Dispute Resolution FAQs

Can I take court action against someone myself?

Yes you can sue someone and represent yourself without using lawyers at all.

When a client consults you about a dispute, do you always start court action straight away?

No, we consider court action to be the option of last resort when all other efforts to resolve the dispute have proven to be unsuccessful.

What are the risks to me in pursuing a case? (Especially if I lose)

If you lose your case then you may be liable to pay your opponent’s legal costs which in some cases can amount to thousands of pounds.  However, we will advise you as to the potential costs and risks as the matter progresses.

Will I need to attend court?

It’s very unlikely. The vast majority of cases are settled out of court or with no need for individuals to give evidence in court.

How long will it take?

It is impossible to say how long a claim will take as it very much will depend on the complexity of the issues, but it’s certainly likely to be several months at least.

What is alternative dispute resolution?

ADR (as it is also known) refers to methods of attempting to resolve a dispute without recourse to formal proceedings. The most straight forward method of ADR is negotiation. If this fails, parties to a dispute will often agree to a mediation. The Courts often expect parties to have done so prior to the trial. The Mediator has no power to enforce any kind of resolution on the parties but will facilitate a compromise where at all possible. It has proven to be a cost- effective way to resolve a dispute.

What could I be entitled to if I win my case?

In most cases the court tries to put you back in the same financial position you would have been if you had not been harmed/aggrieved in the first place.

So if you have lost earnings you should get them back or if your house is worth less than you expected due to negligence you should get the difference in value. In each case we will advise you about the value of your claim and the likely bracket for any settlement negotiations.