Alternative Dispute Resolution
Lawyers handling complex international arbitration, litigation and ADR matters
Our principal strength is our experience and expertise in international litigation, arbitration and alternative forms of dispute resolution. We have specialist dispute resolution teams in all of our offices, regularly handling high-value, complex, multi-party, multi-jurisdictional disputes. Our expertise spans a wide range of sectors and industries, from banking and finance, through to insurance and commodities.
What we do in Alternative Dispute Resolution
We consider a broad range of methods to resolve commercial disputes, understanding that disputes can be time-consuming, expensive and harmful to business relationships.
We have a significant alternative dispute resolution practice equipped to advise on all mediation and conciliation methods.
Mediation
All our litigators are trained in ADR techniques, particularly mediation. We support and are members of CEDR, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. We have partners who are CEDR-accredited mediators. We use their experience in mediations to assist clients in their mediations.
We have advised on, and participated in, many mediations both in the UK and overseas. We undertake mediations both as an independent process and also in parallel with existing court and arbitration proceedings. We have been successful in securing multi-million pound settlements for clients in the insurance and commercial communities, whilst avoiding the expense and disruption of a protracted hearing.
Adjudication
Our lawyers have much experience of adjudication, which has long existed as an alternative form of dispute resolution but particularly in the UK construction and engineering fields. A statutory right to adjudication now exists for disputes under most commercial contracts. Adjudication tends to happen and be over quickly. There is a need to mobilise sufficient resources, supported by expertise and commitment, to ensure that clients’ arguments are properly aired and presented in tight time scales. Teamwork is critical. We are able to provide all these things and, where needed, can draw on external assistance to assist with technical and quantum issues.
Our experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution
We are regularly involved in the largest disputes and work with our clients to achieve the best outcome for their business.
- We acted on a formal conciliation and arbitration for an oil & gas company arising under a production sharing agreement. Claim in the region of several billion dollars.
- Acting for PwC in a mediation of a fraud claim brought by liquidators against the former directors of a trading subsidiary of a charity. The claim involved allegations that the former directors had stolen the business of the trading subsidiary, pushing it into liquidation and the parent charity into receivership. The claim settled after two mediations.
