ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES TO RESOLVE DISPUTES

Australia has an enviable reputation for legal professionalism. We are able to rely on our legal system and our courts to provide reasoned and just decisions.

However, our increasingly regulated society provides all manner of disputes for which determination by a court is an unwieldy and expensive solution. The vast majority of matters filed in courts never in fact reach a final determination. Instead they are settled out of court by negotiation, agreement or abandonment.

Australian courts are increasing relying on ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) methods like conciliation, mediation, independent appraisal and arbitration to assist with the resolution of the expanding number and complexity of matters vying for court time.

These processes are highly effective in dealing with all manner of disputes, particularly those involving complex factual situations, technical issues requiring expert evidence or emotionally charged disputes. Why not start with a process that will lead to the best result, rather than get there by a costly and circuitous route?