When conflict arises, whether it is a high-stakes business disagreement or a painful family dispute the instinct is often to “deal with it after the holidays.” However, in the world of UK litigation, those few weeks of delay can be the most expensive mistake you make this year.
The Brutal Math of Procrastination
As we enter the final 48 hours of 2025, the clock isn’t just ticking toward a New Year; it is ticking against your bank account. The statistics for 2024-2025 are clear:
- Compounding Costs: Legal fees in the UK compound daily. Every hour you wait, the paperwork piles up, and the billable hours grow.
- The £75,000 Threshold: A standard business dispute now averages £75,000+ per party if it goes to trial.
- Court Fee Hikes: With court fees historically rising and legal inflation hitting 10-15%, waiting until January could mean entering a more expensive fee regime.
- Mental Health Toll: 87% of people in litigation report sleep deprivation. Starting 2026 with an active court case means starting the year in a state of “litigation syndrome”, chronic anxiety and exhaustion.
3 Reasons Why “Wait and See” is a Failed Strategy
1. Court Fees Rise & Costs Compound: Court fees are subject to change, and solicitors’ rates often increase with the new calendar year. Resolving your dispute in the next 48 hours stops the bleeding immediately. 2. The January “Logjam”: UK courts are facing an 18–24 month backlog. If you wait until January to file, you are at the back of a very long queue. Mediation can resolve your issue in 2–4 weeks. 3. The Emotional Cost of the New Year: Do you want your first thought on January 1st to be about a legal battle? Mediation is the “Relationship Rescuer” that allows you to leave the baggage of 2025 behind.
Your Path to a Dispute-Free 2026
At Mediation Today, led by Davinder Singh Bal, we specialize in high-speed, high-impact resolution. We don’t just look at the law; we look at the human and commercial reality.
- 90% Cheaper: Mediation costs a fraction of a full-blown court battle.
- Private & Confidential: Keep your professional reputation intact and out of the public record.
- Success Rate: 75-85% of our mediations result in a settlement.
Take Action: Resolve Today, Move Forward Tomorrow
- Freephone: 0800 29 800 29
- Direct/Mobile: 07901 558 530
- Email: ds.bal@claimtoday.com
- Website: www.mediationtoday.co.uk
- Address: Unit 2, Avenue Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 4DY
Led by Davinder Singh Bal | 30 Years Legal Experience | IMI Qualified Mediator.