As well as an accredited mediator (SoM), Gayle is a contentious probate consultant solicitor (ACTAPS qualified), with an emphasis on 1975 Act claims and Will validity disputes. She is often complimented on her empathic style which is complemented by her level 2 counselling certificate (NCFE), and National Bereavement Service training. She believes that at the heart of a contentious probate dispute is grief, in all its guises.

She is also an entrepreneur taking a travel company from a bedroom-business to an award winning travel company with three offices in the UK and France. She exited the company in a staff buy-out scheme in 2022. She remains in the business as a consultant.  She is also a business enterprise mentor and coach with ABM.

In her career she has been a boss, an employee, a ‘worker’ and self-employed. She has been a tenant and a landlord. She has had a few legal battles of her own, and it is one of those which cemented her interest in mediation. She knows what it feels like to be the client as opposed to the advisor, the participant as opposed to the mediator. She knows what’s at stake outside of the financial aspects of a dispute and that commerciality is not the only consideration for disputes with an emotional core. Disputes are not an easy arena, but she strives to facilitate a conversation which might get the participants unstuck.

 She particularly welcomes instructions to mediate on the following:

• Maintenance claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
• s9 Validity of Will claims (including capacity, knowledge and approval, undue influence)
• Family Business succession planning
• SME shareholder disputes
• Holiday claims
• Landlord and Tenant (Private and Commercial)
• Employment law (employment status only: employee / worker / self-employed)

 She can accommodate remote mediations via Zoom and in person mediations in the North West (based Manchester)