Samantha de Coning

Samantha is Head of Practice at Fair Way.  The focus of her role is on developing dispute resolution practice across Fair Way, as well as her own work as a mediator, adjudicator and arbitrator.

Samantha is a Fellow of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), Fellow of the Resolution Institute, an accredited Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) provider and sits on the Ministry of Education Section 47 arbitration panel.  She has taught dispute resolution courses for Massey University, AUT and Otago Polytechnic.

She leads Fair Way’s Workplace Services and is the Chief Practitioner for Kāpehu.  Samantha is key mediator and adjudicator in Fair Way’s Study Complaints | Ngā Amuamu Tauira service, working with education providers, domestic tertiary learners and international students.  She has a wealth of experience across a vast range of disputes including building and construction, commercial and private, education, care of children, relationship property matters and employment disputes.

Samantha has a strong interest in training and education.  She presents on a range of dispute resolution topics and develops and delivers training aimed at assisting participants to understand conflict and develop practical management and de-escalation skills.

As a Family Dispute Resolution mediator, Samantha particularly enjoys developing processes which enable parties to participate in a positive way and which provide the appropriate support and information for good decision making.  In her practice, she advocates exploring the individual needs of the children and parents so that the parties can find practical ways forward.

Promoting dispute resolution and mentoring new practitioners is a key passion for Samantha.  As Head of Practice, she focuses on Fair Way’s dispute resolution practice and provides support and guidance to our team of Resolution Practitioners.