When to mediate? It’s a judgment call

So says HHJ Pelling QC in Orientfield Holdings Ltd v Bird & Bird LLP  [2015] EWHC 1963 (Ch). When and on what basis an approach is made by one party to another to mediate is a judgment call. In this particular case there was an issue whether the failure to mediate may constitute a breach of the […]

Halsey: PGF: ADR

It’s ironic that the decision whether or not to mediate can give rise to more litigation, this time over costs where the Claimants resisted the Defendant’s desire, having won, for his costs to be paid on an indemnity basis. In (1) Jane Laporte (2) Nicholas Christian v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis[2015] EWHC 371 QB, Mr Justice […]

Mediation, timing and case management

Often parties will agree to stay proceedings for 2 or 3 months in order for mediation to be explored. This may be at the behest of one of the parties or prompted by a judge who views the case as being suitable for mediation. Now Mr Justice Coulson in CIP Properties (AIPT) Ltd v Galliford Try Intrastructure […]

Agreeing not to meet in mediation

Many disputes, suitable for mediation, are over the ownership of land and use of and access to space. Boundaries which aren’t agreed, communal areas accommodating diverse interests, levels of noise between proximate buildings all trigger strong emotional responses. The people on either side of the fence – literally – perhaps disputing the height of the […]

ODR and ADR – Are we ready?

The ways in which we choose to communicate have expanded. People used to meet to speak and physically walk into a shop to buy goods. Now the  telephone means voices are heard without faces and the internet allows us to shop from wherever we are. How easy though is it to resolve a dispute after an online […]

Refuse mediation? Be prepared to pay

Liz Davies illustrates how refusing to mediate is frowned upon by judges and can lead to an indemnity costs order. Yet again, party punished for refusing mediation. In Garritt-Critchley & others v Ronnan, Solarpower PV Ltd [2014] EWHC 1774 (Ch), HHJ Waksman QC ordered indemnity costs against the Defendants because of the Defendant’s refusal to […]

Mandatory Mediation – will it work?

Parties to most disputes are currently told that the mediation process is voluntary. And many volunteer not to explore the option further. However, the balance of voluntary participation in mediation is subtly changing. Recent government initiatives are said to be responses to the pressures on the court and tribunal system. Is this a creeping movement towards making […]