Mediation & HNW Family Governance Services
Helping families resolve issues before they become expensive disputes
Barrule Partners provides mediation and HNW family governance support for families, trustees, and structures connected to Guernsey.
Disputes within family wealth structures rarely start as legal problems. They usually begin as communication breakdowns, misaligned expectations, or uncertainty around roles and decision-making. Left unresolved, these issues can both damage relationships and destabilise structures.
Our mediation service focuses on early, constructive alternatives to formal and costly litigation.
What we do
We act as an independent, experienced facilitator to help families and stakeholders address sensitive issues in a controlled, confidential setting.
Our services include:
Family and beneficiary mediation
Trustee–beneficiary relationship support
Dispute de-escalation within trust or corporate structures
Support during succession or generational transition
Facilitation of difficult governance discussions
Alignment of expectations and responsibilities
A preventative approach
Whilst our mediators are highly experienced legal professionals, our purpose is do not replace legal advice. Our role is to help and facilitate a process whereby parties can reach clarity and consensus before issues harden into damaging formal disputes.
This approach:
Preserves family relationships
Reduces reputational and financial risk
Supports trustees and directors in meeting their duties
Helps structures continue to operate effectively
Keeps any costs arising to the minimum possible
When mediation is appropriate
Tension between beneficiaries and trustees
Uncertainty around succession or control
Differing views between family members
Governance challenges in family-owned businesses
Early warning signs of dispute
Arbitration
If other forms of ADR have failed then the confidential process of Arbitration can be a very attractive alternative to public Court proceedings. Her Honour Hazel Marshall KC brings a wealth of arbitration experience to the table.