Dains joins Escalate dispute resolution platform

Leading accountancy practice Dains has become the latest professional services business to join Escalate, the ground-breaking commercial dispute resolution process for SMEs.

Dains specialises in supporting growing and owner managed businesses in the Midlands, with offices in Birmingham, Burton on Trent, Derby, Lichfield and Stoke on Trent. The addition of Dains means that Escalate has further strengthened its geographic footprint in the important Midlands business market.

Escalate helps SMEs to achieve a prompt settlement to a wide range of commercial disputes, with fixed fees payable only on a successful outcome and no upfront costs. The Escalate process was recognised as ‘Innovation of the Year’ at the prestigious British Accountancy Awards in 2017 and ‘Best Collaboration Initiative’ at the 2018 Lawyer Awards.

Dains becomes the second regional heavyweight accountancy firm to join Escalate in the past few weeks, following the recent addition of South West specialist Bishop Fleming.

Chris Clay, Managing Director of Escalate, said: “Dains is recognised as leader in its geographic markets, and bringing it on board is part of our strategy of building a network of best-in-class regional partners to provide cost-effective access to justice for SMEs across the country.

"We’re seeing considerable demand from SMEs for the Escalate process, which is not surprising given that the traditional dispute resolution model is heavily stacked against claimants. Pursuing a commercial dispute has tended to be a costly, lengthy and risky undertaking. Escalate has changed that by providing a smarter way for businesses to resolve commercial disputes.

“We’re already helping SMEs to recover more than £30 million that is currently locked up in commercial disputes and, working in partnership with another top tier regional professional adviser, are confident that we can help even more SMEs with their cashflow.”

Allan Maund, Head of Compliance and Risk at Dains, said: “Dains is committed to valued relationships with clients, fairness, working and succeeding together, and integrity, so partnering with Escalate and helping our clients gain access to justice is a logical step for us.

“Escalate provides SMEs with an innovative means of securing the resources they need to survive and grow, and I have no doubt that our clients will benefit considerably from having access to it.”