Why mediation
matters
World-famous golfer Rory McIlroy
has failed to resolve his dispute
with his former agent Horizon
Sports Management and two other
companies through mediation and is
now facing a full hearing next year.
Mr McIIroy is in a dispute over fees, with
the golfer claiming that the representation
agreement signed by him is invalid
and unenforceable on a number of
grounds, including that he did not
receive independent legal advice before
signing it. However the agent and other
companies claim that the contract is valid
and enforceable, and that Mr McIlroy
owes them more than €2m (£1.6m) under
the agreement.
The judge at the Commercial Court
suggested to both sides that they try to
settle the dispute through mediation, to try
to avoid the matter going to trial. However,
although the parties attended mediation,
they were unable to come to a settlement.
They now have to prepare for a full trial.
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Why mediate?
Mr McIlroy followed the judge’s
suggestion to mediate and although in
his case mediation was unsuccessful,
the majority of disputes that go through
mediation can be settled.
Mediation involves an independent
mediator going between the parties to try
to come to a settlement or resolve some
aspects of the dispute. A mediator can
bring a new and independent perspective
to the F