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Dispute Resolution and Civil Litigation

We have dealt with many disputes of widely different varieties including:

• Breaches of contract, including unpaid bills, poor workmanship, unfinished and negligent work, defective goods etc.
• Consumer problems
• Professional negligence
• Discrimination
• Wills and probate disputes
• Nuisance actions
• Partnership and shareholder disputes
• Boundary disputes
• Landlord and Tenant disputes
• Rent arrears  
• Possession proceedings
• Service charges

Disputes can be unpleasant and inefficient, tying up time and resources, when everyone involved would rather deal with more productive or enjoyable matters.  Nevertheless, disputes should not be ignored.

We are confident that we will be able to advise you on the best way to resolve your dispute and invite you to an initial one hour meeting for which we will charge a fixed fee of £100.

Civil litigation is the resolution of disputes in the County Court or High Court.  There are usually several important matters to consider before issuing proceedings in court, including your chances of success, the likely costs and whether the defendant is likely to have any money or assets to meet any judgment if you succeed.  We will advise you on all these issues as well as providing general advice on what to expect at each stage of the process.  If someone has made a claim against you we will advise you on preparing your defence and any potential counterclaim you may have, the risks involved and the approximate costs.

There are also several alternative dispute resolution procedures to consider such as arbitration, mediation and expert determination.  In appropriate cases it may be worth considering bringing a complaint to an ombudsman, a consumer group or a trade association. We will advise you on your options and help you select the best one for you.

For more information on bringing a claim to court, click on the following links:

Small claims (for claims of less than £5,000)

Fast-track claims (for claims of £5,000 to £15,000)

Multi-track claims (for claim of over £15,000)

We will prepare your case for trial, represent you at court and deal with any subsequent enforcement action as necessary.  We will advise you throughout the process and attempt to negotiate a settlement on your behalf as required.  If you prefer to represent yourself in order to save costs, we can provide you with just the amount of advice you  can afford.

For further information, please contact Justin Sadler by telephone, fax or e-mail to justin@barrettandco.co.uk.