Personal Dispute Resolution Solicitors

We can find the right outcome for your dispute in a way that suits you.

If you are involved in a dispute, we know that it can be disruptive, time-consuming and stressful. At BTTJ, our priority is to help you resolve the issue as efficiently as possible and to your satisfaction.

Whatever the nature of your dispute, you will find that our dispute resolution solicitors are highly experienced and pragmatic. They will work with you to determine the best approach that your particular situation demands and explore all dispute resolution options available, such as negotiation or mediation.

Our aim is to bring your dispute to an acceptable conclusion while avoiding going to trial wherever possible. If court litigation is necessary, we can vigorously pursue and defend claims on your behalf.

We will always do everything we can to gain the outcome that is in your best interest.

Get in touch with our dispute resolution solicitors in Coventry, Warwick and Southam

If you are dealing with a legal dispute and aren’t sure what to do, please get in touch.

We have offices in Coventry, Warwick, Southam and Balsall Common. Our solicitors work across the whole of the Coventry and Warwickshire region including Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, Nuneaton, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Atherstone, as well as further afield.

Our personal dispute resolution expertise

Our team of dispute resolution lawyers are experienced in handling a wide range of disputes including:

• Consumer contract disputes
• Disputes involving professional advisors, including professional negligence claims
• Property disputes and boundary disputes 
• Issues surrounding probate and challenges to Wills (contested probate)
• Landlord and tenant cases

At BTTJ, our dispute resolution solicitors will always guide you in a clear and straightforward manner regardless of how complex the case and situation are. We provide clear cost estimates at the outset of your case and will keep you fully informed at every step of the process.

Dispute resolution FAQs

What is the first step in resolving a dispute?

The first step in resolving a legal dispute should always be to make sure you are clear about the full circumstances and your legal position. Our dispute resolution solicitors can advise you on what information you need and then give an opinion on your legal rights and options.

It can be very risky to simply assume that you fully understand the situation and your rights. Many people make a dispute worse or allow it to drag on much longer than it needs to because of these types of assumptions.

Wherever possible, you should seek to discuss the matter amicably with the other party or parties involved before thinking about legal proceedings. However, it can be a good idea to seek legal advice first so you understand where you stand before having this discussion. It is usually a good idea not to agree to any outcome before seeking expert advice, as you could compromise your interests and make it harder to reach a satisfactory outcome later on.

What are the main ways to solve a conflict without court?

Most disputes can be resolved without court proceedings, and there are various options for doing so. Our dispute resolution lawyers can discuss these with you and help you to take the fastest, most cost-effective and productive route to a positive conclusion.

The main options are:

• Informal negotiations – Where you and the other party or parties involved simply agree a resolution between you. It is a good idea to get expert legal advice beforehand and to have a dispute resolution lawyer review the terms of any agreement you make.
• Formal negotiations – It can be beneficial to have more formal negotiations involving the various parties’ solicitors. This might take the form of a round-the-table discussion with the parties and their solicitors present, or it could be that negotiations are handled directly between the different sides’ legal representatives. This option may be more suitable where there are complex issues to sort out and/or a less than amicable relationship between the parties to the dispute.
• Mediation – In this process, the parties and their solicitors will meet with a trained, neutral expert called a mediator who will help them to agree a resolution to their dispute.
• Arbitration – This process relies on a trained legal expert called an arbitrator to decide on the outcome of a dispute after hearing the different parties’ arguments.

Which approach will be right for you, or whether court proceedings may be the better option, will depend on the situation. Our experts will be happy to advise on this and support you in taking the appropriate course of action.

What is mediation?

Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process where the parties to a dispute meet with a trained, neutral expert called a mediator. The parties will usually have their legal representatives with them. The mediator’s role is to facilitate a productive discussion about the issues and support the parties to agree a resolution. Any agreement will be recorded in a document called a ‘memorandum of understanding’.

It is important to note that the mediator will not tell you what to do, but they can advise on points of law. Mediation for personal disputes usually takes place over a day or half-day, unlike mediation for divorce and other family law issues, which tends to be carried out over a number of sessions.

If you are considering mediation and need a specialist dispute resolution lawyer to support you, our team will be happy to help.

What is arbitration?

Arbitration is a bit like going to court, but usually much faster and less costly. It also has the benefit of happening in private, unlike court proceedings, which are public.

If the parties agree to try arbitration, then a trained legal expert called an arbitrator will hear the various sides to the dispute, then make a decision about how it should be resolved. The parties must sign an arbitration agreement at the start of the process, committing to abide by the arbitrator’s decision.

Arbitration can be a fast and definitive way to resolve a dispute, as the arbitrator’s decision is final. However, there is the risk that you may be unhappy with the outcome, so you must be very clear about your legal position and the strength of your argument before going down this route.

Is mediation legally binding?

Any agreement you reach through mediation will be legally binding if the various parties all sign the agreement. For this reason, it is essential to seek advice from an expert dispute resolution solicitor before signing. It is usually a good idea to have your legal representative sit in on the process so that they can ensure your interests are protected and give you the best chance of securing a favourable outcome.

What is the typical timeline for resolving a dispute through mediation or arbitration compared to litigation?

When it comes to litigation and dispute resolution, how long it will take to reach a conclusion and how much it is likely to cost must always be weighed up against the benefits of the outcome you are hoping to achieve. Unfortunately, there is no standard timeline for these matters but, in general, if you can agree a resolution amicably, it will usually be much quicker and cost you a lot less in legal fees.

Broadly, informal and formal negotiations will be the quickest way to resolve a dispute. Mediation and arbitration can take slightly longer as you will need to find a date when a mediator or arbitrator is available. However, these processes can still normally be concluded much faster than court proceedings.

If court proceedings are required, litigants often have to wait over a year for a court date, meaning this can be a very slow way to resolve a dispute. It is therefore recommended to explore all other options before relying on the courts for a resolution. That said, it is frequently necessary to start the court process while attempts to find an amicable solution are ongoing to avoid waiting even longer if you cannot agree on an outcome.

What information or evidence should I gather before my first meeting with a dispute resolution solicitor?

Before seeking dispute resolution legal advice, it is helpful to have as much information as possible on hand. Details that can be useful to share with your lawyer include:

• The exact points of dispute
• Who is involved in the dispute
• When the dispute began
• What communications have already happened between the parties and when these took place
• Any previous offers to resolve the dispute from either party
• Anything relating to the dispute that you have in writing or otherwise recorded
• Any relevant legal documents (e.g. a contract over which there is a dispute)
• Any expert opinions that have already been sought (e.g. a property boundary determination by a surveyor)

If you are unsure what information may be helpful, a member of our team will be happy to guide you.

Get in touch with our dispute resolution solicitors in Coventry, Warwick and Southam

If you are dealing with a legal dispute and aren’t sure what to do, please get in touch.

We have offices in Coventry, Warwick, Southam and Balsall Common. Our dispute resolution solicitors work across the whole of the Coventry and Warwickshire region including Stratford-upon-Avon, Rugby, Nuneaton, Leamington Spa, Kenilworth and Atherstone as well as further afield.