9 September 2026
Before you sue: the three questions we ask every client
Most disputes should never reach a claim form. These are the three questions we put to every client in the first call, and why the answers decide what happens next.
The first call is free for a reason. It is where we decide, together, whether this is a matter worth pursuing. We ask three questions, in this order.
1. What do you actually want?
Money back, a contract enforced, a partner out, or an apology. People often say one and mean another. The answer changes the route: a letter, a mediation or a claim.
2. Can the other side pay?
A judgment against a company with no assets is a piece of paper. We check what the other side owns before we spend your money chasing it.
3. What does it cost you to do nothing?
Sometimes the honest answer is that the dispute is not worth the time. We would rather say so on day one than on an invoice.
Notes from the partners
More from the partners
Short notes on what a dispute actually involves, written for the people in them.
