Legal services / Dispute resolution
Dispute resolution and litigation for businesses
If your company faces a claim or a contracting party fails to perform as agreed, I assess the situation and the available options. We also consider the costs and risks associated with the dispute.
Niko Mäenpää
Finnish lawyer and Licensed Legal Counsel
Is there a deadline? Include the date when you contact me. If time is short, call +358 50 323 3597.
HOW I CAN HELP
Support with business disputes and claims
Does your company have a claim against a contracting party, or do you need to respond to a claim made against your company? I assess the available remedies and the legal grounds for pursuing them.
Unpaid or disputed invoice
I establish the basis of the debt and why the invoice remains unpaid. Recovering an undisputed debt and pursuing a disputed claim may require different steps.
Debts · debt recovery · debt recovery proceedings
Breach of contract and complaints
I assess the contract terms, the parties’ obligations and the basis of the claims made. We agree whether I will draft a formal complaint, claim or response.
Complaints · claims · contractual liability
Letter of claim or court summons
I establish the deadline for responding and the basis of the claims. I assess your company’s position before drafting the response.
Responses · deadlines · legal position
The dispute is already under way
Tell me what has already been negotiated or how far the court proceedings have progressed. I assess the current position and we agree the assistance required.
Settlement negotiations · litigation
OPTIONS
How can a dispute be resolved?
I assess the basis of the claims, along with the documents, correspondence and other evidence. Whether negotiation or litigation is appropriate depends on the objective, deadlines and costs. Court proceedings are not automatically the next step.
Negotiation and settlement
I conduct negotiations to the extent agreed. Before you decide, I assess the terms and implications of any proposed settlement. Negotiations do not remove the need to meet applicable deadlines.
Litigation
If the matter proceeds to court, we agree the scope of my representation. We review the claims, evidence and cost exposure and update the assessment as the case progresses.
FEES
What costs can arise in a dispute?
You receive a fixed fee or fee estimate for each agreed stage before work begins. In addition to your own lawyer’s fees, other costs and the risk of having to reimburse the other party’s legal costs must be assessed.
Uhmu’s fees
We agree, for example, whether the work covers an initial assessment, a letter of claim, negotiations or a stage of court proceedings, and how that work will be priced.
Other costs and the other party’s legal costs
I assess court fees and the costs of experts and evidence. We also consider the risk that your company may have to reimburse the other party’s legal costs.
Legal expenses insurance
As part of the agreed work, I assess whether insurance may cover the costs and what terms, excess and maximum indemnity apply.
Agreed scope and approach
- Assessment of your company’s position, options and cost exposure
- Agreed approach to negotiations or litigation
- Handling claims, responses and proceedings to the agreed extent
Unless otherwise agreed, a fixed fee or fee estimate covers Uhmu’s own work. Other costs are assessed separately. Insurance cover or the outcome of the matter cannot be guaranteed in advance. The engagement and each stage of work are agreed separately.
BEFORE INSTRUCTING ME
Practical questions
Does a dispute have to go to court?
Not always. The best course depends on factors such as the claims, evidence, cost exposure and prospects of settlement. Negotiations must not, however, put compliance with deadlines at risk.
What information should I include in my first enquiry?
A brief description of the matter, the names of the parties and any known deadlines are enough to get started. We will agree separately how to provide contracts, invoices and correspondence.
What should I do if my company receives a court summons?
Check the deadline for responding and contact me without delay. State the deadline in your initial enquiry. If it is imminent, do not rely solely on a response to the online form.
Can legal expenses insurance cover the costs?
Possibly. Cover depends on the policy terms and the circumstances. As part of the agreed engagement, we can assess the scope of cover and, where necessary, make a claim under the policy.
Do you also handle employment disputes for employers?
Yes. In employment disputes, the legal position, evidence and cost exposure are assessed in the same way. A separate employment law service is also available for employers’ personnel matters.
GUIDES
Guides to each stage of a dispute
These guides explain how to respond to claims, manage a dispute and understand the costs involved. The options in your own matter must be assessed on the basis of its documents and other evidence.
Claims and debts
Negotiation and litigation
Related services
DIRECT CONTACT WITH A LAWYER
Tell me about the dispute and any deadlines
Briefly describe what has happened, who the parties are and how far the matter has progressed. We will agree separately how to provide documents and what work is required.
Niko Mäenpää
Finnish lawyer and Licensed Legal Counsel.
Founder of Law Firm Uhmu.
Request a free initial assessment
A brief description of the matter and its timetable is enough to get started. Contacting me does not commit you to using my services.
We will agree separately on providing further documents and on any engagement. See how I process personal data.