Karen Fairweather

Karen is an internationally and New Zealand accredited mediator and Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) provider, working in Fair Way’s Family Services team. With a strong legal background and deep understanding of family conflict dynamics, she supports families to navigate challenging conversations with respect, clarity, and dignity. Her calm, practical approach helps people find a constructive path forward during times of change.

As a CINERGY® trained conflict management coach, Karen aims to help people change the trajectory of conflict. In FDR work, she pairs pragmatism with empathy, helping families craft durable agreements that keep children firmly at the centre of the process. She finds real satisfaction in seeing families able to move forward - less burdened by conflict and more focused on what matters most.

Karen was called to the Bar (England and Wales) in 2007. Until 2022, she was a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Auckland. After moving full-time into Alternative Dispute Resolution and conflict management, she has retained her academic interests as a Senior Visting Fellow in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the University of Reading. When not working, Karen is usually cooking, baking, or eating. She tries to offset her love of food with a strategic amount of exercise.