Commercial Mediation

For a business, unresolved disputes can mean faltering performance, disillusioned staff, wasted ‘man hours’ and an inability to move forward. Mediation can be a quicker, less costly, and confidential way of resolving disputes by agreement so that you can get back to doing business and developing your commercial relationships.

Disputes of all kinds involve ever-increasing worry, expense and time. They often result in irreparable damage to important relationships, having a lasting effect on a business and it’s people. Commercial disputes can arise from broken contracts, claims brought against the business, or claims brought by the business against individuals or other companies.

In commerce, court proceedings are seen by most as a last resort; there usually a preference to find a fair settlement, at minimal cost to both sides in terms of both time and money, enabling both sides to move forward and resume focus on their business and any ongoing business relationships that need to be preserved.

Laceys Mediation have an established reputation and track record in mediation in Bournemouth, Poole and Southampton. We can offer a choice of experienced mediators with a high success rate. Our mediators and dedicated support team provide a courteous and efficient service to assist in the setting up the mediation, including distribution of papers, agreeing arrangements and providing mediation premises and refreshments.

For further details of the service we can offer, our charges and our mediator profiles, or to make a referral/ enquiry please visit our dedicated mediation website at www.laceysmediation.co.uk.

“Rob Kelly has been absolutely exceptional in resolving this litigation and so thorough in everything and basically gave the opposition a masterclass of his work that he is so good at.”

Paul Jeffcoate - Contentious Probate Client
“I have had the pleasure of working with several members of the team at Laceys regularly over a period of years. I found Rob Kelly in particular, who worked on a successful litigation case for me over a period of several years to be outstanding in all aspects of the work he undertook, and the manner in which he did it. I now consider him a friend. I would not - and have not - hesitated to recommend Laceys to my family and friends, and continue to use them for all legal matters.”

Dan Collins
“ I just wanted to thank you for your great work on the professional negligence case and other cases you have represented Indian Ocean and Tiien through the last few years.”

Mehdi Vahdati, Director and Proprietor - Indian Ocean (Bournemouth) Limited
“A case that was initially very straightforward became difficult and, for me, very frustrating. Rob Kelly's calm, lucid and very professional advice and planning were invaluable and led to a good outcome.”

Don Young
“Their Fee Management was exemplary and the expertise provided by Rob was exactly what we required.”

Sunseeker London Limited
“I've worked with a fair few lawyers over the years and Rob Kelly is the most on the ball and efficient lawyers I've ever come across. I'm looking forward to working together for many years to come.”

Roger Woodall CEO - Diamond Sporting Group

Rob practices in two main, complimentary areas of work – contentious wills, probate and trust disputes, and property disputes.

Contentious wills, probate and trusts

More than half of Rob’s time is spent dealing with the contentious aspects of wills, probate and trusts, an area in which he has practiced continuously for over 20 years. He advises and acts in disputes relating to wills and inheritance, trusts, the duties of trustees and personal representatives, and the administration of estate.

Rob’s practice embraces:

Personal representative and trustee disputes (including personal representative and trustee disagreements, removals / substitutions and alleged misconduct)
Disappointed beneficiary claims
Will disputes (where the validity of a will is challenged on the grounds of undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, lack of knowledge and approval of the contents of a will, and fraudulent calumny)
Financial provision claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Proprietary estoppel claims
Disputes about the proper construction, and rectification, of wills
Caveats
Professional liability claims arising from the preparation of wills and trusts and the administration of estates

He has mediated (either as appointed mediator or as a representative) dozens of disputes involving contentious wills and probate issues.

Property disputes

The other side of Rob’s practice is contentious property work. This embraces:

Residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes
Disrepairs
Repairing covenants
Possession claims
Lease termination and lease forfeiture
Dilapidations
Service charge disputes
Interpretation and enforcement of leasehold covenants

Rob’s style is a mix of listening, asking (tough) questions, diplomacy and reality testing. He’s interested, flexible, and pragmatic. He offers a common sense, realistic approach to assist his clients in searching for solutions to their disputes and brings straight talking and integrity to his work.

Rob is a Solicitor. He successfully completed training as a mediator under the ADR Chambers / Harvard Law Project Scheme in June 2006 and is a member of the Civil Mediation Council.