Legal firm launches out of court action drive

Cleveleys based Ormrods Solicitors and Advocates Ltd is offering a range of mediation services to allow commercial clients to settle their legal disputes more quickly, cheaply and effectively.

As an accredited civil and commercial mediator with specialist dispute resolution experts ADR Group, Ormrods has designed the service to help its clients reach negotiated settlements without the stress and considerable expense of stepping into a court room.

The use of mediation is now recommended by the judiciary as a beneficial alternative to court proceedings.

It affords each party the chance to negotiate through an impartial, neutral facilitator, and can be far more cost effective than going to court.

Geoff Ormrod said: “Most people are unaware of the costs they will incur by going to court to try to settle a dispute, nor the risk of losing their case. In fact, some courts have refused to award costs in cases where mediation hasn’t taken place beforehand.

“Court fees can often be prohibitively expensive and claimants can be out of pocket to cover losses or resulting court costs at the end of proceedings.

“Mediation gives you greater control and the chance to settle your dispute amicably and at less expense.

“For example, to take a £10,000 claim to a court hearing is likely to cost around £800.

“Above that level, it is five per cent of the amount claimed plus additional fees depending upon the overall amount.

“So if you’re making a claim for, say, £50,000, court fees alone will be at least £2,800.”

Ormrods has more than 30 years of experience in heavyweight commercial law and litigation both in London and Lancashire.

The team deals with financial or consumer disputes, including business services or contract disagreements, wills and probate, land and property, boundary and planning, landlord and tenant, workplace litigation and disputes with service providers.