A new mediation and dispute resolution service has been launched to offer a flexible, creative, fresh and cost effective approach to claims settlement. Expedite Resolution’s central focus is to offer mediation and dispute resolution as a genuinely viable route to reduce life cycles of claims, and early closure, with a corresponding reduction in costs both direct and indirect.
Expedite Resolution comprises a growing panel of twelve independent, specialist mediators and arbitrators. The panel has extensive practice experience of the claims and insurance sectors and is able to work with claims professionals to help achieve settlement targets.
Expedite Resolution has developed its approach towards claims settlement in direct response to genuine needs within the claims arena that were identified by independent research commissioned by Expedite Resolution and undertaken by C-MAS during Q4 2011.
This identified the fact that despite 70% of respondents having used mediation services, almost half (47%) experienced problems in identifying a mediator who was skilled in the market sector and was available at short notice to take advantage of the settlement momentum generated by the parties. The research also highlighted an industry need for clarity as to when effective mediation could support earlier resolution and on what cases it would be most effective. Both of those issues have been addressed by Expedite Resolution in the way in which they will provide mediation and dispute resolution services.
Well targeted and well designed mediation can assist with resolving difficult claims in a very cost effective way to the real benefit of claimants, policyholders, insurers, reinsurers, brokers, adjusters and their lawyers. Expedite Resolution founder Maurice Nichols explains: “The Expedite Resolution business model is all about having experienced, specialist mediators immediately available for difficult cases. The panellists’ understanding of the dynamics of the claims and insurance sector, as well as the claims process and the litigation that it generates, shortens the length of each mediation and increases the success rates. Early settlements reduce exposure to risk, delivers a reduction in legal fees and frees up valuable claims resources. Jackson (and the observations of the Court of Appeal in Rolf v De Guerin) has made it clear that mediation does need to be used and Expedite Resolution has worked hard to provide mediation that works for the industry and which the industry wants to use because it brings real and worthwhile results ”.
When used on the right cases and introduced at the right time, mediation puts the claimant and the insurer in total control of the outcome of the claim. Maurice Nichols elaborates:
“Unfortunately all too often, mediation services are introduced too late in the claim life cycle – when negotiations have irretrievably broken down, the attitude of the parties has hardened and expensive litigation remains the only option. The experience of our panel members means that we can advise on the right cases to mediate, the right point of the claim life cycle to introduce it, which type of mediation skills are required and the right format for the mediation. The team’s specialist experience also eliminates the need to be ‘brought up to speed’ on the concepts and languages related to the claims environment and the commercial dynamics of settlement. So the mediation can then move forward quickly to its prime purpose – exploring settlement in the way that the parties feel will take them forward in the quickest and best way. We want to bring freshness, energy, innovation, and creativity back to mediation, and our panel members are committed to that.
The team at Expedite Resolution is committed to work independently and neutrally to facilitate cost effective settlement for the parties.
