Meet the team
Our Team — experienced dispute resolution, backed by broader expertise
Mediations Australia is built around a core team of nationally accredited mediators and lawyers — Dan Toombs, Farley Tolpen, and Prav Singh-Pillay — each with deep experience across the disputes that matter most to individuals, families, and businesses. Depending on the nature of your matter, we can also draw on a broader network of mediators, arbitrators, and dispute resolution professionals.
Meet Our Core Team
Our core team brings together extensive experience in mediation, law and dispute resolution.
Dan Toombs
Founder, Lawyer & Mediator
AMDRAS-accredited mediator, multi-award winning lawyer, and published author. Founder of Mediations Australia, National Human Rights Law Award recipient, and Winston Churchill Fellow.
View profile →Farley Tolpen
Accredited Mediator & Lawyer
40+ years of mediation, arbitration and litigation experience across Australia and the United States. Nationally Accredited Mediator (AMDRAS), FDRP, and registered Family Law Arbitrator.
View profile →Prav Singh-Pillay
Lawyer & Accredited Mediator
Family lawyer and accredited mediator with 25+ years of experience across family law, civil litigation, wills and estates. Authorised to issue Section 60I certificates as a registered FDRP.
View profile →Beyond our core team
Access to a broader network of mediators and arbitrators
Our core team handles a wide range of disputes directly. For matters that require specific expertise — specialist areas of law, particular industry knowledge, or additional practitioners for complex multi-party disputes — Mediations Australia can draw on a broader network of mediators, arbitrators, and dispute resolution professionals.
We don't claim a specific number. What we offer is honest guidance: when you contact us about a matter, we'll tell you clearly who is best placed to help, whether that's a member of our core team or someone from the broader network — and why.
"Start with the dispute. We can help determine the right way forward."
Book a Free Consultation →Dispute resolution expertise
Different disputes require different expertise
Mediations Australia and its broader network work across the full range of civil, family, and commercial disputes. The right practitioner depends on the nature of your matter.
Family & Separation
Parenting arrangements, property settlement, consent orders, financial agreements, and the full range of post-separation decisions.
Workplace & Employment
Bullying, harassment, unfair dismissal, team conflict, discrimination, and workplace relationship breakdowns.
Business & Commercial
Partnership disputes, contract conflicts, shareholder disagreements, franchise matters, and commercial relationship breakdowns.
Property & Construction
Neighbour disputes, strata conflicts, real estate transaction disputes, construction defects, and co-owner disagreements.
Estates & Inheritance
Contesting wills, executor conflicts, inheritance disputes, family provision claims, and estate distribution disagreements.
Arbitration
Where a binding decision is needed but litigation should be avoided — private arbitration for property, financial, and commercial matters.
Finding the right practitioner
You don't need to choose a mediator before speaking with us
When you contact us, we discuss the matter and identify who is best placed to help. Here's what we consider.
Nature of the dispute
Family, workplace, commercial, estate, property — different disputes call for different experience and sometimes different processes.
Professional experience
We match the practitioner's professional background to the substance of the dispute — not just their general accreditation.
Complexity
A two-party parenting matter and a multi-party commercial dispute require different approaches. We scale accordingly.
Mediation or arbitration
For most disputes, mediation is the right starting point. Where a binding decision is needed, arbitration may be more appropriate — we'll explain the difference.
Location & format
In person anywhere in Australia, or online for any matter worldwide. We find a format that works for everyone involved.
Availability
Some matters are urgent. Where timing matters, we work to find a practitioner who can meet your schedule.
Not sure who you need? Start with a conversation.
Speak With Our Team →Australia-wide
Dispute resolution wherever you are
Mediations Australia conducts mediation in person anywhere in Australia and online for any matter, anywhere in the world. Our offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth are a convenience, not a constraint — if you need a mediator, location is not a barrier.
Mediation or arbitration?
The right process depends on the dispute. Here's the difference.
Mediation
A confidential, structured process in which an independent mediator helps the parties reach their own agreement. You stay in control of the outcome. The mediator decides nothing — they create the conditions for the parties to resolve the dispute themselves.
Mediation is suitable for most family, workplace, commercial, estate, and property disputes. It is faster, cheaper, and more private than court — and the agreements reached tend to hold because both parties had a hand in making them.
Learn about mediation →Arbitration
A private process in which a qualified arbitrator hears both sides and makes a binding determination — like a private judge, but faster and more flexible than court. The decision is binding and can be registered with the court.
Arbitration is appropriate where the parties need a definitive decision, cannot reach agreement through mediation, and want to avoid the cost and delay of litigation. In family law, arbitration is available for property and financial matters only.
Learn about arbitration →Not sure which process is appropriate for your dispute?
Book a Free Consultation →Questions & answers
Common questions about our team
Is this the full Mediations Australia team?+
Dan Toombs, Farley Tolpen, and Prav Singh-Pillay are the core people behind Mediations Australia. Depending on the nature and complexity of your matter, Mediations Australia can also draw on a broader network of mediators, arbitrators, and dispute resolution professionals.
How do I choose a mediator?+
You don't need to choose before speaking with us. When you book a consultation, we discuss the nature of the dispute, what you're hoping to achieve, and which practitioner is best suited to your matter. We'll explain who we'd recommend and why.
Can you help with disputes outside family law?+
Yes. Our core team handles family and separation matters, workplace and employment disputes, commercial and business conflicts, estate and wills disagreements, and property matters. We can also refer to appropriate specialists in the broader network for matters requiring specific expertise.
Do you have access to arbitrators?+
Farley Tolpen is a registered Family Law Arbitrator and can conduct arbitration for property and financial matters. For other commercial arbitration needs, we can help identify appropriate practitioners.
How do I know a practitioner has relevant experience for my dispute?+
When you contact us, we ask about the nature of the dispute before recommending a practitioner. Experience, professional background, and availability are all considered. You can also review individual team profiles to understand each person's specialist areas and track record.
Can you help with disputes outside major cities?+
Yes. Mediations Australia offers mediation online as well as in person across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Online mediation is equally effective for most matters and removes the need for travel entirely.
Is online mediation as effective as in-person?+
For most disputes, online mediation achieves outcomes comparable to in-person sessions. It removes the need for travel, can reduce costs, and often makes it easier to schedule sessions across locations. Our practitioners are experienced in conducting online mediation effectively. Learn more about online mediation.
NOT SURE WHO YOU NEED?
Start with a conversation
Tell us about your dispute and we'll explain who is best placed to help, what process makes sense, and what to expect — with no obligation and no commitment.
Book a Free Consultation →