Debt recovery and dispute strategy

Work and deliverables

We build a chronology, review the contract and payment evidence, and identify possible negotiation, notice and proceeding routes. Costs, limitation questions and enforcement practicalities are discussed against the actual matter.

Prepare a dated chronology and an amount reconciliation before selecting a proposed action. Separate the contractual amount, payments received, credit notes, disputed items and any additional amount claimed. Record the evidence supporting each component and identify facts the counterparty contests.

Documents for the initial assessment

• Executed contract
• invoices
• delivery/acceptance evidence
• ledger
• acknowledgements
• correspondence
• security and dispute clauses.

Preserve original correspondence and document versions, including objections and proposed settlements. Identify any existing proceeding or notice and its stated dates. A short initial enquiry can describe the issue and urgency; the detailed evidence belongs in the agreed private exchange.

An issue to settle before committing

An invoice alone may not resolve a dispute about performance. Preserve acceptance records and the customer’s contemporaneous objections before choosing a strategy.

For example, a customer may accept delivery but dispute later change-order charges. The evidence schedule should distinguish the accepted work from the disputed additions and identify who authorised them. A single outstanding ledger balance does not explain that difference.

Mandate and fees

External notices and proceedings require a specific mandate. Recovery amount, timing and forum outcome are not guaranteed.

Legal work uses a written matter-specific proposal. Do not send confidential documents through the public form; begin with a brief description and any material date.

The strategy handover identifies options assessed, missing evidence, practical cost considerations and decisions needed before action. A draft notice, negotiation or proceeding is a separate authorised step within the mandate. Evidence preservation and an identified response date should be tracked even while commercial discussions continue.