Senior Counsel Mediation Service for Disputes Between Law Practices

Recently, all Senior Counsel who are in private practice (known as the Forum of Senior Counsel) have decided to make themselves available to mediate in disputes between law firms. Under this service, every Senior Counsel in private practice will be available, if requested, to act as a mediator in any dispute between law firms on matters involving conflict of interest or professional ethics arising out of litigious matters. The Senior Counsel providing this service will not charge for such service where the total time spent does not exceed half a day. However, their availability to act will be subject to their prior or their overriding commitments. All communications with Senior Counsel as mediator will be kept confidential. Senior Counsel will render their services on the basis that they will be exempted from liability in respect of the services provided. As with all mediations, Senior Counsel will not have any power to make binding decisions.

Parties may appoint a mutually agreed Senior Counsel of their choice as mediator.

This scheme is different from the mediation services offered by the Law Society to settle disputes of costs.

This service is part of a continuing effort on the part of the Forum of Senior Counsel to render contributions from time to time to the profession as a whole.