Dispute Resolution

We offer a range of alternatives to resolve disputes outside of court – including Private FDRs, Arbitrations, and Early Neutral Evaluations for financial remedy matters and private law cases relating to children.

Private FDRs

Private FDRs are becoming increasingly popular in high, medium and moderate asset cases. A Private FDR at FOURTEEN offers significant advantages over a traditional FDR at court, most notably:

Cases are more likely to settle at a Private FDR, where the judge has read all papers in advance and can focus solely on the parties’ case without typical court time pressures.
The FDR judge has no other cases that day and can give indications on specific issues. A Private FDR typically runs for a full day.
Hearings take place in comfortable, modern conference rooms with refreshments, or at an external venue chosen to suit the parties.
Arrangements are flexible, with the option for parties or lawyers to attend via video link.
Private FDRs are conducted by expert financial remedy practitioners chosen by the parties to match both budget and case complexity.
They can be held at any stage, including before proceedings are issued.
There is no risk of the hearing being removed from the list due to judicial unavailability.
Both financial and child arrangements can be addressed at the same time.

The following barristers all offer Private FDRs:

All of our financial remedy barristers can represent a party at a private FDR.

To receive further information on the services we offer, please contact our clerks by email or by telephone on 020 7242 0858.

Email our Clerks

Arbitration

What is Arbitration?

Arbitration is a private, flexible and confidential method of resolving disputes outside the court process. The parties jointly appoint an impartial, suitably qualified arbitrator to make a binding decision on their case (known as “the award”). Throughout the process, the arbitrator acts fairly and ensures that each party has a full opportunity to present their case.

How Does Arbitration Work?

The process is tailored to the parties’ needs and can be far more flexible than court proceedings.
At the conclusion of the arbitration, the arbitrator issues a clear, reasoned written decision, applying the law of England and Wales—mirroring the approach taken by a judge.
Unlike mediation or collaborative law, arbitration guarantees a final, binding decision.

The arbitrator’s award is recognised and respected by the court. Upon request, it can be converted into an order of the court.

Our Arbitration Specialists

Martin Ward is qualified to arbitrate your financial matter.
Damian Stuart is an IFLA approved arbitrator for Children Act proceedings.
Seema Kansal can advocate in an arbitration.

Our Venue & Facilities

FOURTEEN offers a modern, comfortable and professional conference suite that provides an ideal environment for arbitration hearings.

Contact Us

To receive further information on the services we offer, please contact our clerks by email or by telephone on 020 7242 0858.

Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE)

Early Neutral Evaluation is a process in which an experienced evaluator gives the parties an informed view of the likely outcome of their case. Courts already offer ENEs, where a judge provides guidance designed to help parties reach agreement and avoid ongoing litigation.

Why Choose a Non-Court ENE?

Opting for a non‑court‑based ENE offers several advantages in terms of time, cost, and flexibility. Instead of a judge, a FOURTEEN barrister acts as the evaluator, reviewing the issues in dispute and providing a realistic assessment of what a court is likely to decide.

This offers parties:

A valuable “sense‑check” on the strengths and weaknesses of their case
Insight into the probable outcome at an early stage
The chance to make informed decisions before significant costs are incurred
A confidential and privileged evaluation that is not binding, but often highly effective in guiding settlement discussions

By understanding the realities of litigation early, parties are better placed to reach a sensible, out‑of‑court resolution.

Our Facilities

FOURTEEN offers a modern, professional suite of central London conference rooms designed to provide a calm and supportive environment for alternative dispute‑resolution meetings. Our facilities include comfortable, well‑appointed rooms in a variety of sizes, allowing us to accommodate everything from private consultations to larger multi‑party sessions. Understanding the sensitivity of many proceedings, we provide privacy screens for added discretion, along with full video‑conferencing capabilities for those who prefer or require remote attendance. Throughout the day, clients benefit from welcoming surroundings with tea, coffee, and refreshments available. Whilst our Chambers offers a natural and professional setting for processes such as arbitration, we also offer the flexibility to host meetings at external venues at a time and place that best suits the parties involved.