Ask Silva AI

Litigation

When things turn
contentious

Disputes happen. Strategic guidance through them — from first assessment to resolution — without handing you a blank cheque to a traditional firm.

Discuss your situation Start with Discovery Day

Advise, document
and navigate

Disputes happen to businesses at every stage. A supplier who does not deliver. A client who does not pay. A partnership that breaks down. An employee situation that turns contentious. What separates a manageable dispute from an expensive one is usually how quickly you get the right advice — and whether someone is managing the strategy.

We advise on position, draft the correspondence, prepare the documentation, and manage the process. Where a matter requires representation before a court or tribunal, we work alongside Counsel of the right specialism and manage that relationship on your behalf.

You stay informed and in control. We handle the complexity.

Fixed
fee per stage — agreed before each step, no open-ended billing
Strategic
advice from the outset — most disputes are won or lost before proceedings
Counsel
managed on your behalf where specialist representation is required

From first letter
to resolution

Litigation support covers the full range of contentious work a business faces — before formal proceedings, through them, and to the point of resolution. Scope and fee are agreed at each stage before we proceed.

  1. Pre-action advice Strategy and positioning before any formal step is taken. Understanding the legal position, gathering evidence, and identifying the strongest route forward.
  2. Letter before action Formally drafted, pre-action protocol compliant, and designed to prompt settlement. The letter sets out the claim, the basis for it, and what is required to resolve it.
  3. Documentation and evidence Chronologies, evidence bundles, witness statement support, and case documentation prepared to the standard required for proceedings.
  4. Counsel management Selecting, briefing and managing barristers where specialist representation is required. You deal with us; we deal with Counsel.

How a dispute
actually moves

Every dispute is different. But they all move through the same stages. Here is what each stage involves, what we do at each point, and how decisions get made. Click any stage to read more.

Stage 01 — Pre-action

Before any formal step is taken

This is where most disputes are decided. Understanding the legal position accurately, gathering the right evidence, and identifying the strongest route forward — before you have committed to any course of action and before the other side knows what is coming.

We advise on the merits, the likely cost of different routes, and what the realistic outcomes are. We also advise on whether a dispute is worth pursuing — honest advice at this stage saves significant time and money later.

At this stage we

Assess the legal position Strength of claim or defence, applicable law, likely outcomes
Review the evidence What exists, what needs preserving, what is missing
Map the routes forward Negotiation, pre-action protocol, formal proceedings — cost and outcome of each
Advise on viability Honest assessment of whether proceeding makes commercial sense

Stage 02 — Letter Before Action

Formally putting the other side on notice

A letter before action is a formal legal document. It sets out the claim, the basis for it, the relief sought, and what must happen to avoid proceedings. It must comply with pre-action protocol and be drafted correctly to be effective.

A well-drafted LBA resolves more disputes than most people expect — often because it is the first time the other side understands the full legal exposure they face. It is also a necessary precursor to any court claim.

At this stage we

Draft the LBA Pre-action protocol compliant, legally precise, commercially clear
Set the response deadline Appropriate to the nature of the claim and protocol requirements
Advise on any response received What it means, whether to negotiate, whether to proceed
Manage without-prejudice negotiations Where settlement discussions run alongside formal correspondence

Stage 03 — Proceedings

When formal steps become necessary

If a letter before action does not resolve the matter, proceedings may become necessary. This is not always the right choice — we will tell you clearly if it is not. But where proceedings are the right route, we manage the process, the documentation, and where required, the instruction of Counsel.

You will never receive a bill you were not expecting. Fee for each step is agreed before we take it.

At this stage we

Prepare claim documentation Particulars of claim, defence, counterclaim as required
Instruct Counsel where needed Right specialism, managed by us, briefed fully
Build the evidence bundle Chronology, documents, witness statement support
Keep you informed throughout No surprises on cost, timeline or outcome

Stage 04 — Resolution

Drawing a clear line under the matter

Resolution takes different forms — settlement agreement, judgment, discontinuance, or mediated outcome. Each carries different implications. We advise on the right outcome for your position, negotiate the terms where relevant, and ensure the resolution is properly documented.

The goal is not just to end the dispute, but to end it in a way that protects your position going forward.

At this stage we

Advise on settlement terms What is acceptable, what to push back on, what risks remain
Draft the settlement agreement Full and final, properly drafted, enforceable
Manage mediation where relevant Preparation, representation, outcome advice
Confirm closure Clear documentation of what was agreed and what has been released

Start with a
Discovery Day

If you are facing a potential dispute but are not sure of your legal position, a Discovery Day is the fastest way to find out where you stand and what your options are.

One day. Fixed fee. We review your position, map the risks, and give you a clear written assessment — so you can decide what to do next from a position of knowledge, not uncertainty.

Legal Discovery Day

One day. Your legal position, mapped in full.

We review your contracts, identify your risks, and hand you a clear action plan. The fastest way to understand where you stand and what to prioritise. Fixed fee, no commitment to anything further.

Discuss Your Situation

Tell us what
you are dealing with

Every dispute is different. The starting point is always the same: understanding your position clearly. Get in touch and describe the situation — we will tell you honestly whether we can help, what the options are, and what it is likely to cost to pursue them.

Discuss your situation Start with Discovery Day

Initial conversation is free. No obligation.