Solicitors.

Solicitor Inclusive Service.

We focus on assisting parties to negotiate settlements thus avoiding the enormous physical, emotional and financial cost of litigation.

In almost all State and Federal jurisdictions legislative reforms have placed an increasing focus on non-curial forms of dispute resolution which require parties to enter into meaningful "good faith" discussions and make a "genuine" attempt to settle. Furthermore, it is important to note that in many instances failure to do so may result in legal costs being awarded against the non-participating party or legal representative.

We believe that lawyers add considerable value to the negotiation process where their approach is co-operative and non-adversarial. In our view, the lawyer's role is to provide support, legal advice, and to help their client genuinely attempt settlement by:

• Encouraging open and direct communication.
• Making objective appraisals of each party's role in the dispute.
• Generating realistic options for settlement.
• Ensuring full and frank disclosures are made.
• Assessing strengths and weaknesses of each party's positions.
• Preparing any settlement terms or agreements.

Confidentiality Agreement.

Parties and their solicitors are required to enter into a confidentiality agreement the terms of which provide that all documents prepared for, or things said or done within the Dispute Resolution Session are confidential and without prejudice.

Legal Costs.

Where a party is accompanied by a lawyer any legal costs and disbursements incurred by such attendance are their sole responsibility.