Dispute Resolution Solicitors

A dispute arising in your business or your personal life can be incredibly disruptive, no matter the severity of the argument or how long it has lasted.

Biscoes’ dispute resolution goal is to resolve matters on our client’s behalf in a non-confrontational but resolute manner, leaving them with the legal protections to move on from the disagreement quickly and efficiently to hopefully avoid protracted and costly litigation. Mediation is now actively encouraged by the courts to resolve disputes and costs sanctions can apply to a party refusing to engage in alternative means of dispute resolution.

Our dispute resolution team has many years of combined experience offering tailored services to individuals from all walks of life. We provide legal and commercial advice to meet your needs and assist you in proactively resolving disputes.

We recognise that the issue of legal proceedings in the courts or tribunals is unlikely to be a convenient or necessary option for you. We will explore all aspects of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) including negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration or expert determination, to assist you in resolving disputes practically, maintaining relationships or regaining harmony where possible.

If your case does proceed to court, however, we can also provide you with quality legal advice and knowledge in all divisions of the High Court, County Court, Specialist Courts, Appeal Court and Property Tribunals.

Specifically, our dispute resolution team expertise includes:

Speak to our dispute resolution solicitors today

If you would like to contact one of our dispute resolution solicitors in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, please call 02392 660261.Alternatively, please fill out this simple contact form, and we will respond promptly.

Why work with our dispute resolution solicitors?

Biscoes has a specialist dispute resolution team with many years of combined experience helping our clients resolve complex legal disputes. We coordinate with other specialists across the firm to ensure that whatever outcome we pursue will have the best, possible outcome for you.

We will lend a empathetic ear and clearly explain the options available to you for securing the best possible outcome, whilst keeping any potential conflict and disruption to a minimum. Our priority is always to secure a fair outcome that will put you back in the best possible position through appropriate and decisive legal action. Disputes can be stressful, but rest assured our specialists will provide you with the support you need.

As a firm, we proudly hold the prestigious Lexcel accreditation, a testament to our excellence in legal practice management and outstanding client care.

Our dispute resolution services

Property disputes

Property disputes can be time-consuming and highly disruptive, delaying your intended development of a structure or prohibiting its use entirely. Residential property disputes are where we focus our efforts, resolving matters between landlords and tenants, and handling the masses of documentation typically involved in property transactions.

Our property dispute solicitors have years of experience in resolving property-related matters, using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods to find fair outcomes in a competitive process, avoiding tribunal action where possible.

Land and building disputes

When developers, contractors and sub-contractors experience disputes over the land and buildings involved in their trade, the resultant delays can cause significant disruption and expenses. Anyone involved in a construction or building contract can suffer from legal and financial repercussions if disagreements or misaligned priorities start to impact their rights.

Biscoes’ land and building dispute solicitors will take into consideration the value and complexity of the land and building in question, as well as how you need to use it and what documentation will best secure that outcome. We can use ADR to negotiate on your behalf in informal settings but also bring fierce representation to Business and Property Courts on your behalf.

Boundary disputes and squatter(s) rights

Disputes that directly interfere with your ability to enjoy your property in any capacity, be that to the full extent of its boundary or due to uninvited inhabitants, can be very stressful. Biscoes offers a quick initial assessment of your circumstances and can advise on how to secure your premises and resolve disputes with neighbours without risking legal repercussions.

For many, re-establishing your ownership over the full property and managing squatters is an intimidating and sometimes scary prospect. Biscoes’ dispute resolution lawyers will act promptly to secure your property safely without exposing you to accusations of unlawful eviction. All of our actions will be ultimately determined by your permission and taken in your best interest, resolving matters peacefully wherever possible and securing the best legal protections to prevent them from occurring again.

Trust of Land Disputes

A Trust of Land is land held by one or more owners on trust of one or more beneficial owners. It can be a beneficial arrangement for spouses co-owning their home, as an example, but is an arrangement that often escalates into disputes because in many cases, the beneficiary relies only on word-of-mouth promises.

Unfortunately, when matters cannot be resolved informally, you may need a dispute solicitor to bring an action under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (ToLATA), inviting the Court to make a ruling on what to do with the property. Biscoes’ litigation solicitors can take charge of proceedings, fighting your corner for a fair outcome.

Contract disputes including misrepresentation, consumer and sale of goods disputes

Contracts are a common point of contention, with unclear terms leading to disagreements or a misaligned interpretation of certain clauses, often leading to disputes between parties. You may have been struggling to enforce a contract that you designed, be navigating unclear or restrictive contractual obligations, or looking to put together a contract that leaves little to no room for disputes down the line.

Biscoes’ expert contract disputes solicitors can offer invaluable advice at any stage, including on debt claims or claims of misrepresentation, disputes in respect of goods and services, and breaches or misunderstandings of contract/warranty claims. Our dispute resolution lawyers will examine the documentation you provide us and find a pathway forward, no matter how complex your circumstances are.

Debt Recovery

Our debt recovery solicitors are experts at securing the repayment of debts in a range of individual and commercial environments. We recognise the frustration of having due funds withheld or denied, and can act fast to stop any further damages to your financial wellbeing whilst finding a way to secure both the owed debt and potentially compensation.

We can deliver Third Party Debt Order applications (allowing creditors to seize money through a third party) to the Court for some or all of the due sum and put in requests for Charging Orders, allowing a creditor to secure a debt against the debtor’s property, bringing in execution bailiffs where necessary. Biscoes also can work to request and oversee enforcement efforts by a High Court Sheriff, if necessary.

Disputed Wills and estate claims including Inheritance Act claims

During times of grief, it is particularly unfortunate to encounter disputes over Wills and inheritance. It is common for family inheritance disagreements to require legal attention for a resolution. The Will document is a point for legal claims to be made over matters of interpretation and bringing a claim to the deceased’s estate.

Biscoes’ Wills, trusts and inheritance disputes solicitors regularly deal with these sorts of issues and can provide a sensitive, empathetic legal service to help you during a time of bereavement.

Contentious probate claims

In the last decade there has been a significant rise in contested probate claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Nonetheless, commonality does not make the prospect of dealing with a dispute during a time of recent loss any easier, and an unclear or absent Will can be the source of a lot of stress and anxiety.

Our dedicated contested probate claims solicitors can guide you through this difficult time, using informal negotiations wherever possible to reach an agreement between you and the involved party without matters escalating to Court. If litigation is necessary, rest assured that we will stand resolutely at your side.

Professional negligence claims

We all rely on professionals to guide us when we encounter them in their specialist areas, such as financial advisors, surveyors, architects and solicitors. There is an expectation that they will represent and uphold a degree of care that allows us to rely on their advice. When a professional fails to exercise this standard, the fallout can be personal and financial.

If you have experienced professional negligence or wish to discuss what you suspect was inadequate services or care from a field expert, our professional negligence claims solicitors would like to hear about your experience. You will be invited to share what happened and subsequently receive advice on any options available to you that may lead to compensation for your hardship.

Frequently asked questions about our dispute resolution services

What are the main types of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)?

Alternative Dispute Resolution, also known as ADR, is a standardised way to resolve disputes outside of court, with common methods including mediation, arbitration, and negotiation. Biscoes has embraced ADR methods as we find that they typically cost less for our clients, cut out time-consuming and frustrating court proceedings, offer more confidentiality, and leave the final decision-making power in our clients’ corner.

Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party encourages communication between the disputing opponents to guide matters towards resolution. Arbitration, meanwhile, is where the neutral arbitrator hears evidence presented by both sides and provides a legally binding decision on the matter.

Negotiation involves the disputing parties working together in a private, confidential discussion without a mediator, but sometimes hosted on neutral grounds or with either side bringing legal representation.

We also offer adjudication, arbitration, and expert determination. Adjudication is a swift dispute resolution method in which any decisions made are binding until the matter is resolved through arbitration or litigation. Arbitration, likewise, is legally binding but allows the involved parties to present their case to an arbitrator who makes the final decision.

Lastly, expert determination involves a trusted professional being invited into a confidential process where they will make the final binding decision, typically over a dispute involving their specialist expertise.

When should I consult a lawyer about a dispute?

Many people encounter arguments in their lives, and it can be tricky to gauge when they have escalated into a legal dispute. Generally, you are advised to consult a solicitor or lawyer as soon as you become aware that the outcome of the disagreement could potentially have a legal impact on you or when you feel as though you cannot resolve it yourself.

If the matter seems serious, it is better to ask for advice before taking any significant action on your own behalf, as well intended decisions can have inadvertent consequences.