Disagreements with commercial consequences.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Establish the facts and gather the record.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What you actually want: payment, performance, or ending it.
WHY
It determines the tone entirely.
WHAT AN OPENING LETTER SHOULD CONTAIN
What happened, factually and chronologically What was agreed, with references What you require By when
WHAT TO AVOID
Characterising their conduct Emotion Threats you will not carry out
WHY FACTS ONLY
The letter may be read by a third party later.
WHAT TO ASSUME WHEN WRITING
That a court or regulator will read it.
WHAT THAT CHANGES
Everything about tone.
WHAT TO ATTACH
The supporting documents.
WHY
Assertion without evidence is weak.
WHAT TO STATE ABOUT NEXT STEPS
What you will do if there is no resolution.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Statements that could be taken as admissions Offers made without qualification
WHAT TO TAKE ADVICE ON
Anything of value, before sending.
WHY BEFORE
Early correspondence shapes what follows.
WHAT TO PRESERVE
Everything: correspondence, records, evidence.
WHAT TO AVOID
Deleting anything once a dispute exists.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Whether resolution is cheaper than being right.
