The Dispute Resolution Agency

What The Dispute Resolution Agency does

The Dispute Resolution Agency (DRA) operates as a trading style of Mediator Network Ltd, a UK-registered private limited company that provides practice-building, marketing, and operational support to mediators and mediation service providers. The company addresses the post-qualification gap for newly qualified mediators and the operational scaling challenges faced by mediation panels and training providers across the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) profession. Its customer base spans three segments: individual mediators seeking to establish commercial practice (primary), mediation panels and providers seeking operational systems (primary), and training providers and awarding bodies needing structured application review processes (secondary).

The core technology asset is Mediator Desk, a proprietary SaaS platform that combines case management (automated client onboarding, document storage, file notes, review collection), a Digital Practice Record that tracks mediator progression through Foundation, Developing, Active, and Senior stages, and an Awarding Body Dashboard for membership rule configuration and automated application review. DRA operates two further sub-brands alongside the platform: the Mediation Agency, which provides panel membership, referrals, and co-mediation work as a managed service delivery arm; and DRA.Directory, a searchable mediator directory operating on a freemium model with premium subscription tiers. The integrated ecosystem is explicitly structured to separate practice-development support from case allocation, preserving trust-based positioning.

Revenue mechanics combine quote-based professional services and consulting (strategy sessions, practice setup, QuickStart marketing, skills practice), recurring subscription income from DRA.Directory premium plans (monthly), and managed-services revenue from Mediation Agency panel operations. The go-to-market is sales-led via personalised discovery calls, augmented by community-led engagement through the Junior Mediator Register, structured practice pathways, and a content-marketing engine of 19+ published blog posts. Geographic focus is the UK with platforms positioned globally through a 'global ADR network' framing, though no concrete international commercial operations are evidenced.

Name

The Dispute Resolution Agency

Legal name

Mediator Network Ltd

Website

https://disputeresolutionagency.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dispute Resolution Agency, a trading style of UK-based Mediator Network Ltd, provides practice-building support, marketing services, and the Mediator Desk SaaS platform for individual mediators, mediation panels, and training providers across the ADR profession.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mediation Practice Consulting and Professional Development Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Management Consulting Services (54161), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Mediator practice management
• Alternative dispute resolution
• Mediation consulting services
• ADR directory platform
• Professional development software

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consulting: DRA provides strategy sessions, practice development support, and business growth consulting for mediators and mediation organisations. Services include practice setup, visibility strategy, and operational development support.
2. Mediator Directory Premium Plans: While basic registration is free with a one-time £5 registration fee, premium plans with enhanced features such as priority placement, richer content options, and deeper analytics are available at monthly subscription rates.
3. Mediation Agency Panel Membership: The Mediation Agency provides panel membership for experienced mediators, offering referral opportunities and co-mediation work. The agency delivers professionally managed mediation services to clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Dispute Resolution Agency provides practice-building support for mediators across the UK and globally, anchored by Mediator Desk, a proprietary SaaS practice management platform featuring case management, automated client onboarding, document storage, Digital Practice Record tracking, and a Mediators' Room collaboration space. The company also delivers professional services including practice setup consultancy, marketing support, skills practice sessions, and strategy sessions, alongside managed mediation services through its Mediation Agency panel and an online mediator directory (DRA.Directory).

Product overview

The Dispute Resolution Agency offers a multi-product ecosystem supporting mediators from qualification through to established practice. At the core is Mediator Desk, a comprehensive practice management SaaS platform that includes case management, client onboarding, document storage, and a Digital Practice Record for tracking professional development. The Digital Practice Record has a dedicated module for Awarding Bodies to review mediator applications. Alongside the platform, DRA operates the Mediation Agency as its service delivery arm, providing panel membership and co-mediation opportunities, and the Mediator Directory (DRA.Directory) as a searchable directory for client referrals. DRA also provides ancillary services including practice setup support, QuickStart marketing services, skills practice sessions, strategy consultations, and maintains a Junior Mediator Register and Training Calendar. The portfolio is unified through Mediator Network Ltd as the parent entity, with each product serving different stages of mediator development and different stakeholder needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediator Desk A comprehensive practice management SaaS platform providing mediators with case management, automated client onboarding, document storage, file notes, review collection, and a dedicated Mediators' Room for preparation and case collaboration. Includes Digital Practice Record for logging training, mediation experience, supervision, and reflective practice; supports panel and awarding body workflows.
• Mediator Directory (DRA.Directory) An online directory platform that helps mediators and ADR professionals increase visibility to potential clients and referral partners by creating searchable professional profiles, collecting reviews and testimonials, publishing thought leadership content, and receiving direct enquiries without middleman commission. Free basic registration with premium subscription plans offering priority placement, richer content options, and deeper analytics.
• Mediation Agency A managed mediation service panel under Mediator Network Ltd providing professionally managed mediation services to clients. Offers panel membership for experienced mediators with referral opportunities, co-mediation work, and structured shadowing pathways for developing mediators.
• Practice Set Up for Individuals Professional support for individual mediators to set up their practice, covering business structure, strategy, professional profiles, websites, branding, referral systems, and onboarding flows.
• Practice Set Up for Organisations Consultancy support for mediation panels, providers, training organisations, and resolution services to create strong operational foundations, support mediator progression, and build scalable mediation services.
• QuickStart Marketing Services Affordable marketing support specifically designed for mediators to improve visibility, professional positioning, SEO, and enquiry pathways.
• Skills Practice Sessions (Mediator Practice Pathway) Structured practice sessions, facilitated role-play, and skills development for mediators to build confidence and professional readiness, including Stage Two support and reflective practice.
• Strategy Sessions Strategic consultancy sessions for mediators and mediation organisations to develop long-term growth strategies and operational development plans.
• Mediator Support Services Ongoing support services for mediators including co-mediations, professional visibility development, business growth support, and operational systems assistance.
• Junior Mediator Register A register for newly qualified and developing mediators offering visibility and structured access to practice opportunities within the DRA ecosystem, including co-mediations and shadowing pathways.
• Mediation Training Calendar A calendar resource of mediation training events and professional development opportunities for mediators.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mediator Network LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMediator Network Ltd is the parent company of The Dispute Resolution Agency, Mediation Agency, and DRA.Directory. These brands form a joined-up ecosystem that supports mediators from qualification through to established practice, with clear separation between practice development support and case delivery to avoid conflicts.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Resolver: UK-based consumer complaint and dispute resolution platform that helps users resolve issues with companies. Comparable as a UK-focused dispute resolution marketplace, though consumer-facing rather than mediator-facing.

Emerging players

• Smartsettle: Online dispute resolution (ODR) platform providing automated negotiation tools for commercial disputes. Comparable as a technology-enabled ADR platform, though focused on ODR tooling rather than mediator practice management.
• Lawcadia: Legal operations and matter management platform with dispute resolution workflow features. Comparable as a practice management SaaS serving legal professionals with structured case and matter handling, though broader in scope.

Others

• Civil Mediation Council: UK professional body that accredits civil mediators and sets standards for the profession. Comparable as a stakeholder in mediator accreditation workflows that Mediator Desk's Awarding Body Dashboard integrates with.

Direct peers

• Mediate.com: Long-standing global online mediation directory and resource platform. Directly comparable as a marketplace and visibility layer for mediators, with similar educational content and ADR professional focus.

Broad incumbents

• MyCase: Legal practice management platform for small and mid-sized law firms with case management, client onboarding, and document tools. Comparable feature set to Mediator Desk but oriented toward litigation/legal practice rather than ADR.
• Tyler Technologies (Modria ODR): Public company whose Modria platform provides online dispute resolution technology for courts and tribunals. Comparable as a SaaS platform serving the ADR/dispute resolution category, with materially larger scale and resources.
• Clio: Leading cloud-based legal practice management SaaS used by tens of thousands of law firms. Comparable as a practice management platform serving regulated professionals, though broader in scope than DRA's mediation-specific Mediator Desk.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/disputeresolutionagency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Dispute Resolution Agency