Legal services for You
Dealing with a legal problem can be incredibly daunting. At WSP Solicitors, our team are experienced in all manner of disputes and can put your mind at ease. We can achieve a practical solution that protects your interests while avoiding unnecessary conflict and expense. Our dispute resolution solicitors will work closely with you to understand what you need to move forward and how we can achieve the best results for you.
Disputes can be stressful, disruptive and expensive if they are allowed to escalate. Whether you are dealing with a disagreement over a contract, property, inheritance or another legal issue, getting advice early can help you understand where you stand and what your options are.
At WSP Solicitors, our dispute resolution solicitors help individuals, property owners and businesses resolve disputes in a practical and proportionate way.
Going to court is not always the best answer. We will first understand what has happened, what you want to achieve and the commercial or personal issues that matter to you. We can then advise you on the best route forward, whether that means negotiation, mediation or formal legal proceedings.
A disagreement over a contract can affect your finances, your business and important commercial relationships.
We can advise on disputes involving:
We can advise whether you are considering bringing a claim or have received a claim from someone else.
→ Contract Dispute Solicitors
Disputes between commercial landlords and tenants can quickly affect property values, cashflow or the operation of a business.
We can provide advice on matters including:
Our existing commercial property disputes service already covers matters including possession, property condition, business lease renewals, rent and service-charge recovery and disputes relating to assignment, subletting, alterations and change of use.
→ Landlord and Tenant Dispute Solicitors
Property disputes can become particularly difficult because the issue often involves your home, land or an ongoing relationship with a neighbour.
Our solicitors can advise on disputes involving:
WSP’s existing commercial property disputes page already covers boundary, rights-of-way and party-wall disputes, but the new architecture would give these issues a much clearer home for individuals and residential property owners as well as commercial clients.
→ Boundary and Property Dispute Solicitors
Disagreements following someone’s death can be particularly difficult, especially where grief is combined with concerns about a Will, inheritance or the way an estate is being administered.
We can advise on issues including:
WSP already has specific content covering claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, including making and defending claims, eligibility, reasonable financial provision and the usual six-month time limit following the grant of representation.
→ Contentious Probate and Will Dispute Solicitors
Building projects do not always go to plan. Disagreements can arise over the quality of work, delays, payment or what was originally agreed.
Subject to confirming the exact scope of work WSP accepts, this page could cover:
WSP currently identifies “building disputes” as part of its dispute-resolution offering on its Stroud office page.
→ Building Dispute Solicitors
Commercial disagreements can divert management time, disrupt important relationships and create financial uncertainty.
Subject to confirming the precise matters handled by the litigation team, I would position this as the wider commercial disputes category and cross-link heavily to Contract Disputes.
Potential services could include:
→ Business Dispute Solicitors
No. Court proceedings are only one way of resolving a dispute.
Where appropriate, our solicitors will look at opportunities to resolve the problem at an earlier stage. Depending on your circumstances, this may involve corresponding with the other party, negotiation or alternative dispute resolution.
The existing Commercial Property Disputes page already establishes a useful WSP position here: it discusses letters before action, private negotiation, mediation, arbitration and court proceedings.
A solicitor may be able to negotiate directly with the other party or their legal representative and explore whether an agreement can be reached without issuing proceedings.
Mediation involves an independent mediator helping the parties explore whether they can reach an agreement. It can be particularly useful where preserving a business, family or neighbour relationship matters.
Depending on the dispute and any existing agreement between the parties, other forms of dispute resolution may be available.
Sometimes proceedings are necessary to protect your position or achieve the outcome you need. Where litigation is required, we can advise you about the claim, evidence, procedure and risks involved and support you through the process.
The aim is not simply to litigate. It is to identify the most effective way of resolving the problem.
We will talk to you about what has happened, review the relevant documents and understand what you want to achieve.
We will advise you on your legal position, the strengths and risks involved and the possible outcomes.
Depending on the circumstances, this could mean corresponding with the other party, negotiating, pursuing alternative dispute resolution or preparing for proceedings.
Many disputes can be resolved without reaching a final court hearing. Where an agreement is possible, we can negotiate and document the settlement.
Where proceedings cannot be avoided, we can help you progress or defend the claim and advise you throughout the litigation process.
Getting legal advice early can give you more options.
Before taking action, it can be helpful to:
Do not ignore a formal claim, court document or legal notice simply because you disagree with it.
As early as possible.
Disputes can be subject to legal time limits and procedural deadlines, and waiting can sometimes make a dispute harder to resolve.
Early advice can also help prevent a disagreement escalating unnecessarily.
If you’ve received court proceedings, a formal letter before action or another document containing a deadline, let us know when you first get in touch.
The cost of resolving a dispute depends on its complexity, its value, how the other side responds and whether it can be settled without formal proceedings.
We will discuss likely costs with you at the outset and advise you on whether the cost of taking action is proportionate to what you are seeking to achieve.
Depending on the type of dispute, we can also discuss the funding arrangements that may be available.
This builds on the existing Commercial Property Disputes page, which says WSP provides a transparent quote at the outset, keeps clients updated and agrees expenditure in advance. The existing Inheritance Act Claims page separately identifies CFA funding as potentially available for qualifying inheritance disputes.
Potentially, but clients should not assume that the other side will pay all of their legal costs even if they win.
The approach to costs will depend on factors including the type and value of the claim, the procedure being followed, how the parties conduct the dispute and its outcome.
We will discuss the potential costs and risks with you so you can make informed decisions as the dispute progresses.
A dispute can quickly become confusing when there are two competing versions of events. We will help you understand the legal position, the strengths and weaknesses of your case and the options available.
Winning an argument is not always the same as achieving the best outcome. We will take the time to understand what matters to you and keep that objective at the centre of our advice.
The time and money spent on a dispute should make sense in the context of what is at stake. We will help you understand the potential benefit, costs and risks before deciding how to proceed.
We will explore opportunities to resolve your dispute without court proceedings where that is the right approach, while helping you take or defend formal proceedings when necessary.
If you are involved in a dispute, or think one may be developing, speaking to a solicitor early can help you understand your position before deciding what to do next.
Our dispute resolution solicitors can advise individuals and businesses from our offices in Gloucester, Stroud District and Mitcheldean. We cover the whole county including Cheltenham, Tewksbury, Dursley and the Forest of Dean.
Tell us briefly what has happened and we will help you identify the next step.
You can get in touch using the form on this page or by clicking here. Alternatively you can call us on 01453 847200.
Allocation: The point in proceedings when a judge considers the claim and the defence, decides which track is appropriate for the claim and gives a timetable to bring the case before the court for trial.
Arbitration: An alternative form of dispute resolution using an expert (such as a surveyor) in the role of a judge. The process is similar to court proceedings but is less formal.
Adjudication: An alternative form of dispute resolution using an expert as a decision-maker on a specific matter. It is widely used in construction and technology disputes.
CPR: The Civil Procedure Rules. They govern the way that proceedings in court must be pursued. If they are not followed, the court can make costs orders against you.
Directions: The timetable of actions set by a judge which needs to be completed by the parties to bring a case to readiness for trial.
Fast Track: A stream of court cases valued over £10,000 and not exceeding £25,000. The trial is limited to a maximum of 1 day.
Litigation: Proceedings in court, including small claims.
Multi-Track: A stream of court cases valued over the fast-track limit or involving complex points of law or evidence and/or requiring more than a 1 day trial.
Part 36 Offer: An offer or settlement made under Part 36 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) which, if rejected and later beaten at trial, or if accepted immediately, will carry automatic costs and interest consequences.
Small Claims Track: A court process for claims valued £10,000 and under. Costs are not generally recoverable so engaging a solicitor to act for you may not be cost effective. We offer fixed fee appointments to advise you before you start the process.
Without Prejudice: A way to make offers to settle a case as a whole or any part which cannot be mentioned in court proceedings.
Without prejudice save as to costs: A communication that cannot be referred to in court until the end of the trial, when the court awards legal costs to the successful party.
I have nothing but praise for all of the people I have dealt with over the years. Nothing has been too much trouble and I would have no hesitation in recommending them.P. Browne
A very thorough and professional company. Always found staff to be very approachable, helpful and very clear in their explanations of all options available to me. Would strongly recommend WSP.D. Maton
WSP is the one-stop superstore for all your legal requirements. It is staffed with friendly, professional and expert people who are a pleasure to deal with. As a long term user of the company I always recommend WSP to all of my friends based on my own happy experience.D. Wilkins
Contact our office
Get in touch
