Fellow Liverymen and Freemen
It is a privilege to address you all for the first time as Master. Following a memorable Installation Dinner at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Tuesday, I am delighted to begin this year of service with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm for everything that lies ahead. It feels a time of great opportunity for our profession and our Company. Our work is rooted in centuries-old principles of fairness, integrity and impartiality, and those principles, along with well-established traditions, continue to guide modern dispute resolution today. Yet the landscape is changing rapidly: emerging technologies, new ways of doing business and an essential need to build a more diverse and inclusive profession are reshaping the challenges and opportunities before us all.
As I shared during the Installation Dinner, the theme for my year as Master is: “Uniting Generations: Honouring our roots, growing our future.” Why? Because our Company’s strength lies in its people. We are fortunate to have senior members whose wisdom and judgement are invaluable, working alongside emerging practitioners bringing new skills, ideas and alternative perspectives. We are at our best when those strengths combine, as we not only preserve our proud traditions, but we build the future of dispute resolution. I therefore look forward to fostering opportunities for mentoring, collaboration and shared learning across all levels of membership.
The photos from the evening can be viewed via the Members’ Area of the website (under ‘Events’).
I am delighted to advise you all of several new appointments. The Reverend Dr Simon Cuff was appointed as Rector of St Mary-le-Bow Church last month and has graciously agreed to be our Honorary Chaplain. Father Simon follows in the path of his highly esteemed predecessor, the Reverend George R Bush, who became an Honorary Freeman of the Company in July, after 20 years as rector and our chaplain.
On Tuesday we admitted Lt Cdr Dan Wardle RN as an Honorary Freeman. In that ex officio capacity during their terms of office he joins Major Joe Drohan, Officer Commanding of 13 Company, SW London Army Cadet Force, and newly promoted Wg Cdr Rosh O’Brien, who returns to command 622 Squadron RAuxAF. There is usually at least one opportunity every year for us to engage with each unit, so look out for announcements in 2026.
On the Court we welcome two new Assistants elected by Common Hall last April: Irvinder Bakshi and Philip Norman.
We look forward to their contributions as chairs of the Education and Membership committees respectively.
Looking Ahead
The Master’s Challenge
Charitable work lies at the very heart of the Company and is a key part of our Livery tradition. In that spirit, for this year’s Master’s Challenge,
I will be taking part on the iconic journey of cycling from Land’s End to John o’Groats from 23rd July – 4th August 2026 to raise funds for the WCA Charitable Trust and Solving Kids’ Cancer UK. I hope many of you will support the Challenge, whether through donations, cheering me on along the route or even joining me for a leg or two. To find out more, please visit:
https://www.mcms.co.uk/news-insights/view/masters-challenge-2026
Events and engagement
We have a busy and inspiring programme of events lined up this year. Key dates for the diary are:
2025
8 November: The Lady Mayor’s Show
2 December: Keating Symposium
10 December: Christmas Carol Service
2026
23-25 January: WCA Mediation Skills Competition at IDRC
19 February: Dispute Resolution Lunch at Vinters’ Hall
31 March: The Master’s Lecture
22 April: Consorts’ Event – Afternoon Tea Dance at Stationers’ Hall – profits going to the Lady Mayor’s Appeal
18 May: Annual Charter Banquet at Mansion House
8 July: Annual Thanksgiving Service and Supper
23 July – 4 August: Master’s Challenge
11-13 Sept: Master’s Weekend in Londonderry/Derry
22 October: Installation Dinner at Grocers’ Hall
Call for Volunteers — Mediation Skills Competition
As above, our annual Mediation Skills Competition will take place from the evening of Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th in January. This event is a highlight of our educational programme and a wonderful opportunity to support aspiring professionals by sharing key skills and experience.
For the competition to go ahead and for us to really make it a success, we rely on members to help, so I am looking for mediators, judges or general support throughout the weekend. Whether you can assist for the full competition or even a few hours, your involvement would be hugely appreciated. To express your interest in helping, please email the Clerk at clerk@arbitratorscompany.org
A year of opportunity
The livery movement is built on service, fellowship and a shared commitment to the City. We will, of course, continue to honour those traditions whilst remaining open, welcoming and forward-looking in our activities and engagements. I genuinely believe our success comes not from individual achievements alone, but from the richness of our community: the friendships we form, the knowledge we share and the values we live by. So, I warmly encourage members to take part and make the most of the Company’s fellowship, learning and service opportunities for the year ahead. I particularly urge newer members to engage by offering ideas, supporting our initiatives and attending events.
Finally, I’d like to say thank you for the overwhelming wishes of congratulations and support. Your encouragement has meant a great deal,
and I am grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in me. I’d also like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who continue to strengthen the Company: past Master, Nicola Cohen, Senior Warden Peter King and Junior Warden Karin Walker, the Court, the Clerk, and you, the members. Your dedication, experience and generosity underpin everything we achieve together, and I look forward to working with you all over the coming year.
Matt Molloy
Master Arbitrator 2025-26