Without Prejudice Settlement Meetings and Other ADR Processes

Without Prejudice settlement meetings allow parties to engage in genuine talks to resolve the dispute without prejudicing their position by admitting, or being seen to concede, any amount of liability within open correspondence. The meetings are essentially ‘off the record’ because the content of the negotiations are withheld from the court even after judgement is made. The only exception is a piece of correspondence labeled WPSAC where its existence is disclosed but only at the end of the trial for the purpose of calculating costs. 

Engaging in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is an alternative to without prejudice meetings. ADR is the process of resolving disputes without going to court, often taking the form of arbitration or mediation. 

If you are interested in appointing OneLaw Chambers to carry out these dispute resolution services please get in touch today.    

How our services can help you if you are a solicitors firms

At OneLaw Chambers, our solicitors and barristers regularly assist other law firms to draft without prejudice offers and set up meetings at our offices. We have also assisted and represented law firms on behalf of their respective clients at ADR meetings and achieved successful outcomes for them. 

If you are a solicitors firm who are looking for an external dispute resolution team to supplement your case please contact us today.

How our services can help you if you are a business or corporation

OneLaw Chambers has defended the interests of successful individuals, businesses and brands for many years, pursuing matters swiftly and robustly where necessary. Engaging in settlement meetings or ADR processes in litigation disputes is good practice in the eyes of the courts as it has the potential to resolve the dispute without going to trial. This can have positive cost consequences. 

If you are interested in appointing us we will help you administer, represent, and negotiate the dispute resolution process to the highest of standards. 

How our services can help you if you are a litigant in person

Litigants in person should take caution when attempting to host a without prejudice meeting without legal assistance. A poorly administered meeting could constitute an abuse of process and have significant consequences to the merits of the case.

To determine whether a communication attracts without prejudice privilege, the court will:

• consider the circumstances of the communication objectively;
• ask whether the communication was or ought to have been seen by the parties as negotiations genuinely aimed at settlement; and
• adopt a broad view without “salami slicing” communications into parts that were open and parts that were without prejudice.

OneLaw Chambers offer services to host and particularise without prejudice and ADR meetings for litigants in person. You have the choice to choose the extent of our involvement with your case. Hiring legal professionals for only a small section of your case will be cheaper than hiring a lawyer for the whole litigation process. Our expert solicitors and barristers have a high success rate in dispute resolution meetings. 

Why Instruct OneLaw Chambers for your Without Prejudice Settlement Meetings and Other ADR Processes?

Our Dispute Resolution Solicitors and Barristers fiercely and tenaciously represent you in putting forward the strongest possible case, ensuring that you are always satisfied with the manner in which we represent you and that a successful outcome is achieved in your case without significant cost and expense to you.

We are committed to ensuring that our Dispute Resolution Solicitors and Barristers prepare every settlement meeting or ADR process with utmost quality and skill so that a successful outcome is achieved every time. Our Dispute Resolution Solicitors and Barristers operate in a friendly and cooperative manner to provide our clients with the best client care and service during the entire civil litigation process.