It is often said that court proceedings and processes are time consuming, unduly complicated and very expensive. This is being exacerbated by the logistical restraints currently imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the likelihood that social distancing will remain best practice for months to come.

Commercial disputes can be both virtually enabled and cost effectively resolved within a global legal offering from Dentons. This service can resolve or adjudicate a commercial dispute in a safe, encrypted, online and private platform.

Dentons Direct

Dentons Direct provides a bespoke platform that includes the following functionality:

• User friendly;
• Digitally encrypted and secure;
• Fully supported by the Dentons global IT support team;
• Facilitates uploading and exchanging of pleadings, affidavits, witness statements and through the entire dispute resolution process;
• Calendar feature to determine the dates for when parties are required to submit their pleadings, affidavits and documents; and
• Real time directives issued by arbitrators to the parties.

The hearing itself is then conducted through one of our vetted online video conferencing systems. These conferencing services have the benefit of legal representatives, arbitrators, mediator and witnesses being virtually present in the same hearing in real time while enabling continued best practices around asocial distancing.

Cost benefits

There are no administrative fees, disbursements or hidden costs payable for these services provided by Dentons in South Africa. Fees are limited to the agreed fees payable to the parties’ legal representatives (attorneys and advocates) and to the arbitrators and/or mediators.

All proceedings and hearings are digitally recorded and uploaded onto Dentons Direct, saving recording costs.

Dentons has collaborated with advocates all over South Africa to forge a relationship in which advocates act as independent arbitrators or mediators in private disputes. These advocates are experts and well respected in their fields and are able to adjudicate the arbitration or mediation using Dentons Direct and the secured online video conferencing system at competitive rates.
The service that Dentons offers will also eliminate expenses such as venue hire, arbitration body costs, travel costs, sheriff and correspondent costs.

Cumulatively, Dentons in South Africa offers a holistic service that provides a real-time solution to effectively manage your commercial dispute using our technological advances. Solutions not just for the now but also for a world that looks different now, post the pandemic, now and for the future.

For more information of any offerings and services, please contact Dentons in South Africa: Partner, Vanessa Jacklin-Levine and Senior Associate, Kirith Haria.