INTRODUCTION-ARBITRATION  
INTRODUCTION-OTHER FORMS OF ADR 

INTRODUCTION - ARBITRATION

ACI recognises that the business and professional worlds require a fast, flexible response to disputes. ACI provides a modern approach to arbitration that meets that demand. ACI has a panel of distinguished lawyer arbitrators who are dedicated to providing fast, efficient and cost effective arbitration within the broad field of contractual and commercial law. ACI has adopted an innovative approach to arbitration providing a flexible set of rules which provides a predictable procedure and allows all disputes to proceed to a rapid conclusion without unnecessary formalities or cost. Simple disputes may be conducted on a fixed fee basis with the intention that they will be resolved within three to four months from the time of appointment. More complex disputes will require a more individual approach and may take longer to complete but the group is dedicated to the speedy resolution of disputes consistent with justice.

ACI Arbitration schemes include the following:

Fixed Fee Scheme

• suitable for less complex contractual disputes or disputes which involve short points of law or construction of documents, capable of being heard within a half to two day hearing (no monetary limit applies).

Standard Arbitration Scheme

• suitable for larger or more complex disputes involving substantial issues of fact and/or technical issues requiring a hearing of longer than two days.

Fast Track Arbitration

• suitable for disputes involving a real need for urgency. Suitable arbitrators can be appointed to hold a hearing and publish an award within days, if necessary.

Individually Designed Schemes

• As indicated in the ACI Brochure, ACI can devise suitable rules for use where a trade association, institution or other body has a series of disputes which it wishes to arbitrate and where, for whatever reason, the fixed fee or standard arbitration rules require modification. Specialist panels can be formed to deal with particular areas of dispute.

Frequently Asked Questions - Arbitration

INTRODUCTION - ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

As well as arbitration, ACI offers all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, early neutral evaluation (ENE) and mini-trials

Mediation

• ACI provides experienced lawyer mediators who can assist the parties in reaching a settlement. ACI achieves a high rate of success in commercial mediations by appointing lawyer mediators who are specialists in the field of dispute and who are experienced mediators. The involvement of a neutral who is a lawyer sharpens the focus of the parties in assessing their strengths and weaknesses and thereby assists them to take a realistic view of the merits of their case. ACI finds that the careful selection of the neutral results in a high success rate in commercial mediations.

Early Neutral Evaluation

• senior lawyers, practising in specialist areas of commercial law, are particularly well placed to give an indication of the likely result in a dispute involving a difficult point of law or construction falling within their expertise, thereby assisting the parties in the settlement of their dispute. 

Mini-Trials

• this process is particularly suitable for larger, more complex disputes where there are points of law or construction combined with substantial issues of fact.

Frequently Asked Questions - ADR

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