Private Financial Dispute Resolution (PFDR) / Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE)
The Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) appointment is a key hearing within financial proceedings, where the appointed Judge will provide the parties with an early neutral evaluation on the likely outcome of the case should the parties proceed to final hearing.
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The benefits of Financial Dispute Resolution
FDRs have a high success rate and usually settle at the hearing, or shortly after, based on the Judge’s indication. Sadly, due to increasing pressure on the justice system and court service in general, parties can face significant delays in having their case being heard in court. This is often due to fewer specialist Judges being available and congested court lists.
The ‘Private’ FDR (PFDR) method is a way to combat these delays and it provides a slicker, polished and efficient service to clients.
Some of the advantages of a Private FDR include:
- The ability to select the ‘Judge’; one who is an expert in handling factually and emotionally complex matters, and one in whom the parties and their legal teams have confidence.
- A full day is available (or multiple days where appropriate) for the Private FDR hearing to take place, including time for discussions and negotiations, in contrast to the one-hour slot of judge’s time often allocated by the courts.
- The dedicated ‘Judge’ has time in advance of the session to fully read all the papers and to prepare thoroughly and is available to assist the parties throughout the day and can help with drafting if required.
- Without any delay in their timetable for resolution the parties can each hear from an independent expert on what the probable outcome of their case would be at final hearing.
- A Private FDR can be arranged at any stage prior to court proceedings being issued, whereas court-based FDRs can only take place at their appointed stage within proceedings.
- The Private FDR can be arranged with a greater degree of flexibility to suit the parties’ needs. It can be done remotely, by video conferencing, which allows for private breakout rooms. If conducted ‘face to face’, the selected venue can offer guaranteed privacy, comfortable conference facilities and refreshments making it a less formal process, creating a less stressful environment.
“Coram Chambers is a specialist family set of high quality advocates”
Legal500, 2026
Interested in finding out more?
The Private FDR team at Coram comprises financial remedies specialists, with some members also sitting as part-time Judges and/or Arbitrators.
Here at Coram Chambers, we have a dedicated team of expert barristers who can conduct Private FDRs at all levels; it is not just for High Net Worth clients and ‘big money’ cases.
Meet our PFDR Judges
Private Finacial Dispute Resolution Judges
Michael Horton KC
Jacqueline Marks
Sophie Hill
Greg Williams
Sarah Tyler
Matthew Richardson
Matthew Shaw
Adrian Barnett-Thoung-Holland
Alexander Laing
Rachel Cooper
Sir Roderick Newton
HH Philip Waller CBE
HH Jonathan Furness KC
Private FDR Judge fees
The table below sets out the standard rates of our adjudicators for conducting a Private FDR hearing, with a time estimate of one day, which include all reading time (a bundle of up to 350 pages) and preparation. If you would like to discuss a case which you believe falls outside of the ‘standard’ range, our Senior Clerk, Sean Gentleman, or one of our Senior Practice Manager’s, Harry Butcher or Joe Bernard would be happy to do so.
| Barrister | Fee (£) |
| Michael Horton KC | £6,000 + VAT |
| Sir Roderick Newton* | £4,000 + VAT |
| HH Philip Waller CBE* | £4,000 + VAT |
| HH Jonathan Furness KC* | £4,000 + VAT |
| Jacqueline Marks | £3,500 + VAT |
| Sophie Hill | £3,000 + VAT |
| Greg Williams | £3,000 + VAT |
| Sarah Tyler | £2,750 + VAT |
| Matthew Richardson | £2,750 + VAT |
| Matthew Shaw | £2,750 + VAT |
| Adrian Barnett-Thoung-Holland | £2,500 + VAT |
| Alexander Laing | £2,500 + VAT |
| Rachel Cooper | £2,500 + VAT |