught dispute.”
“Bill is a very safe pair of hands for any mediation. He has gravitas and a wealth of experience behind him but is also very user-friendly.”
“He works hard in any mediation to persuade the parties to focus on achieving sensible and commercial settlements. He is calm and measured and manages to gain the trust and confidence of the parties.”
2023 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Bill Marsh is a leading European mediator. Bill’s ‘key skills are being able to distil down complex matters into the key issues facing the parties, and to explore alternative routes to bringing them closer together.’ Active in full-time mediation since 1991, Marsh’s practice covers a broad range of commercial disputes, including commercial contracts, product liability, insurance, reinsurance, professional negligence, shareholder issues, sports, medical negligence, pensions, IT and shipping; and his international practice covers parties from over 30 countries, including disputes in India, France, Canada, US, Switzerland, Spain and Italy, along with Turkey, the Gulf, the Balkans and the Caribbean.
2023 – Top ranked
Who's Who Legal
2022 – Mediator of the Year, and Global Elite Thought Leader
Bill Marsh tops our rankings and is held in high esteem by clients and peers alike for his calmness, integrity and intelligence, which enables him to excel within the mediation market. He also features on the list of Global Elite Thought Leaders in mediation.
Who's Who Legal
2021 – Global Elite Thought Leader
“He is simply one of the finest and always a pleasure to engage with”
“Bill has a great reputation”
“An excellent mediator”
Chambers Directory
2022 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Bill Marsh “builds trust right from the start of the process, and is calm, professional, thorough, friendly and commercial – he is also extremely measured in his approach, while being direct with clients when required”.
2021 – top ranked
Who's Who Legal
2020 – Global Elite Thought Leader
Who's Who Legal
2019 – “Mediator of the Year” and top ranked
Chambers Directory
2019 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
2019 – Top ranked
Clients
“Bill was excellent. His approach was a breath of fresh air – very commercial. His energy, creativity and diplomacy were well received and I would have no hesitation in instructing him again.”
Client, Anglo-Chinese dispute
Clients
“It was the first multi-party mediation I had been involved in and it was a very complex one…In my mind the way you set the tone and conducted yourself in your interactions with the parties was a major factor in reaching a settlement on the day (night!) and for that we are very grateful”.
Client, multi-party pensions dispute
Chambers Directory
2018 – Top-ranked
Legal 500 Directory
2018 – Top-ranked
Legal 500 Directory
2017 – Top-ranked
Legal 500 Directory
“Rightly regarded as being at the top of the tree”, Bill Marsh at Independent Mediators has been involved full-time in mediation since 1991. He is “patient and willing to work really hard to discover the strengths and weaknesses in each argument presented by parties”. He is also “appreciated for being able to persuade disputants to come up with constructive solutions”. In 2016, Marsh received the Archbishop of Canterbury’s inaugural Hubert Walter Award for outstanding services to reconciliation, which recognises his commitment to conflict resolution at both national and international levels.
2016 – Top ranked
Who's Who Legal
2016 – One of the world’s top mediators, and the UK’s top five.
Bill Marsh is a “highly experienced mediator who demonstrates patience and tact” when dealing with international governments, businesses, organisations and individuals. He is widely recognised for his “aptitude for combining sensitivity with the requisite degree of firmness”.
Clients
“Frankly, I being the lawyer for one of the parties had very limited hope [of success] for the entire mediation process. However, the moment Bill Marsh made his entry in the matter as a mediator the entire landscape of the matter changed.
…He had patience, tact, fairness, strength and efficiency…
I would highly recommend Bill Marsh to my future clients for the settlement of commercial disputes and working with Bill Marsh has changed my whole perception about the process of mediation and I would in future try my best to persuade my clients to choose mediation before initiating the legal proceeding for any commercial disputes.”
Mumbai Lawyer – French/Indian JV dispute
Legal 500 Directory
‘Top-notch mediator’ Bill Marsh at Independent Mediators uses ‘his gravitas, credibility and charm to persuade even the most difficult of parties to adopt a more conciliatory approach’. He employs his ‘even and relaxed style’ to ‘immediately gain the trust of the parties’. Clients also praise Marsh as ‘exceptionally well prepared’, ‘creative in finding solutions’ and able to ‘use his clear understanding of the legal issues to examine the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s argument’.
2015 – Top ranked
Who's Who Legal
2015 – One of the World’s top ten mediators.
Once again listed in the World’s top ten most highly regarded mediators, “Bill Marsh is once again recognised as one of the most highly nominated figures in our international research with contributors describing him as “a true leader in the field”. With experience in disputes involving parties from Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, North America and Australasia, he is “highly sought after” for his expertise in multimillion-pound cases”.
Who's Who Legal
2014 – “Global Mediator of the Year”
Bill Marsh received more recommendations than any other practitioner in our international research, with interviewees describing him as “fantastically skilled” and “a real thought leader in our profession”. He has worked with governments, professional firms, and individuals and each have found him to be “calm, effective and impressive”.
Who's Who Legal
2013 – One of the World’s top ten mediators.
Bill Marsh receives high praise from peers with many proclaiming his “tremendous style”. He is described as “one of the best mediators in the UK”.
Who's Who Legal
2012 – One of the World’s top ten mediators.
Chambers Directory
Bill Marsh is highly recommended by market commentators, who praise his ability to build rapport with the parties and single out his “understanding of the technical nuances” of commercial disputes. He focuses on international cases, acting on a variety of commercial contract disputes involving parties from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the USA.
2015 – Top ranked
Clients
“My sincere thanks to Bill Marsh for the excellent role that he performed last week in helping the parties to reach a settlement. I really thought that Bill was first class, measured in his approach and immediately gained the trust and confidence of my client. He will be top of my list for future mediations and I will giving this feedback to my colleagues at [international law firm]”
Lawyer, multi-million pound negligence claim
Legal 500 Directory
A highly experienced mediator, credited with “an easy manner” and “a facilitative approach”. Clients find that he is “well prepared”, and able to tackle “even the most arcane of pensions disputes”. Stylewise, Marsh is a facilitator who resists “imposing himself” on proceedings, but shows “absolute commitment” to getting a deal.
2010 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Described as “experienced, personable, and well prepared”, he is an “excellent shuttle diplomat”. He swiftly “generates an atmosphere of trust” and “puts a lot of effort into listening”. He remains “calm and in control in a crisis”, and is “able to identify and deal with the real points in contention to defuse the most acrimonious disputes.
2009 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Bill Marsh of Independent Mediators is “a superb mediator”: he has “obvious intelligence” and an ability to remain “calm and in control in a crisis”. Clients applaud his ability to “identify and deal with the real points in contention and to defuse them”, “helping the parties explore where a settlement might be achieved and putting the technical or emotional baggage aside”. In short, he “brings a practicality to a problem and creates an atmosphere where clients trust him implicitly”.
2008 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
“Strongly recommended for major commercial mediations.”
2004 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Bill Marsh… “wins plaudits from clients in many sectors. Clients are keen to recommend him.”
2006 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Bill Marsh is “a natural”. He combines an “assured reading of the law” with “robustness” and “commercial flair”. An amiable and engaging personality allows him to push parties without alienating them; lawyers praise his ability to sustain dialogue, “bring people together” and challenge parties without embarrassing them.
2007 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Seen as something of a mediation pioneer, Bill Marsh of Independent Mediators is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished “top-rank” mediators in the market. Since going into full-time mediation in 1991, Marsh has been involved in a number of mediations that have been in the public domain, including the dispute between Dame Shirley Porter and Westminster City Council, and also the disputed takeover of Brighton & Hove Albion FC. As well as domestic mediations he is also involved in numerous major international cases, including a recent £1bn transatlantic pharmaceuticals dispute.
2011 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
Bill Marsh of Independent Mediators is considered “one of the best” in the market, and his practice has a very strong international dimension. He has been involved in full-time mediation since 1991, and the high value and complexity of some of the disputes he is asked to mediate is reflective of his reputation in the market.
2012 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
After becoming a full-time mediator in 1991, Bill Marsh of Independent Mediators has established himself as one of the leading names in the market. The past year has seen a particular emphasis on international disputes, with claims involving a broad spread of countries including several West African and Balkan states. Highlights included a transatlantic pharmaceutical claim worth around £1bn.
2013 – Top ranked
Legal 500 Directory
‘Charming, well-informed and easy to deal with’, Bill Marsh is ‘right at the top of his game’. He is ‘extremely patient and hardworking, but he pushes both sides’ positions very hard. He is a perfect example of how a talented mediator can overcome apparently insuperable obstacles’. Clients appreciate the fact that ‘he has a lighter touch than other mediators, but remains focused on the real issues in dispute and how the parties might compromise them’.
2014 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
“One of the greats”, “Charming, sensible and realistic”, “An experienced player known for his ‘great and gentle’ style”, “Knows how to deal with the non-legal issues as well”, “Rated for his excellent reality-testing and risk analysis”, “Clients are particularly impressed by his ability to handle high emotions”.
2004 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
“Compassionate and wise”, “Straightforward and commercial”
2005 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
An extremely clever and engaging mediator, who builds up a good rapport with the parties, while demonstrating sound commercial knowledge… Clients unanimously acknowledge him as a ‘persuasive facilitator of a settlement’.
2006 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
Marsh is recommended as a full-time “first-rate” mediator. He receives acclaim from peers and clients who describe his “fluid style” in commercial disputes. They accrue particular benefit from his “willingness to challenge parties”. Marsh mediates between shareholders and handles a large number of civil fraud cases. IP forms a growing part of his practice and he is known “to get results” in this area”.
2007 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
“Patience, flexibility and persuasiveness” are three attributes that confirm Marsh’s position in the upper echelons of the UK mediation hierarchy… [he] is known for “doing remarkable things with extremely tough cases.”
2008 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
Marsh is renowned as a leading commercial mediator…Marsh’s tenacity is something that marks him out as a top mediator among clients: “He is not only a very fine mediator but also someone who will work and work and work until the job’s done – when other people would give up, he still keeps at it and is usually successful.”
2009 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
The international dimension of Marsh’s practice has expanded, having undertaken more transatlantic and pan-European mediations, including a substantial claim exceeding USD1 billion. His calm, patient approach means he is “terrific at standing back and analysing every angle,” and clients commend his “ability to conjure up alternative and practical solutions.”
2010 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
Marsh remains “right at the top of the tree” for mediation…“He is subtle, intelligent, approachable and always extremely focussed on the issues in hand”.
2011 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
Marsh has an excellent mediation practice, both domestically and internationally. Sources endorse his “affable” style, noting that he is “keen and willing to broker a deal, all the while ensuring neither party feels forced.”
2012 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
Bill Marsh “delivers a winning formula with great aplomb.” Instructing solicitors describe him as “tireless in looking for the angle which unlocks a dispute. He is a real gentleman,” who has “empathy with clients and a real ability to understand where they are coming from.” This has earned him a track record of resolving a broad range of contractual, company, IT, IP and commercial fraud disputes, both domestically and internationally.
2013 – Top ranked
Chambers Directory
Commentators speak at length about the talented Bill Marsh. Interviewees say he is “very effective at bringing the parties together”. In the experience of one interviewee, “he was creative, calm and confident in that he can see a path through the trees in a hard-fought dispute”.
2014 – Top ranked
Clients
“It was a pleasure to work with you.”
Lawyer, European motor racing dispute
Clients
“…Thought that Bill was great… fantastically on top of the documentation…He understood the human issues on the claimant’s side and was very sensitive. Understood financial aspects, as well as legal aspects.”
Lawyer, largest medical negligence claim in UK history
Clients
“Thank you for your extremely hard work yesterday in resolving the financial obstacle between the parties at the mediation.”
Lawyer, UK commercial fraud claim
Clients
“…Bill was excellent. I have seen him mediate before and was impressed again. He has an excellent touch, firm, calm, courteous and trustworthy. He has a great combination of elements and controls the day with ease. I will use him again.”
In-house counsel, re-insurance dispute
Clients
“…expressing my appreciation for the way in which you conducted the mediation. It really was remarkable how such a bitter dispute was resolved in such a satisfactory way.”
Lawyer, shareholder dispute
Clients
“…Very good… patient…”
“…extremely impressed…(and) now a bit of a mediation convert… having been (before the mediation) a bit sceptical about how effective it would be in a civil fraud case…”
“…Thought Bill Marsh was excellent – he had a very hard job to do, dealt with everyone very fairly, took time to go through everything with them and was very thorough…”
“…glowing reports of the mediator…”
“…Thought Bill was excellent and did a good job.”
Parties and lawyers, 9 party commercial fraud case
Clients
“The negotiation phase was when he really got into his own… and was most effective.”
“Bill was brilliant.”
Lawyers, multi-party, multi-million pound acquisition warranty dispute
Clients
“Most of the credit for the settlement must go to you for your skilful handling of the parties.
Thank you for your patience and perseverance…I am certain that we would not have got there without your very significant contribution.”
Lawyers, US$53 million international fraud claim
Clients
“Very pleased with Bill Marsh. He had a strong ability to keep things moving, and always kept calm in the face of strong-minded parties on either side. This did not appear to phase him and he kept things moving along at a good pace.”
Lawyer, multi-million pound credit-trading dispute
Clients
“…write to say how impressed I was by your mediation skills…From being somewhat sceptical about the mediation process, I have become a convert and will be recommending you to my colleagues.”
Counsel, share option and employment dispute
Clients
“Thank you for your skilful handling of the mediation and for your success in guiding the parties to an entente cordiale.”
Paris-based lawyer, international multi-million pound IT dispute
Clients
“I left [the mediation] admiring both your skill and fortitude.”
Counsel, Share option dispute
Clients
“Thank you for all your efforts in bringing this matter to a satisfactory conclusion from both sides point of view. It was something of an unusual case which, without your skill and judgment, had the potential to go horribly wrong…my clients have specifically asked me to thank you.”
Lawyer, international banking claim
Clients
“I do not believe that the settlement would have been achieved without your skilful, persistent and patient intervention.”
Lawyer, 6 party pension fund dispute
Clients
“[Our client] is very pleased to have settled the claim and most impressed with your help in achieving that.”
Lawyer, professional negligence/banking claim
Clients
“I am in no doubt that your input, ideas and energy helped to keep the parties talking throughout a difficult and challenging day (and evening, and night!). We will certainly look for an opportunity to work with you again as a mediator.”
Lawyer, world-wide trademark infringement dispute
Clients
“Your tenacity was much appreciated and was a major contributor to us resolving the matter.”
Lawyer, shareholders action
Clients
“Our clients [a major corporation] were very impressed and believe me [they] are very hard to please! They commented on a number of occasions just how good they thought you were.”
Lawyer, multi-million pound international defence contract dispute