Dispute Resolution & Civil Litigation
Frequently Asked Questions
After The Event Insurance
A policy of insurance, taken out after the event which leads to the claim. It is designed to insure you against an order requiring you to pay the legal costs of the other side and in some cases covers your own costs and/or disbursements..
Arbitration
The hearing and determination of a dispute by an impartial referee selected or agreed upon by the parties concerned.
Barrister
A lawyer who has been called to the Bar and is qualified to appear in the Higher Courts. Usually a specialist called in to advise in complex cases or carry out advocacy in court.
Before The Event Insurance
Circuit Judge
County Court or Crown Court Judge who hears or decides cases, within Courts in a region of the County.
Compensation
The money awarded or agreed to be paid by a Court, Tribunal or in some other form of dispute resolution, as a result of a succesful claim against another. This is sometimes referred to as damages.
Conditional Fee Agreement
Also known as "No Win No Fee" agreement. The formal agreement needed to be used to enable a solicitor to act for a client on the basis that the solicitor will only be paid if he/she is succesful.
Contentious
A situation where there is a dispute.
Contingency Fee Arrangement
An agreement where the legal fees paid on the succesful outcome are dependent upon the sum of money recovered. This is not available in cases where court proceedings are issued.
Counsel
A barrister or group of barristers engaged in conducting cases in Court and advising on legal matters.
Damages
Disbursements
Fees or expenses incurred by solicitors on behalf of a client in pursuing a case e.g. barrister's fees, medical expert fees, court fees etc.
Disclosure
The exchange of documents between parties to ligitation to ensure that each side has full knowledge of the others case.
District Judge
A judge whose duties are part administrative and part judicial, in charge of case management. A District Judge manages Courts in a particular location or area of the country.
Legal Expenses Insurance
An insurance policy taken out to cover legal expenses in the event of a claim being brought against you or your needing to pursue a claim against another person or company. Also referred to as "Before The Event Insurance".
Limitation Period
A legally defined period of time within which an action/claim must be commenced.
Non-Contentious
Work which does not relate to disputes.
Profit Costs
Solicitors' charges excluding disbursements.
Retainer
Arrangements made in advance to secure the services of a professional advisor. These arrangements will including agreement as to how fees are to be charged.
Success Fees
Where there is a Conditional Fee Agreement, the additional sum, calculated as a percentage of a solicitors' profit costs, that a solictor can recover from the losing party in litigation in the event of a successful result.
Terms of Business
Our agreement with you governing the relationship between us. This must be signed before we work for you so that we all understand what it is that we have agreed to do for you and what you have agreed to pay us.