Expanding Access to Justice: New Fixed-Fee Arbitration Category for Small Claims
We are pleased to announce an important update to the Private Arbitration Court Rules, expanding our established fixed-fee arbitration service to better serve small businesses. Effective from 13th January 2025, we’re introducing a new category specifically for claims under £50,000, making professional arbitration more accessible to small business users.
The New Small Claims Category
Building upon our successful fixed-fee arbitration framework, we’re introducing a dedicated category for smaller claims with a fee of £2,000 plus VAT for disputes valued up to £50,000. This expansion responds directly to the growing need for cost-effective dispute resolution options among small businesses.
Key Features
The new small claims category maintains the hallmark efficiency of our Private Arbitration Court rules while offering features tailored for smaller disputes:
Documents-Only Process
We’ve streamlined the process for these smaller claims to be document-based only, eliminating the need for in-person hearings. This approach makes the process more accessible while reducing the time and costs typically associated with traditional arbitration.
Efficient Timeline
Recognizing the particular importance of swift resolution for small businesses, decisions will be delivered within 90 days from the close of all submissions. This ensures both thorough consideration of all documents and timely resolution.
Predictable Costs
Continuing our commitment to transparency in arbitration costs, the fixed fee structure provides small businesses with complete clarity on expenses from the outset, enabling better decision-making about dispute resolution.
Meeting Small Business Needs
This expansion of our fixed-fee framework specifically addresses the challenges faced by small businesses in accessing formal dispute resolution. While our existing Private Arbitration Court rules have successfully served larger claims, this new category removes barriers that often deterred smaller enterprises from pursuing arbitration.
The introduction of this category reflects our ongoing commitment to adapting our services to meet evolving market needs while maintaining the high standards of arbitration practice that users of our Private Arbitration Court have come to expect.
Looking Ahead
This enhancement to The Private Arbitration Court rules represents another step in our mission to provide accessible, efficient dispute resolution across all sectors of the business community. We continue to evaluate and evolve our services to ensure they meet the needs of all users, regardless of claim size.
For complete details about the new small claims category and our updated Private Arbitration Court rules, including eligibility criteria and submission procedures, please visit here.
Contact our team today to learn more about how this new category can help resolve your dispute efficiently and cost-effectively.