HOW TO DO disputes
Commercial mediator Andrew Hildebrand shares his ten step approach to sorting creative disputes, based on his long track record in resolving disputes across the creative industries
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What happens when a professional creative relationship breaks down and leads to dispute? Whether there’s disagreement about royalties or rights control with your publisher, or issues in your relationship with your agent, or conflict over ownership with a creative partner, your goal is the same – to sort things out.
That’s impossible without a process – a set of rules to guide your approach, encourage all parties to focus, help temper emotional involvement, and reach an agreement.
1 Make resolution your priority
Don’t let emotion get the better of you. It is not about winning or losing. Take a step back. What were you hoping to achieve at the outset? Put the dispute in perspective and focus on the future. What are your ‘must haves’, ‘wish lists’ and ‘no-nos’? Prioritise what is most important to you. Now, put yourself in their shoes. Do the same for them.