Tahlia Woollatt, Partner

Seek advice early – it will usually save costs and time later on. Obtaining advice as soon as a potential dispute occurs can often prevent things escalating.

Keep notes, paperwork, documents and a timeline of events. Memories of events over time are often not reliable and documentary evidence can be key.

Be clear about what it is you want to achieve. Get clear advice at the outset of a matter about whether your goals are achievable – and the likely costs involved– so you can make an informed decision as to whether to invest the time, energy and resources into pursuing that objective.

Do I have a good case?

I will always try to be as clear with clients as possible at the outset of the matter about the prospects of success. My specialist knowledge and years of experience help me to form a view of a case’s merits.

Why would you suggest trying to settle my claim if you think I have a good case?

Litigation is unpredictable, takes time and effort and can incur significant costs – some of which will be unrecoverable. The best commercial outcome is sometimes achieved by adopting alternative strategies. Taking steps to settle – such as making a well-placed offer – can therefore be the best strategic approach and can also provide costs protection.

Why is it not possible to give definitive cost estimates at the outset of a matter?

Litigation is not straightforward and clients will need to be responsive to how events unfold and the position taken by the other side. While initial estimates can be given based on experience, they will need to be continually re-evaluated and discussed throughout the matter so that a cost/benefit analysis can be regularly undertaken by clients.