"If you see conflict as an opportunity, everything is possible."
Conflict is a natural part of life, work and human relationships. While many people view conflict as something to avoid, I see it as an opportunity to learn, improve collaboration, make better decisions and create meaningful change.
Throughout my work as a mediator, trainer and author, I focus on the interaction between people, problems and process. Whether the issue concerns a business dispute, a workplace challenge, a negotiation or a complex decision, sustainable outcomes rarely emerge from addressing only one of these dimensions.
On this website, you will find insights into my work, my approach and the resources I have developed over the years. While the contexts may differ, the underlying themes remain the same: mediation, negotiation, communication, decision-making and constructive conflict engagement.
My goal is not merely to help people address complex situations, but to support individuals, teams and organisations in making informed and durable decisions, and strengthening future collaboration.
I am an internationally recognised business mediator, trainer, negotiator and author of the bestselling book Toolkit Mediation. Based in the Netherlands, I have been helping organisations, teams and individuals address complex disputes, negotiations and collaboration challenges since 1996.
Over the years, I have worked in a wide range of business, workplace and cross-border disputes, while also contributing to the development of the mediation profession internationally through mediation, training, publications and professional leadership roles. I have trained mediators, lawyers and other professionals on five continents.
I am particularly interested in helping professionals, especially lawyers, broaden their perspective on conflict. While legal and substantive issues are often important, lasting solutions usually require attention to the people involved, the underlying interests, the relationship dynamics and the process through which decisions are made.
In addition to my work as a mediator, trainer and negotiator, I founded The Academy of Proactive | Legal Mediation, an internationally recognised mediation training institute, and Mundi Mediatores, an ADR catalyst and dispute resolution platform. Through these initiatives, I aim to contribute to the advancement of mediation, negotiation and constructive conflict engagement.
Today, my work combines mediation, training and thought leadership. Through my practice, publications and international training activities, I help professionals and organisations address complex situations more effectively and make better decisions in the face of uncertainty.
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Why mediation?
My journey into mediation started during my early legal career when a client made a remark that would stay with me for years:
"A legal approach won't suffice, I need a commercial solution."
That simple observation challenged my assumptions and ultimately changed the direction of my career. It led me from law into international marketing and management roles at companies such as Schering, Nestlé, Werner & Mertz and Guhl. Working in international business environments and collaborating with clients, colleagues and stakeholders across different countries and cultures taught me that most challenges cannot be solved through technical expertise alone. Sustainable solutions require attention to people, interests, relationships and decision-making processes.
In hindsight, I was already facilitating difficult conversations, aligning interests and helping stakeholders navigate competing priorities. What I lacked at the time was a name for it.
When I later discovered professional mediation, many pieces suddenly fell into place. Formal training, including programmes at Harvard Law School, provided a framework for work I had already been doing intuitively for years.
Since then, I have worked with lawyers, entrepreneurs, executives, professionals and their organisations in a wide range of conflict, negotiation and collaboration matters. Whether acting as a mediator, deal facilitator, trainer or advisor, my focus remains the same: helping people move beyond positions, understand what truly matters and make informed decisions that can work in practice.
To see how different mediation approaches can lead to very different conversations and outcomes, you may enjoy this short demonstration and article:
What actually defines a mediation style?
Services
Mediator / Negotiator
My expertise spans labor conflicts, contractual disputes, business intricacies including crossborder issues and matters concerning collaborations. I am internationally certified as an IMI Certified Mediator, MfN-register Mediator, and IMI Certified Mediation Advisor.
Since 2014 I am listed as a leading professional in 'Who's Who Legal in Mediation', I am on the Global Mediation Panel for five UN organizations and mediator for cases of the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal.
Trainer
Besides being the lead at The Academy of Legal Mediation, I also offer guidance and training to lawyers in mediation advocacy and negotiation skills. Throughout five continents I taught the advanced use of mediation, negotiation and influencing techniques, in particular in an intercultural context.
Furthermore, I train executives for Accordance, a Boston-based organization, part of the Harvard Negotiation Project and Conflict Management Inc.
Speaker
I'm frequently invited to speak at international conferences and serve as a guest lecturer at universities across the Netherlands and beyond. Notably, I've delivered presentations on mediation initiatives for projects of the European Commission (EC), on mediation advocacy at the University of Groningen (RuG), on 'Intercultural Mediation' at the European Business School (EBS) and on negotiation techniques at Vlerick Business School. My involvement extends to international interdisciplinary research initiatives.
Author
I am a regular contributor to the field of mediation, negotiation, and deal facilitation.
My authorship includes several definitive books and articles in professional journals, and the bestselling guidebook "Toolkit Mediation.”
Below, you can access a variety of publications, research studies, checklists and book chapters available for download.
Master Legal Mediation: Self-Actualization for Professionals
THE ACADEMY OF LEGAL MEDIATION
Thé professional education to become a business mediator investing in your professional development and acquiring mediation skills is a strategic move to future-proof your career while at the same time finding fulfillment in your job. Our highly acclaimed mediation skills course, internationally accredited by leading institutions, provides you with the knowledge, techniques, and practical expertise to succeed in the ever-changing legal landscape.
The Academy of Legal Mediation is powered by Toolkit Company and Manon Schonewille, the author of the acclaimed "Toolkit Generating Outcomes' is the lead trainer.
As seen on
“Manon is interviewed on how to break through the mediation paradox: ‘companies prefer mediation however in practice mostly end up in litigation or arbitration’ and some of the barriers hindering the adoption of mediation.
You can also learn about newcomers to this field like Mundi Mediatores, a new ADR catalyst concept. Mundi Mediatores is not an ADR provider and does not compete with existing service providers. Rather, it is designed to work in a complementary way with ADR services providers, providing new services to lower some of the hurdles that still exist.”
Interview with Isabella Wijnberg (Houthoff) and Manon Schonewille (Mundi Mediatores | The Academy of Legal Mediationl) in Tijdschrift Conflicthantering (June 2022 number 2) about mediation in class actions and the Dutch WAMCA procedures.
The article (in Dutch) can be downloaded in the resources section.
In 2020 Mediate.com serialized 23 peerreviewed propositions, each expressed in 1,111 words or less. Published in the form of articles by 40 authors in 16 countries. Manon’s interviews with all authors are featured on mediate.com.
The over-arching question was: what are the Seven Keys to Unlock Mediation’s Golden Age? Meant to inspire the field’s stakeholders, to provide a collaborative, mediative leadership where they simultaneously lead and serve. A leadership characterized by a commitment to empower all stakeholders to become joint owners, not just renters, of mediation’s future.
International Mediator Search
MUNDI MEDIATORES
Break through the mediation paradox.
There is a persistent ‘mediation paradox’ in the corporate world. Companies express a preference for mediation and a desire to reach faster, cheaper and better outcomes. However, in practice, most companies still resort to traditional litigation or arbitration processes that get lengthy and costly due to various obstacles.
Mundi Mediatores serves as a catalyst, actively dismantling the barriers to mediation. We achieve this by encouraging early engagement and open dialogue regarding procedural choices. We provide invaluable support in facilitating communication with the opposing party and identifying the most suitable mediator for your needs.
