Sector: Professional negligence
Issue: Dispute with Architect

Andrew Grant, Director: Our client, whom we cannot identify for reasons of confidentiality, owns a large house to which he wished to make a significant contemporary refurbishment. He appointed an architect to draw up plans and manage the works budgeted at more than £350,000. Unfortunately the architects failed to manage the works adequately and the house was left in an unacceptable condition.

We issued proceedings against the architect and then advised our client that it would be wise to consider Mediation. After a good deal of preparation and negotiation we settled the mediation for a significant six-figure sum. Had we not settled at that stage our client would have been facing an escalation in costs of a further £100,000 as the case went to court.

Mediation involves a lot of compromise, and for a solicitor to convince a client who may be justifiably angry and seeking a judgement to take that option can be very challenging. However, it is important for us to convince clients to take a pragmatic and commercial view and to appreciate that compromise is a sensible option when the potential consequences of litigation could be far worse.

Both our client and we were very pleased with the outcome and settlement secured in this case.

I have now conducted in excess of 18 mediations and I am pleased to say that all have settled on the day or very shortly afterwards and have saved countless thousands for our clients in further litigation expenses.

Client: I was referred to Ballantyne Grant by another firm of solicitors and the fact that the practice was a specialist in litigation and had considerable expertise in the property sector was very important to me. Andrew was professional, realistic and understanding and was prepared to work long hours in order to meet the necessary deadlines.

Ballantyne Grant combined a thorough knowledge of the law with sound advice as to its commercial and practical application. Having been referred by other lawyers I immediately saw the benefit of working with a smaller, specialist litigation firm and now approach them immediately I have any legal issues or require advice.

My case was resolved successfully through mediation and I was very satisfied with both the advice and representation I received from the firm.

Call our Chester office on (01244) 394230 for more information or to make an enquiry.

Professional negligence