Mediation & other forms of ADR — practical guidance for resolving disputes outside of court

We discuss what mediation and other forms of ADR are, their benefits, when they’re most effective and how courts view parties who refuse to engage in them.
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We’re pleased to have helped Coleen Rooney robustly defend her position in the libel case brought against her by Rebekah Vardy.
The high-profile trial, which has acquired the #WagathaChristie moniker, centred on allegations that Rebekah Vardy and her PR agent Caroline Watt had been habitually leaking private information about the Rooney family to The Sun newspaper.
Our team spent more than two years pulling together the detailed case that was deployed by Mrs Rooney at the final hearing of Mrs Vardy’s claim. After a two-week trial, Mrs Justice Steyn found in favour of our client following Mrs Rooney publicly linking the leaking of stories to Rebekah Vardy’s Instagram account.
In 2020 Mrs Rooney moved from her original solicitors specifically to be able to instruct Brabners, where her legal case was co-ordinated and led by our litigation team, headed by Paul Lunt and Jamie Hurworth. Mrs Rooney was represented in court by David Sherborne and Ben Hamer, under instruction from Brabners.
The case represents the latest in a series of positive and high-profile instructions for Brabners’ litigation team, having successfully defended England cricket captain Ben Stokes against charges of affray, as well as spearheading his successful privacy claim against The Sun newspaper.
The firm’s litigation team has also been instructed by a number of individuals in relation to the Yorkshire cricket racism scandal and has received instructions from Harriet Robson in connection with her relationship with Manchester United footballer Mason Greenwood.

We discuss what mediation and other forms of ADR are, their benefits, when they’re most effective and how courts view parties who refuse to engage in them.

We outline the steps that retailers can take to contain an emerging online issue and the legal remedies available for responding to false statements.

We outline the Court of Appeal’s decision, consider how the Supreme Court is likely to approach the appeal and highlight five key takeaways.

We examine the CJC’s recommendations and their implications for funders, claimants and practitioners navigating this evolving area.

We explain where generative AI has the potential to damage individuals’ reputations and examine relevant case law from other jurisdictions.

Our award-winning litigation team has secured a High Court judgment in favour of Acasta European Insurance Company Limited.

We’re delighted to announce the opening of a new office in London, marking a major milestone at the end of a year defined by strong financial performance.

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We explore how the Court considered the requirement of promptness, the arguments made and what this means for claimants considering judicial review.

We explore the legal and reputational implications of dramatising ‘real life’ events for the screen.

We explore what the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill means in practice and how its reforms may affect both retail tenants and landlords.

Individuals who want to take an employment case to a tribunal must first take part in a longer conciliation process.

Our litigation team achieved a successful outcome for Docutech Office Solutions Ltd in a major claim against a former employee and his new employer.

Our litigation team look an online defamation case study and how to take legal action after being subject to online defamation or harassment.

Andrew Tindall examines new guidance from the Senior Courts Costs Office on recovering probate costs.

The Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry Chair has announced that the first part of his final report will be published this Summer.

Our litigation team explores recent cases and what to do if you’re subjected to online defamation or harassment.

We explore how the Courts treat customers who have been charged “half secret” commissions by their energy brokers.

Solicitor Ashley Hurst found himself at the centre of regulatory action brought by the SRA.

Our litigation team explores the options businesses have when it comes to dealing with negative online reviews — whether the review is honest or dishonest.

Here, commercial litigator Glyn Lancefield outlines the proposed changes to the pre-action protocol for media and communications claims.

Experienced commercial litigator Matthew Moy explains what arbitration is and how the AA 2025 will help to clarify and refine key aspects of the arbitration process by improving efficiency, fairness and legal certainty.

The UK Supreme Court's judgment in Brown v Ridley and Another has important implications for adverse possession claims — particularly in boundary disputes.

The High Court ruled in favour of Iya Patarkatsishvili and Yevhen Hunyak in their case against William Woodward-Fisher on claims of fraudulent misrepresentation concerning a severe moth infestation.