Alternative Dispute Resolution Services That Work.
CEDR helps individuals and businesses resolve commercial and contract disputes with speed and confidence. Alongside mediation, our other impartial ADR services, from arbitration to adjudication and early neutral evaluation, provide a structured, confidential alternative to litigation.
If you are looking for one of our Consumer Complaint Schemes, please visit www.cedr-assist.com.
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What Is Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Why Use It?
ADR is a way to resolve legal and commercial conflicts without going to court. It includes processes such as adjudication, arbitration, expert determination and early neutral evaluation, each offering different levels of formality, speed and enforceability.
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Why organisations use ADR
- Saves time and cost compared to litigation
- Keeps disputes confidential and out of the public eye
- Allows you to choose subject-matter experts to assess the case
- Supports faster, more flexible outcomes
- Can be binding or non-binding, depending on the process
CEDR delivers ADR services trusted across the UK and internationally, helping legal teams and business leaders resolve complex disputes quickly and confidently.
Find the Right ADR Method for Your Situation
CEDR provides four structured forms of alternative dispute resolution, each suited to different kinds of commercial or contract disputes.
Whether you need a fast decision, a binding award, or a neutral opinion to unlock stalled negotiations, we’ll help you choose the right process.
Not sure which method fits your situation best? Our experts can guide you to the most effective and efficient route forward.
Adjudication
Often used in construction and infrastructure disputes, adjudication is a fast-track process that delivers a binding decision within weeks.
Best for:
- Time-sensitive commercial contracts
- Interim dispute resolution before final agreement
- Construction and engineering projects
Why choose adjudication:
- Legally binding (subject to appeal)
- Enforceable through the courts
- Typically resolved within 28 days
Arbitration
Arbitration is a formal legal process where a neutral arbitrator hears both sides and issues a final, binding decision.
Best for:
- High-value cross-border or multi-jurisdictional disputes
- Complex commercial cases needing a subject-matter expert
- Contracts that already include arbitration clauses
Key benefits of arbitration:
- Private and confidential, protecting reputations and relationships
- Binding and enforceable internationally under the New York Convention
- Typically faster and more flexible than court litigation
Expert Determination
A streamlined process where a neutral makes a binding decision based on written submissions. Suitable for clear-cut contractual issues or where speed is essential.
Best for:
- Disputes over contract interpretation or liability
- Situations where facts aren’t contested
- Lower-complexity commercial disagreements
Why choose expert determination:
- Binding and quick
- Low-cost and efficient
- Avoids unnecessary escalation
Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE)
An impartial expert provides a non-binding opinion on the likely outcome of a dispute, giving parties a realistic perspective to support negotiation.
Best for:
- Cases where parties disagree on the strength of their position
- Early-stage commercial disputes
- Pre-litigation risk assessment
Why choose ENE:
- Encourages earlier settlement
- Useful where court or arbitration is still being considered
- Objective feedback from a neutral perspective
When to Use ADR, and Which Type to Choose
Alternative dispute resolution isn’t one-size-fits-all. At CEDR, we guide you to the right process based on urgency, complexity, relationships and legal considerations.
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Our commercial dispute resolution services are used across the UK in situations such as:
- Contract dispute resolution - when delivery terms break down or key clauses are challenged.
- Construction and project disagreements - from payment disputes to progress delays where fast-track outcomes matter.
- Employment and workplace tensions - where long-term relationships or reputations are at stake.
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- Boardroom and shareholder conflict - sensitive governance issues, exit terms or director disputes.
- Regulatory or legal compliance issues - when discretion, accountability and process integrity are critical.
Whatever the challenge, CEDR provides dispute resolution services in the UK and internationally that deliver faster, more constructive outcomes than litigation.
What Resolution Looks Like in Practice
CEDR has helped thousands of organisations resolve high-stakes issues through alternative dispute resolution, often faster, more cost-effectively, and more privately than litigation.
Here are a few examples of how our processes deliver results:
Contract Dispute Between Global Manufacturers
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Situation
A multi-million pound disagreement over delivery terms and contract interpretation.
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Approach:
Arbitration
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Outcome:
Resolved in under three months with a binding decision, avoiding over a year of potential litigation.
Internal Governance Conflict at a UK Charity
Situation:
Breakdown between senior leaders over board responsibilities and future direction.
Approach:
Early Neutral Evaluation
Outcome:
Clear legal and procedural guidance helped clarify the board’s position, leading to an agreed governance restructure.
Payment Dispute in Major Infrastructure Project
Situation:
A subcontractor and main contractor disagreed over change orders and final payments.
Approach:
Adjudication
Outcome:
A rapid adjudication decision allowed the project to proceed without delay, avoiding reputational damage and court.
Commercial Data Licensing Disagreement
Situation:
Two digital firms clashed over licensing use and renewal terms.
Approach:
Expert Determination
Outcome:
Expert ruling clarified contractual ambiguity, enabling both parties to continue working together under revised terms.
The Experts Behind Our Dispute Resolution Services
CEDR is powered by a global team of specialist mediators, dedicated to helping organisations resolve conflict quickly and effectively.
With deep sector expertise and proven credentials, our mediators deliver trusted support across every dispute.
CEDR’s panel of arbitrators, adjudicators and evaluators are recognised specialists with deep sector knowledge, from construction and infrastructure to finance, energy and international trade.
Every arbitrator, adjudicator or evaluator we appoint is rigorously accredited, conflict-checked, and supported by CEDR’s case management team.