Meet our Family Mediators

Whether you are new to mediation or not, we know just how important it is that you feel as comfortable as possible during mediation, and knowing a little bit about your mediator always helps.

At Ellis Jones we have four qualified family mediators based out of both our Bournemouth office, and our London office. Whether you are facing issues arising from separation, divorce and financial arrangements, or your children, our mediators are well equipped to help you and your family reach a solution.

Deborah Leask

Deborah is one of our partners and joint head of the family team, with over 25 years’ experience in family law, having qualified as a solicitor in 1990. Deborah’s particular area of expertise as both a mediator and a lawyer is complex financial matters, often involving pensions, tax and family companies.

She qualified as a mediator in 1996 and is a member of the Phoenix Mediation, a network of local lawyer-mediators in the Dorset and Hampshire area. She is also an accredited mediator with the Family Mediation Council and is qualified in integrated/hybrid mediation (involving both parties’ solicitors).

Deborah regularly mediates on matters involving issues over marital/non-marital wealth, family companies, inherited assets, pensions and trusts.

Katie Taft

Katie is another one of our Partners with a huge breadth of knowledge and experience in all thing’s family law, from divorce and separation, through to children. Katie’s areas of expertise specifically include complex financial cases and disputes involving children, particularly cases of child abduction.

Like Deborah, Katie is a member of the Phoenix Mediation, and is also an accredited mediator with the Family Mediation Council.

Katie recently mediated on matters involving arrangements for international access to children, as well as several seemingly intractable financial disputes.

Georgina Emerson

Georgina is one of our Senior Associate Solicitor’s and heads up our family team in London. Georgina deals with all types of family law cases, and qualified as a Resolution Mediator in 2025.

Georgina’s area of expertise include cases of external and internal relocation of families, child abduction stemming from her involvement with the Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA), as well as complex matrimonial finances. Georgina is recognised by Resolution as an Accredited Specialist in complex finances and child abduction.

Georgina’s mediation skills span across issues relating to finance, future arrangements for children and any other issues arising upon divorce or separation.

Asya Panchalieva

Asya is one of our Associate Solicitors who represents clients across an array of family law issues. Asya is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Children Law and Finance, with experience in representing clients experiencing mental health difficulties, addiction including injuries to children and domestic abuse.

Asya’s recent work includes the division of matrimonial finances in cases involving inherited property, buy-to-let portfolios, and international assets. Asya is also a member of Phoenix Mediation and has been qualified as a mediator since 2024.

Mediation specialists

Our mediators have observed, first-hand, how effective mediation can be as, for many families, it offers a more co-operative and less adversarial setting – leading to quicker resolutions, greater control over the outcome and a more affordable approach to tackling issues than when compared to court proceedings.

If you are set on mediation, or just considering it, please reach out to our team by phone on 01202 636223, by email at family@ellisjones.co.uk, or by completing our enquiry form below.