Sheffield’s Wake Smith Solicitors is enhancing dispute resolution with a new mediation service.
- Led by Mike Doherty, an experienced commercial litigator and newly qualified mediator.
- The service offers a less adversarial alternative to traditional litigation.
- Mediation allows for confidentiality and creative, flexible dispute resolution.
- Mediation is influenced by recent changes in legal rules promoting non-court dispute resolution.
Sheffield-based Wake Smith Solicitors has introduced a new mediation service designed to resolve commercial disputes without resorting to court. This initiative is led by Mike Doherty, a seasoned commercial litigator who has recently qualified as a mediator. Doherty brings his extensive experience to this new role, enhancing the firm’s litigation capabilities, which already include dealing with business disputes, property litigation, and debt recovery cases.
Doherty emphasizes the value of mediation in breaking deadlocks and bringing disputing parties back to the negotiation table. He states, ‘Mediation is a great forum and opportunity for disputing parties entrenched in their positions and in deadlock, to move forward and reach a settlement.’ This service provides a chance for parties to gain a deeper understanding of the opposing side’s perspective, thus increasing the likelihood of compromise and resolution.
The growing preference for mediation can be attributed to changes in legal procedures, such as revisions to Parts 3 and 28 of the Family Procedure Rules, which encourage non-court dispute resolution methods. This trend is echoed in other areas of law, with firms like Hall Brown Law also expanding their mediation services.
Mediation offers significant advantages over courtroom litigation. Parties involved can be candid and open, thanks to the confidential nature of the process. Additionally, they retain control and flexibility over the dispute outcome, allowing for creative solutions not typically available through court rulings.
Mike Doherty’s role as a mediator involves understanding the nuances of each party’s position, thereby facilitating an agreement without imposing a decision. His approach is not to adjudicate but to help parties reach a mutually agreeable solution, avoiding the costly and emotionally taxing trial process.
Despite the advantages, mediation does not always guarantee a settlement on the day. However, even unresolved mediations often provide valuable insights into the issues at hand, paving the way for a subsequent agreement. Importantly, settlements are only binding once all parties have signed an agreement.
Wake Smith Solicitors’ mediation service offers a promising path for resolving commercial disputes with efficiency and understanding.
