ABSTRACT
Recent years have seen the advent of forms of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation. In other instances, the parties may prefer the privacy and convenience of arbitration. The power of the press and the media can sometimes achieve more than the use of formal legal procedures. Moreover, the intervention of an advice agency may be sufficient to prompt the other party to a dispute to resolve matters without resorting to court action. Civil proceedings may concern disputes between individuals, disputes between individuals and companies, disputes between companies and companies or even disputes between individuals or companies and public bodies or government departments. The High Court is based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London but also has district registries around the country, and High Court judges do also sit outside London in the various county court districts.
