Professional background and experience:

Alan is an accredited mediator through Conflict Dynamics (2017) and has been mediating disputes continuously since 1990. He has a B Proc from the University of Pretoria, an LLB from the University of Cape Town and a Commercial LLM from Bristol University. He is a practicing attorney with over 35 years’ experience in labour law, commercial litigation, family law and other aspects of general practice.

Alan combines a deep legal knowledge with a long-standing commitment to alternative dispute resolution in the aforementioned areas. He has been a partner with Ronald Mendelow for over 20 years, in the firm known as Mendelow-Jacobs attorneys. Alan now practices as Alan Jacobs and Associates.

Alan is a seasoned mediator with an extensive track record. He has mediated a wide range of disputes across sectors and subject areas – including labour and employment matters, sexual harassment, divorce and custody, commercial disputes, professional negligence, neighbour conflict (such as boundary, noise disputes emanating from dogs and children) and also inter-personal disagreements such as, a couples’ disputes regarding the purchasing of furniture for their new home.

Alan also conducts mediation sessions for partners who are intending to get married.

He is married with three children and is an avid African artefact collector and an Iyengar yoga Practioner for over two decades. He is a traveller who enjoys remote destinations.

Mediation experience and style:

Alan is known for his sincerity, commitment, and compassionate approach. Clients consistently express gratitude for the care and thoughtfulness he brings to the mediation process. Drawing on decades of legal and mediation experience, Alan is especially skilled at identifying core issues, and guiding parties toward clear and de-escalated situations. His facilitative style, paired with the respect he has for the individuals involved, makes him effective in all matters. Whether the conflict involves corporate risk or a personal disagreement, Alan brings the same level of integrity, attentiveness, and skill to each case.

Comments from mediation clients:

“Alan, I am so thankful that you mediated our divorce with empathy, compassion and understanding for both parties.

“You saved us a fortune in money and trauma”

“I was not familiar with mediation and was very pleased that I was referred to Alan, who successfully mediated a complicated and acrimonious divorce”

“I congratulate Alan on the success he achieved in the mediation of a large dispute surrounding misrepresentation, company shares and fraud. He did this in a manner that caused no offense to either party and mediated a reasonable and sensible settlement.”