Canadian ADR heavyweight hits LondonA Canadian-based alternative dispute resolution (ADR) group this week launched a London operation, boasting a star-studded list of retired senior judges as mediators and offering a private appeal service to court decisions.ADR Chambers (UK) Ltd is the English branch of a company that started in Ontario, Canada, in 1995.

It is the latest of many ADR initiatives to be set up.Panel members of ADR Chambers include former law lords Ackner, Lane, Bridge and Mustill, and former Court of Appeal judges Sir Michael Kerr, Sir Brian Neill, Sir Christopher Staughton, Sir John Vinelott and Sir Ronald Waterhouse.The panel of barristers includes 14 QCs, while panel solicitors include Arthur Marriott, one of the first two solicitor QCs and a deputy High Court judge, and Dr Julian Farrand, the pensions ombudsman.

Other solicitors include five partners from City firm Davies Arnold Cooper, including senior partner David McIntosh, who is also Law Society Deputy Vice-President.

To become panel members, lawyers go on a free four-day course.The president of ADR Chambers is Canadian QC Brian Wheatley.

He said he is confident in the ability of the chambers to establish a position in the UK market.

The chambers is introducing what Mr Wheatley describes as a 'totally new concept of ADR to the UK'.

This is the 'private appeal' ADR.

This operates when a party is dissatisfied by any court decision, where first instance or on appeal.

After lodging a notice of appeal, the parties can approach ADR Chambers, and agree to have the appeal adjudged by a panel of retired law lords or appeal court judges.

The process requires the parties agree that the decision of the judges will be final and binding.

Clients will pay a flat fee of 2,500 for a full day's mediation from ADR Chambers where the claim value exceeds 50,000.

Claims below 50,000 will cost 2,000.

An additional 300 per hour is charged for additional work.The company said it had applied to the Law Society for certification of ADR Chambers' training course.

Mr Wheatley said he did not believe that ADR Chambers would be in direct competition with such players as the Centre for Dispute Resolution and the ADR Group.

Jeremy Fleming