Peter Fitzpatrick, Legal Costs Accountant Limited

Legal Costs ADR Ireland's objective is to assist the parties, to a costs related dispute, in finding a timely and cost efficient solution to the diverse issues that often present in this specialised area of law. The available ADR processes are Mediation, Expert Determination and Arbitration. The parties must first choose the process that best suits their dispute and then a panel member that fits best with the issues that are required to be resolved.

The panel members have been carefully selected from diverse backgrounds so that the parties' requirements will be met, regardless of the nature of the dispute. Presently, the panel is comprised of a retired Supreme Court judge, leading Barristers, Solicitors, Legal Costs Accountants and two former Taxing Masters who collectively, have real and contemporaneous knowledge to assist in resolving any legal costs dispute. The panel members are accredited Mediators, Arbitrators and/or Experts who each possess an intimate knowledge of costs related principles and allowances.

Legal Costs ADR Ireland will assist the parties in their chosen process and will issue recommended Directions and steps to be followed (depending on the selected process). Once the parties agree upon the identity of the panel member to mediate or determine the dispute, Legal Costs ADR Ireland will co-ordinate the entire process from that point onwards. This will include arranging for the execution of the relevant Agreement, co-ordinating the exchange of Position Papers and suggested timeline of events, organising the venue and circulating the signed Agreement, Expert Determination or Award.