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Dr Mackie (1947-2026) recognised the potential of mediation at a time when it was a little known concept within the British legal system, and has played a highly influential role in the development of alternative dispute resolution during the past four decades.
In 1990, he co-founded CEDR alongside lawyer Eileen Carroll KC (Hon), who he later married. Together, they built CEDR from scratch into one of the most respected voices in the global development of dispute resolution. They established professional qualifications for mediators, championed civil justice reform and promoted mediation across the world. Under Dr Mackie’s leadership, CEDR has trained more than 10,000 mediators worldwide, established international partnerships across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
In his own practice as a leading commercial mediator, Dr Mackie worked on cases of international importance, and was known for his ability to unlock disputes thought to be impossible to resolve. He was also a psychologist, teacher, pioneer, barrister, co-author with Eileen of two books, and writer.
John Munton, managing director of CEDR, describes Dr Mackie as ‘one of those rare people who helped define an entire profession.
‘His vision, courage and determination transformed mediation from an unfamiliar concept into a mainstream means of resolving conflict that has benefited countless individuals, organisations and communities around the world. He and Eileen were there at the very beginning—championing mediation across the profession from the early 1990s, and Karl led the organisation for many years as it grew from two members of staff working out of a borrowed room at Eileen’s law firm to an internationally recognised voice for mediation’.
Susanne Schuler, global director of development at CEDR, said: ‘Wherever CEDR works today, we continue to encounter mediators, judges, lawyers and policymakers whose careers were shaped by his teaching, his writing or his personal encouragement.
‘He believed passionately that mediation could improve not only legal systems but relationships, organisations and society itself. His commitment to excellence was matched by his kindness and his willingness to invest time in key worthwhile causes.’
