ABSTRACT
When a dispute occurs, the parties can settle it in a number of ways. The majority of disputes will be settled by simple negotiation and will not get near the courts. For example, disputes over individual goods in shops will usually be dealt with informally at the customer service desk. However, some disputes require a much more formal mechanism, and for these the courts are the natural next step. In the gap between negotiation and the courts lies a wide range of alternatives for resolving disputes, and it is these on which this chapter will focus.
