- Dispute Resolution - Dispute Resolution
A dispute can go on for months or even years. Each side thinks it is right and each thinks the other is being unreasonable. Solicitors exchange letters, arguments become longer and costs increase. Eventually, somebody has to decide who is right, and that normally means going to court. That can be very expensive, slow, unpredictable and public, with documents, hearings and judgments all potentially open to anyone. This all makes court proceedings extremely stressful. The Sharp End is different. Both sides agree to put their dispute before an independent solicitor and agree in advance that the decision will be binding, in a process that is private and confidential throughout. No court, no public hearing and no endless procedural arguments, just a decision, and what happens at The Sharp End stays at The Sharp End.
Before the process starts, both sides enter into an agreement which identifies the decision to be made and the process that will be followed. The process then allows each side to put forward its case and respond to the other side's case. BladeLaw then makes the decision, which is set out in writing, with reasons, and is binding on both sides.
The process is straightforward. Each side puts forward its case, with supporting documents and evidence, and has the opportunity to see and respond to the other side's case. Clarifying questions can be asked along the way. It is conducted remotely wherever possible, with any necessary hearing held by video call. The aim is not to recreate the court system, but to decide the dispute fairly, properly and proportionately, within weeks instead of months.
The fee for The Sharp End is fixed based on the amount in dispute, as set out below.
| Amount in dispute | Minimum fee | Percentage of amount in dispute |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £15,000 | £2,000 | 20% |
| £15,001–£25,000 | £3,000 | 16% |
| £25,001–£35,000 | £4,000 | 13% |
| £35,001–£45,000 | £4,550 | 11% |
| Over £45,000 | £4,950 | 9% |
The fee is the greater of the minimum fee or the percentage of the amount in dispute shown in the table above. The percentage applies to the amount in dispute. There are no hourly rates, bespoke quotes or exceptions. The fee is subject to VAT.
Each side contributes half of the cost at the start of the process, but the final allocation is part of the decision itself. BladeLaw will consider which party caused the dispute to require independent resolution, and may require one party to reimburse the other for some or all of the fee. Any such requirement will be binding in the same way as the decision on the underlying dispute.
Mediation is often a good idea, and BladeLaw offers mediation too, but mediation only works if the parties reach an agreement. Sometimes they don't. Both sides have already said everything they have to say. Neither is prepared to move and neither is willing to walk away. At that point, another negotiation may simply produce another argument. The Sharp End is for when the parties are ready to stop arguing and let someone decide.
The service is particularly suitable for commercial disputes where:
You can go to court, and sometimes you should. BladeLaw can help with that too, but court is not the only way to obtain a binding decision. Using The Sharp End, the parties will know who will decide the dispute, how much it will cost and that the decision will bring the matter to an end. You can keep arguing, spend months or years preparing for court, and expose your business dispute to the public. Alternatively, you can put the matter to The Sharp End: private, fair and binding, and that's the end of it. If you would like to discuss whether The Sharp End is right for your dispute, get in touch. The first conversation is free and there is no obligation to take things further. BladeLaw is ready to help.
