No8 – Dispute Resolution

Some disputes cannot be resolved just like which came first – the chicken or the egg? but for the majority of people or business there can be a resolution.

We understand that disputes can arise over all matter of personal issues, ranging from neighbourly boundary disagreements through to contractual business disputes and debt recovery. There are always two sides to a dispute and what may appear a clear issue to one party may be viewed differently by the other leaving most disputes not always as clear as black and white.

Unfortunately, it is easy for minor problems to escalate into major disputes as opposing sides become entrenched in their views, dialogue turns to silence, action becomes impasse. Often disputes can have a personal element as well as a financial or performance issue and this can add an extra layer of complexity.

The right approach is essential and instructing a lawyer early can often be more effective than waiting until things get worse and can help to resolve disputes through a variety of means. This may simply be writing to the other side of the dispute, through alternative dispute resolution and we regularly assist our clients to take part in mediation meetings and explore alternative ways of resolving disputes to minimize costs, and in those matters that simply cannot be resolved in any other way, through the Courts.

As a firm we have been assisting the people of County Durham, the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire with their legal disputes for nearly 50 years. Our longest serving solicitor and Partner, Peter Furness, has over 30 years specialising in Dispute Resolution and together with his team, are available to provide you with advice on your dispute, the options available to you and the likely costs so that you can make an informed decision.

We are also happy to assist in matters that the Court system define as small claims as we appreciate that the claim itself can have a greater value above their financial worth and for members of the public who are intimidated by going to Court, we are willing to assist on a fixed fee basis to ensure we can support all our clients, regardless of their dispute.

‘Dispute Resolution’ is a series of monthly monochrome images to be featured over a 12 month period across our social media channels to highlight some of the key elements of our service so be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to see the series as they are released.

For more information on our firm please see www.clarkwillis.com