Osborne Clarke launches mediation for IT clients

Bristol-based Osborne Clarke has launched a tailored service, branded ITMediate, for IT and telecoms companies which would rather resolve disputes through mediation.Peter Rogers, a litigation associate at the firm, said: 'We ask the client what they want and what their budget is and, if realistic, we try and tailor the service to these demands.' The firm offers a fixed price for preparing mediation documentation and written submissions, and 'takes the risk of the costs running over'.

Mr Rogers said costs are kept to a minimum by 'stripping away the complexity of the process and keeping things as straightforward as possible'.

The initiative was launched as more technology firms are choosing to avoid litigation in settling disputes.Mr Rogers said it can be difficult for IT companies to prove that they are 'coming to court with clean hands'.

He explained: 'The courts seem to set remarkably high standards of conduct for IT cases.

Suppliers are feeling hard done by, saying that the courts don't fully understand the intricacies of IT implementation.'Andrew Towler