Karen worked in general practice as a Solicitor for just 10 years prior to working as a mediator. She has also trained a Personal Insolvency Practitioner. Whilst working as a solicitor she worked in family law, conveyancing, probate and litigation.She trained with the Family Mediation Service in 1999 and since 2000 worked with the organisation working primarily with couples in conflict. She has also been closely involved in the FMS student trainee programme lecturing, supervising and training student mediators. She worked for several years on the Dolphin House Mediation Programme – a pilot program which has been set up to work up as an adjunct to the District Court. Dolphin House was and continues to be one of the busiest family courts in the land. Whilst working in Dolphin House, Karen mediated custody, access and guardianship disputes on a daily basis. Her Master's degree entailed a comparative study of mediation and litigation examining outcomes in respect of custody access and guardianship disputes. Her Diploma in Child Protection and Child Welfare further facilitated a detailed study of the use of mediation in child protection cases . Karen continues to work in private practice as a mediator. She has a particular interest in conflict resolution in all areas of civil law but most especially in family law, child care and elder disputes.