Richard de Rivaz was born in 1946 and has had a long career in industry, having gained an Industrial Engineering and Management degree at Loughborough University of Technology. He has a Diploma in Industrial Studies and is a member of the Chartered Management Institute.

Richard's early career was spent in the dairy industry in a number of managerial roles for Unigate, Cliffords Dairies and Woodgate Farms Dairy, where he served as Production Director for seven years. He also gained experience with dairy companies in the USA with Sealtest and HP Hood. In these companies he carried out a number of work study projects.

In 1986 he left the dairy industry to move full time to MDR Interfaces Ltd, a company formed to provide industrial computer software and electronic control systems. Various projects were undertaken including the supply of telesales software for a large dairy company, automated packaging lines for the dairy industry, control systems for electric vehicles and wind power. More recently the firm has concentrated on bespoke software and interactive website design. Through his career he has become familiar with contractual and intellectual property matters, as well as the legal process.

Richard is an experienced CEDR Accredited Mediator and has mediated in Property, Boundary, Contract, Banking, Partnership, IT and Engineering Disputes with amounts in dispute ranging up to £5m. Richard is also an Accredited Community Mediator and regularly mediates in neighbourhood disputes and intergenerational family disputes. Richard is a Designated Member of Specialist Mediators LLP.

His interests include sailing, music and skiing.

"Thank you for your courteous and skillful mediation. I believe you achieved a better result than if we had gone to Court."

"Friendly. Warm. I was dealing with people of integrity ..."

"Able to be objective on both sides. Professional."

"Unrushed, Competent, Calm."