Jess Knauf - Director of Client Strategy at MediateUK — Director of Client Strategy & Author of the Mediate UK Blog

Director of Client Strategy, Mediate UK

Jess Knauf is the Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK, a family mediation service working across England and Wales, and the primary author of its blogs and client guides. Jess Knauf has more than six years’ experience working in family mediation and is the author of The Complete Guide to Divorce in England & Wales, a guide she updates every January. In November 2025 she helped launch Family Law Service, a fixed-fee online family law service and sister service to Mediate UK.

1. Current role at Mediate UK

Jess Knauf leads client strategy at Mediate UK, focusing on how the service listens to clients, improves their experience and answers the questions people most often ask about separation and divorce.

Jess Knauf is Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK.
Jess Knauf is the main author of Mediate UK’s blog articles and client guides.
Jess Knauf focuses on making complex family law information clear, accurate and easy to use.

2. Experience in family mediation

Jess Knauf has worked in several roles within Mediate UK over more than six years:

Jess joined the business support team, helping clients with their first enquiries and bookings.
Jess then ran the customer clinic advice line, speaking every day with people going through separation and divorce.
In 2024 Jess was promoted to Director of Client Strategy.

This experience means Jess understands, from a client’s point of view, what it feels like to start mediation, attend a MIAM, worry about court forms or try to agree arrangements for children and finances.

3. Areas of expertise

Jess Knauf writes much of the content on the Mediate UK website, including our mediation blogs, guides and explanatory articles. Typical topics include:

How MIAMs work and when you need one
Child arrangements and parenting plans
Financial mediation and disclosure
No-fault divorce timelines in England and Wales
The role of mediation compared with going to court
Practical ways to reduce conflict and focus on children’s needs

Her aim is always the same: clear, plain-English information that helps people feel better informed and less overwhelmed. Jess Knauf writes about family law in England and Wales and gives information, not legal advice.

4. Research and publications

Jess Knauf has published research papers on family justice and digital reform on Academia.edu, including:

These papers are in-depth academic guides written for family law professionals, students and educators.

5. In the press

In October 2026, The Guardian quoted Jess Knauf, Director of Client Strategy at Mediate UK, in Michael Hogan’s article ‘Happy Christmas, Ange’: why we have always loved a dramatic TV divorce. Discussing why later-life separations are more complex, she said: “A 13-year marriage usually means a shared home, pensions and children. When couples separate later in life, there is simply more to sort out.”

She has also commented on divorce and family law in Mediate UK press releases and coverage, including:

6. Awards and recognition

Jess Knauf is part of the team behind Mediate UK, an award-winning family mediation service. At the BizX Awards 2025, Jess collected the award for Best Company Culture on behalf of Mediate UK.

Mediate UK’s awards include:

UK Business Awards 2021, Silver Award Winner for customer service
UK Business Awards 2022, Gold Award Winner for customer service
UK Business Awards 2022, Overall Winner
BizX Awards Winner, 2022 and 2025

7. Professional memberships and profiles

Jess Knauf is an Associate Member of Resolution, the national association of family justice professionals. You can find out more about Jess’s work through her professional profiles:

8. How Jess supports separating clients

Jess writes and regularly updates our blog content and guides.
Jess makes sure articles are specific to family law in England and Wales.
Jess makes clear when something is information only and not legal advice.
Jess presents video explainers on our YouTube channel.

9. Author

Jess Knauf is the author of The Complete Guide to Divorce in England & Wales, Mediate UK’s annual guide to divorce. The first edition was published on Amazon Kindle in January 2026, and Jess updates the guide every January to reflect current law, court procedure and fees. You can download the guide free, and her author pages are on Amazon UK and Amazon.com.

“If you’ve read one of our blogs and have further questions, Jess’s role is to make sure the information on our site stays clear, accurate and genuinely useful. For personalised guidance, you can always book a free 15-minute consultation with our team.”

Jess Knauf, Associate Member, Resolution.org.uk — Jess Knauf – Resolution Associate Member

About Jess Knauf