Cast as the ‘world-first’ online dispute resolution platform, Immediation says the platform gives Australian lawyers, general counsel and clients direct access to fixed fee, fast-turnaround and expert-facilitated outcomes entirely online for the first time.

Immediation has raised $1.8 million in funding to date, including from investors such as boutique investment firm SG Hiscock, corporate broker Patersons Securities and advisory firm Alto Capital.

Immediation is backed by a panel of 90 independent legal experts and dispute resolution specialists to help resolve commercial disputes online, including former senior judges, Tribunal members, QCs/SCs, barristers, arbitrators, mediators and leading lawyers from top-tier and boutique specialist firms.

Immediation - founded by commercial barrister Laura Keily - says the launch of the company is the culmination of 2.5 years of development, including an extensive pilot client program with top general counsel from over 20 companies including Coca-Cola Amatil, Uber and Orora.

“Each and every day businesses struggle not only to obtain legal solutions at a commercial price but to resolve their differences in a manner that preserves the business relationship for the future,” Kelly said.

“Wearied by the process, many give up or settle without receiving the outcome they deserve, which often sees them spending more on legal fees than the claim value itself. I knew there was a better way - to promote early, commercially-focussed resolution using technology to enable access and streamline the process. It’s why I started Immediation.

“Immediation is impartial and non-aggressive, focused on resolving disputes, avoiding escalation and maintaining business relationships. It presents enormous opportunities to remove traditional pain points for companies and General Counsel, while opening up new work possibilities for solicitors, barristers, mediators and arbitrators facing a changing industry. In particular, Australian dispute resolution practitioners, who are well-known internationally for their quality, can overcome our geographic hurdle in participating in international dispute resolution.”

John Gilmour QC - former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia and Immediation Panelist said: “For any business the prospect of litigation, irrespective of the rights and wrongs of a dispute, is daunting. The financial costs, lost opportunities and general stress of litigation can be immense”.

“With goodwill on both sides, and no question of malice or one party trying to get it over the other using litigation as a weapon, Immediation presents a real opportunity for disputes to be resolved online with someone who is qualified, independent and experienced in a particular area of law.

“Immediation fills a much-needed hole in the litigation and mediation market and has the ability to free up the heavily clogged court system.”