Contractual Disputes

Contract disputes occur when two parties are unable to fulfil their initial terms of an agreement in a signed contract. Although it is common for parties to have disputes, the relationship can between the concerning parties can grow troublesome if disputes are not regulated and resolved in a professional and just manner.

Some of the most common types of contract disputes in the UK include:

• Conflicts between business partners;
• Landlord/tenant disputes;
• Breach of contract accusations;
• Contracts related to the purchase of a business or property.

We understand that any of these contract disputes can be time-invasive, uncomfortable and expensive. Attempting to resolve a contract dispute on your own can present you with serious risks, owing to the long-term implications of contract terms.

Conflict resolution methods

Depending on how complex the contract dispute is, our solicitors employ a range of conflict resolution techniques to settle breaches of contracts. These are the following:

• Negotiation – the parties on their own accord agree to settle the dispute by renegotiating the terms of the contract.
• Mediation – a structured negotiation method overseen by a solicitor who offers advice and conflict resolution. If both parties come to a settlement, the contract becomes legally binding.
• Neutral evaluation – a solicitor provides assesses the grievances of both parties and offers advice and opinions to arrive at a settlement.
• Conciliation – a conciliator has a role similar to a mediator but also proposes a solution to settle the contractual dispute.
• Arbitration – the process of conflict resolution that is ensured through a formal and structured binding process handled by a nominated arbitrator or team of arbitrators to act as a third party.
• Litigation – a formal process in which the claims of each party are taken on board for evaluation by civil courts and judged in the public.