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03 July 2015 / Clare Arthurs , Richard Marshall
Issue: 7659 / Categories: Features , Profession
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A practical alphabet

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Clare Arthurs & Richard Marshall share an (almost) A-Z guide to pre-action considerations

Alternative dispute resolution

The courts genuinely want and expect parties to settle. Parties will need to prove that they have considered, offered or undertaken a form of ADR.

Be reasonable

The courts will see most of the correspondence, and a measured approach should (in theory) play out better than an unreasonable one.

Costs

Any disproportionate or unnecessary pre-action costs may not be recoverable from the other side.

Documents

What documents might you need to share with the other side at this early stage in order for them to make an informed decision about how to proceed?

Experts

What expert evidence might be needed to support your case or challenge the other side’s? Is it worth getting a preliminary advice to properly assess the strengths and weaknesses of the case?

Funding

Is there an insurance policy in place that might cover the potential litigation? Would ATE insurance be appropriate?

Get specialist advice (if required).

Counsel can prove a useful sounding board

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NEWS
A wave of housing and procedural reforms is set to test the limits of tribunal capacity. In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ this week, Stephen Gold charts sweeping change as the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 begins biting
Plans to reduce jury trials risk missing the real problem in the criminal justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, David Wolchover of Ridgeway Chambers argues the crown court backlog is fuelled not by juries but weak cases slipping through a flawed ‘50%’ prosecution test
Emerging technologies may soon transform how courts determine truth in deeply personal disputes. In this week's NLJ, Madhavi Kabra of 1 Hare Court and Harry Lambert of Outer Temple Chambers explore how neurotechnology could reshape family law
A controversial protest case has reignited debate over the limits of free expression. In NLJ this week, Nicholas Dobson examines a Quran-burning incident testing public order law
The courts have drawn a firm line under attempts to extend arbitration appeals. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed of the University of Leicester highlights that if the High Court refuses permission under s 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996, that is the end
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