Disputes over business are ugly; nobody wants to be involved in them. However, if you are at a dead end, then you have to use some outside help. Usually, there are three ways to settle a business dispute –arbitration, mediation, and litigation. Businesses, these days, make it a point to include arbitration and mediation in their preamble to avoid lengthy court proceedings. So, how do these processes work? Let us find out:
Mediation
As the name suggests, mediation aims to resolve conflicts and misunderstandings with the assistance of a mediator. Mostly, the role of a mediator is private and they usually do not influence the binding decision. Major benefits of mediation over litigation include:
- Mediation is confidential and does not require parties to initiate a trial, which is expensive and time-consuming
- The mediator brings with them objectivity and propose parties to settle on alternatives if things are out of hand. Often times, the parties seek help from the mediator individually.
- Mediation is inexpensive, as the contentious parties bear the costs of the mediator. It also increases the chances of the parties working together again if they reach reconciliation.
- When a mediator comes in, they usually bring in creative and logical solutions to problems.
According to a study, more than 85% of mediations result in a settlement and that is why organizations prefer it to settle disputes. If things still do not work out and reach to the point of personal injuries to workers, it is wise to hire the services of an expert law firm like Naqvi Injury Law.
Arbitration
In contrast to mediation, arbitration is the process of involving an independent and impartial individual for a final and binding determination of the conflict. Although formal, but during arbitration, legal rules and regulations of evidence do not apply and there is no formal discovery process. Arbitration is usually the second most preferred choice of businesses after mediation to resolve a dispute.
Usually, an arbitrator may ask for relevant documents while listening to both parties before submitting their verdict on the case. Both parties are given the opportunity to present their case to the arbitrator, but unlike litigation, there are no witnesses or court proceedings. Much like mediation, the arbitration process concludes swiftly.
International arbitration can be used to settle a dispute between two businesses from different countries. The major benefit of international arbitration is that it is enforceable, unlike litigation, which differs from country to country on the basis of their laws and jurisdiction. One of the largest arbitration associations is the International Chamber of Commerce.
Litigation
Litigation is the oldest method of settling a business dispute with the help of a court, in the presence of a judge or a jury. It is often time-consuming and expensive. Unlike mediation and arbitration where you choose the individual to settle the dispute, in the litigation, the judge is pre-appointed and the parties do not have any influence on the selection.
In addition, litigation enables both parties to gather evidence and disclose it before the judge or jury. In litigation, the parties are also subject to cross-examinations by the attorneys. Litigation is usually the last resort when parties cannot settle their dispute through mediation or arbitration.
