Jonathan Mellor
Jonathan read law, qualified as a solicitor in 1986 and has worked as an international capital markets lawyer for more than 30 years with Allen & Overy.
He became a Partner of A&O in 1994 and spent 5 years in Hong Kong and Singapore where he set up the Singapore office. He returned in 1998 and continued to work in the London office until 2016.
Jonathan joined Simmons & Simmons in 2017 to help strengthen its international capital markets practice and retired from the firm in 2020.
Throughout his years as a lawyer, Jonathan has mentored, coached and been involved in numerous training programmes and workshops. It is this enjoyment of mentoring and coaching that led him to qualify as an Executive Coach. He lives in London with his wife (Fiona - founder of Rice Consultancy) and two of their four children.
Jonathan offers individual and team coaching in all areas within the legal and business arenas, including effective leadership, career management, progression and transition, client and business development, work performance, profile raising, collaborative teamwork and maternity and paternity coaching.
Using his extensive business and legal experience, Jonathan helps clients to unlock their performance potential to create sustainable positive change. He therefore offers all aspects of personal and organisational support to legal and other professionals.
Drawing on his legal, commercial and coaching background, Jonathan uses a combination of empathy and challenge, whilst remaining supportive of clients’ needs and goals. This enables clients to fulfil their potential and maximise performance, all with tangible results.
Each coaching programme is tailored to the specific requirements of the client, with goal setting and measures for success agreed, to ensure effectiveness of the coaching and the programme overall.
Qualifications:
Jonathan holds an LLB (Law) and has completed the Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching with the AoEC (Academy of Executive Coaching) (recognised by the International Coach Federation, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, Middlesex University and the Association for Coaching). He is also an AoEC Accredited Associate Executive Coach.
Jonathan is committed to his ongoing professional development. In line with industry best practice, he receives regular individual, group and peer supervision which affords clients an additional level of quality assurance. Jonathan is also committed to ongoing CPD and subscribes to the EMCC’s Global Code of Ethics.
"Working with Jonathan has been a transformational experience for my professional development. From our first session, I felt empowered and supported in a way that helped me clarify my professional goals and take actionable steps toward achieving them. Jonathan provided invaluable guidance, helped me identify my strengths and build my confidence in navigating challenges. His strategic insights, relaxed and personalised approach have not only enhanced my personal and professional 'tool-kit', they have re-ignited my drive to pursue opportunities I had not considered before."
Partner – National Law Firm
Read more testimonials below
Testimonials
Coaching
"Jonathan is an excellent coach! I benefited very much from his experience that was reflected in how he coaches and supports. His support has been crucial to helping me to navigate the huge career challenges I encountered. This, without forgetting the personal life aspects. He is a good listener and is capable to guide you in a way that you find your own path and responses to big questions and dilemmas. He is a very valuable compass that you wish to bring on your journey."
International lawyer at an International NGO
"My firm introduced me to Jonathan as part of its partner development programme and I approached our sessions with eagerness, having benefitted from professional coaching previously. I greatly valued our time - away from the desk - in focussing on strategic thinking and positivity, rather than my natural tendency to dwell on the things that could be better. By the end of our sessions, I had a much better perspective on my career path and am sure that allowed me to articulate my aspirations which, in turn, led to me achieving my next career milestone."
Partner- National Law Firm
“Jonathan has been a great Coach! Not only because he has been very empathetic, focused and competent, but more importantly Jonathan helped me throughout to generate my own insights which enabled me to plan the next steps for my professional development - Thank you, Jonathan!”
Global Marketing Manager, Leading Home Appliance Manufacturer in Europe
‘I met Jonathan at a difficult time of my legal career, when I was leaving a firm in difficult circumstances and did not know if or when I might start a new job. Jonathan coached me through all the different stages of that process and helped me find my core self, my confidence and path forward. Jonathan brings not only his professional and experienced self to his coaching but also an empathy and compassion that meant a lot to me. You feel he really cares and that is not easy to find.’
Senior Associate, US Law Firm
“I met Jonathan through a colleague at an important time in my career where I was looking for ways to get out of my comfort zone to face new perspectives, without really finding solutions. Through his great sense of listening and his professionalism, Jonathan coached me so that I could find the tools that could allow me to become aware of my abilities and my areas of improvement to achieve my goals. Jonathan's sessions are very playful, relaxed with an atmosphere that spreads positive waves. He accompanies you by pushing you to find the solutions in yourself”
Head of Office a.i. UNHCR
“I met Jonathan at a difficult time of my legal career, when I had left a firm in difficult circumstances and was about to start a new job. Jonathan coached me through all the different stages of that process and helped me find my core self, my confidence and path forward. Jonathan brings not only his professional and experienced self to his coaching but also an empathy and compassion that meant a lot to me. You feel he really cares and that is not easy to find. "
Senior Manager, Big 4 Accounting Firm