Commercial Mediation.

Business to Business Disputes.

Complex Commercial, Equity & Consumer Law.

Building, Construction & Major Infrastructure.

Succession, Probate & Family Provision.

Employment & Workplace Dynamics.

Ruwan Wathukarage

Barrister & Mediator (NMAS), MCIArb, Master of Laws (Litigation & Dispute Resolution) | Doyles Leading Mediator 2025

With nearly 18 years of experience in mediation, litigation, dispute systems design, and training, Ruwan Wathukarage is a highly sought-after commercial mediator and a barrister. Having successfully mediated over 1,000 disputes in all areas of law, Ruwan brings a combination of deep legal acumen and psychological insight to the mediation table.

Recognised as a Leading Mediator NSW by Doyles in 2025, Ruwan understands the strategic imperatives of referring solicitors and barristers. He is uniquely equipped to manage high-stakes, multi-party commercial conflicts, ensuring that your clients are guided through impasse with analytical rigor, psychological insights and persistent, reality-tested negotiation.

The Philosophy: Conflict as a Catalyst of Evolution.

“In my 18 years of practice, I have come to view disputes differently than most. I do not see them merely as fractures that need to be patched; I see them as natural, inevitable events in the evolution of a business or a relationship.

When you brief me on a matter, my goal is not just to act as a passive messenger between rooms. I work actively alongside you to help the parties understand the underlying drivers of the impasse and opportunities for resolution. By reality-testing the claims and managing unrealistic expectations, we can use the conflict as a catalyst for resolution and to forge new, more resilient commercial frameworks. We can together use dispute as an opportunity."

Core Expertise in Practice.

  • Business to Business Disputes.

    Ruwan’s primary focus is Business-to-Business mediation. My objective is to intervene before a commercial friction point escalates into a lengthy legal battle that drains executive time, exposes sensitive data, and permanently severs profitable networks. Ruwan’s B2B mediation practice is dedicated to delivering swift, confidential resolutions that protect your clients' bottom line, allowing business leaders to transition from sunk-cost litigation back to profitable market growth.

  • Complex Commercial, Equity & Consumer Law.

    Drawing on extensive experience in both appellate and trial courts, as a mediator, Ruwan has guided parties through intricate shareholder disputes, cases of unconscionable conduct, and contentious lender-debtor possession matters to successful resolution. For example, Ruwan has successfully mediated settlements that saved clients millions of dollars, bridging substantial financial gaps and providing with clear, actionable guidance to achieve favourable outcomes.

  • Building, Construction & Major Infrastructure.

    Drawing on his background litigating and advising on major infrastructure projects, as a mediator, Ruwan effortlessly cuts through voluminous technical evidence and entrenched multi-party defect and delay claims to isolate critical commercial risks and drive parties toward pragmatic solution saving thousand if not millions of dollars.

  • Succession, Probate & Family Provision.

    Complex estate litigation demands a delicate balance of robust legal evaluation and empathetic process management. Having represented numerous parties in Supreme Court Family Provision applications, Ruwan provides the authoritative reality-testing necessary to manage unrealistic client expectations, settling disputes without the unnecessary emotional and financial attrition of a final hearing.

  • Employment & Workplace Dynamics.

    Industrial conflicts require a neutral who can manage both strict legal thresholds and highly volatile personal dynamics. Ruwan leverages his emotional intelligence alongside his litigation background in restraints of trade and workplace safety to de-escalate emotional friction, manage reputational risks, and secure lasting, confidential settlements.

Professional Authority & Global Perspective

  • Admissions.

    Admitted to the legal profession (2008) and as a barrister in NSW (2018).

    Entitled to practice in all Australian jurisdictions.

    Legal CV

  • Mediation Panels.

    The Australian Disputes Centre (Sydney),

    Resolution Exchange (Singapore).

    The Mediation Hub MENA (Dubai).

  • International Leadership

    Selected as an Expert Assessor and Grand Final Judge for premier global competitions, including the ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition (Paris, 2025 & 2026) and the IBA-VIAC CDRC Mediation and Negotiation Competition (Vienna, 2025).

  • Memberships.

    Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).

    Member of the Australian Bar Association.

    Member of the Resolution Institute.

    Member of the Australian Dispute Resolution Association.

Mediation Packages

  • This is a half-day mediation package which includes:

    • Initial joint phone conversation

    • Individual Intakes

    • Reading

    • Half a day mediation, 3 to 5 hs

    • Confidential report and follow up

  • A relaxed, guided workshop where participants can explore various materials and mediums at their own pace. Perfect for creatives of all skill levels looking to reconnect with their craft—or try something entirely new.

  • A relaxed, guided workshop where participants can explore various materials and mediums at their own pace. Perfect for creatives of all skill levels looking to reconnect with their craft—or try something entirely new.

Contact me.

Step into a mediation process built for today's business challenges.

Let's turn your conflicts into opportunities that strengthen your business from the inside out.

Chambers 5 Selborne, Level 5, 174 Phillip Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Mob / Tel +61 468 437 307 / +61 2 8067 5539

Email rwathukarage@selbornechambers.com.au

Website www.ruwanwathukarage-mediation.com