Civil litigation – more complex than ever before

DISPUTES ARE A DRAIN ON TIME AND ENERGY – PICKING THE RIGHT STRATEGY IS CRITICAL.

Civil litigation has never been as complex as it is today. The pace of modern business places increased strain on the justice system. That has a corresponding effect on the potential for cost and delay involved in disputes. Even in a clear-cut case, enforcing your rights can now be uneconomical if not carried out in the right way.

Strategy and efficiency is key to a successful outcome and minimising cost. These costs don’t just hit businesses in the pocket. Disputes are a drain on time and energy which could otherwise be spent on your business or with family.

The use of email, online messaging apps, digital photographs and video, machine-generated content and various other technologies mean that the documents which are relevant to any given dispute are exponentially larger than at any time in recent history. Just getting a handle on the core facts can be a mammoth task.  Previously, a large case would be tens of thousands of documents. Now that can run into the millions – terabytes of data. Processing that kind of information requires a team of experts large enough to process the document and provide timely and accurate advice. It also requires experience with modern analytical software. Not every law firm is equipped with the tools required for litigation of this scale.

Using the right toolkit to resolve disputes

WRMK’s civil litigation team caters for all levels of disputes, from complex multi-party litigation in the High Court down to helping neighbours resolve a difference of opinion. Often that means using alternative dispute resolution methods like negotiation or mediation rather than the formalities of Court processes.

As Northland’s largest civil litigation provider WRMK has the capacity and experience to resolve your issue. As an early adopter of the paperless office and specialist legal software, our experience allows us to help clients whose opposition have instructed Auckland or Wellington firms, often at a fraction of the price.  

Where to start?

The best time to resolve a dispute is before it arises. Once a party has filed court proceedings or sent rounds of nasty emails back and forth there are fewer resolution options available. If you have a dispute, or a scenario which you think could turn into a dispute, a quick strategic phone call could avoid cost and stress down the road.

If you would like to talk about the different dispute resolution options available, or strategise to avoid a legal issue, please contact WRMK’s Dispute Resolution Team or your usual trusted advisor.

WRMK Lawyers takes all reasonable care to make sure that the information in this article is up-to-date and accurate at today’s date. It is necessarily general information and not intended as legal advice to be relied upon.

Our thanks to Simon Davies-Colley and Nicola Hartwell for writing this article.