A dispute resolution service, Contracted Mediation, has been launched by a company formed by project management consultancy Symonds Group and a group of commercial law barristers.
Parties to the mediation agree at the outset to manage and resolve any differences that may arise with the help of a contracted mediation panel, consisting of one legal and one commercial specialist.
The initial focus will be on the construction industry, where the use of mediation has begun to reduce the number of claims going to court.
Roger Henderson QC head of the barristers chambers said: "Problems which should never reach the courts or arbitration will be defused at far less cost in far less time."
