Caldera Mediation
Experienced Counsel, Effective Mediation
Hi, I'm Maurice Woolf, and after a 30 year + career as General Counsel, Chief Corporate Officer and Chief Operating Officer, I have decided to dedicate my experience to helping parties resolve disputes.
I am a CEDR accredited Mediator who has also received specialist training from CEDR in workplace mediation. I offer specialised mediation services focusing on Commercial, Workplace, and In-life Contract disputes.
I understand the legal, commercial and market drivers that underlie disputes and motivate the parties to become positional and to dig into an inevitable road of litigation. I am eager to encourage parties towards exploring their genuine interests. With a diplomatic, pragmatic, and straightforward approach, I pride myself on aiding the parties to reach solutions that are robust and mutually acceptable.
At the core of my ethos is the tagline"Experienced Counsel, Effective Mediation." It expresses my interest in leveraging my background to help the parties seek out lasting solutions that foster positive relationships and drive business growth.
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Why Caldera?
Caldera /kalˈdɛra/ - a Caldera is a large hollow that forms shortly after the emptying of a magma chamber in a volcanic eruption. From the Spanish, literally a cauldron.
For many years, a picture of Deception Island, a Caldera in Antarctica, hung in my office. At first glance looked like an image of a stormy sea but closer inspection showed black volcanic rock streaked with crisp white snow. It served as a reminder to me that things are often not what they seem, and so to be curious, to retain an enquiring mind.
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Fast forward to earlier in 2025 and a visit to Laguna de Apoyo, high above Granada, Nicaragua. I was struck by its beauty and tranquility and also by idea (if a little bit stretched) that if a caldera is the peace that follows a volcanic explosion so Caldera Mediation is the peace that can be delivered after the tumult of conflict. Caldera Mediation it is.
Why Mediation?
A mediator serves as an independent third party listening to the positions of both sides and helping them to find the space to settle their dispute. The mediator is sometimes referred to as a neutral diplomat. ​
The mediation process centres around confidentiality and the integrity of the mediator, allowing the parties to freely explore solutions without risk to any legal proceedings occurring outside of the mediation process.
​I guide clients through a structured 4-stage mediation process. I start by establishing a safe environment for open communication and establishing if mediation is appropriate. Next, I identify key issues and interests to facilitate understanding and establish the framework for productive discussions. Then, I work collaboratively to generate options for mutually acceptable resolution. Finally, I encourage the parties to document the solution in clear terms that the parties understand and accept. ​
Although the process sounds rigid, in fact there is a huge amount of flexibility in order to allow the parties to reach a settlement that they own. It is only through ownership that the settlement will be successfully implemented.
How Can Caldera Mediation help?
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"Maurice's diplomatic approach and deep commercial understanding were instrumental in helping us reach a fair resolution. His ability to focus our minds on coming to a solution was incredibly helpful."
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CEO - Telecomms Company
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