Vernon Francis Hadida
BSc (Hons), CPhys, MinstP, Chartered Physicist
Solicitor, CEDR Accredited Mediator
1. Mediation Experience
Accredited in 1998 and registered in 2000, in his training Vernon gained experience working with many leading mediators. Disputes have ranged in value from a few thousand pounds to US $250 Million. He is now developing a career as an independent mediator.
Areas involved have included power station construction, deregulated energy sales, IT, transport, landlord and tenant, finance, nuisance claims, contested inheritance, and professional negligence. The majority of these cases settled in the mediation or in the immediate aftermath.
He has been described by a leading commentator as having great promise, especially in the areas of science and management.
Inclined to an easy-going, facilitative style, Vernon’s scientific and engineering experience means he is able to engage parties on technical issues.
2. Professional Background
A physicist as well as a practising solicitor, he worked in oil exploration for five years, spending time in charge of a seismic exploration ship at sea. Previously, upon graduation, he trained with British Airways Plc as a computer programmer/analyst.
Having trained and worked in a City of London law firm for three years, he now has a practice in Kent. There he is Head of Dispute Resolution and Managing Partner in a firm of forty people.
Having worked as a lawyer in Dispute Resolution since 1990, Vernon is experienced in a wide range of dispute disciplines, including employment, personal injury, debt, property and a variety of commercial litigation. His personal injury experience includes a £350,000 head injury settlement; he is also a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers. His employment experience includes successfully representing parties in unfair dismissal claims, both employers and employees, and advising on the introduction of grievance and disciplinary procedures. Vernon also has experience as a party to Employment Tribunal proceedings, and therefore understands the parties’ perspective well. Commercial litigation experience has included defending a US $2,000,000 claim by a household-name computer corporation.
As a Chartered Physicist, recent scientific experience includes live performance of science experiments on behalf of the Institute of Physics to increase interest in science amongst the public.
3. Extra Skills/Business Experience
With a Degree in Physics, Vernon went on to obtain Chartered Physicist status. This is similar to that of a Chartered Engineer. He is a full member of the Institute of Physics.
Presently in business with two other partners, Vernon has a large role in planning the future of their solicitors’ practice. He deals with the everyday issues which arise in the running of a business employing forty people, with a seven-figure turnover, in a competitive and highly regulated marketplace.
Vernon was recently asked to participate in a one hour live radio show on LBC, “the Legal Hour”, where he answered calls from listeners on any area of the law.
Vernon has a basic knowledge of the French and German languages but is not fluent.
4. Professional Publications
Vernon has one personal injury case reported in Butterworths’ Personal Injury Law. The case involved representing an adult with severe learning difficulties, injured whilst in the care of a Local Authority.
He developed a new line of argument in residential mortgage possession cases and, shortly before publication of the supporting article, the House of Lords handed down a new Judgment preventing such argument from being maintained in the future.
Vernon has taken one matter to the Court of Appeal, successfully reversing a series of previous Orders of the High Court.
5. Further ADR Experience
Vernon has been a member of the MATA teaching faculty involved in presenting a role play of mediation to parties interested in mediation.
He has also helped to train aspiring mediators, appraising their performance in mock mediations prior to formal assessment.
Vernon has completed the MATA Advanced Mediator Training Course.
6. Other Activities
Formerly Chairman and Secretary of his University Physics Society, Vernon is currently Trustee of a large sporting and recreational park, and Trustee of the assets of a young child. Formerly Men’s Captain of his local tennis club, with two young children he has found himself coach to a junior football team and now an ECB level 2 qualified cricket coach.
