In legal disputes within Western Australia, you often need to confer with the opposing party before initiating a case or making an application in court.

Conferral is intended to encourage cooperation and communication between parties, helping to narrow the disputed issues and facilitate settlement.

However, conferral is not always a smooth and productive process. Occasionally, one party (often the defendant) might use conferral as a weapon to delay proceedings, increase your legal costs, or frustrate your legitimate claims. This behaviour contradicts the underlying objectives of conferral.

As a lawyer specialising in defamation, guardianship, and legal costs disputes, I have seen many instances of conferral being used as a weapon by parties and their legal advisors.

Some common tactics include:

Refusing to confer or respond to reasonable requests for conferral;
Making unreasonable or excessive demands for information or documents;
Raising new or irrelevant issues during conferral;
Making false or misleading statements or allegations;
Engaging in disrespectful or aggressive behaviour towards the other party or their legal representative;
Withdrawing from conferral without notice or explanation;
Failing to comply with agreed outcomes or timetables;
Deliberately delaying the process to increase the opposing party's legal costs or cause frustration.

To address the issue of conferral misuse and counteract the use of conferral as a weapon, consider these tips:

Be prepared: Before conferring with the other side, make sure you have a clear understanding of your case, your legal rights and obligations, and your desired outcomes. Gather all the relevant information and documents that support your position and be ready to share them with the other side if appropriate. Also, have a realistic assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your case and the other side's case, and be prepared to negotiate in good faith.
Be proactive: Don't wait for the other side to initiate conferral. Contact them as soon as possible after becoming aware of the dispute and propose a suitable time and method for conferral. This shows that you are serious about resolving the matter and puts pressure on them to respond. If they refuse to confer or ignore your requests, document their lack of cooperation and inform them of the potential consequences, such as sanctions from the court or adverse costs orders.
Be respectful: Even if the other side is using conferral as a weapon, maintain a respectful and professional tone during conferral. Avoid personal attacks, insults, or accusations that may escalate the conflict or damage your reputation. Focus on the facts and the law, not on emotions or personalities. Remember that conferral is not a trial or a debate, but a constructive dialogue aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution.
Be assertive: While being respectful, don't let the other side push you into agreeing to something that is unfair or unreasonable. Stand up for your rights and interests, and don't be afraid to challenge any false or misleading statements or allegations made by the other side. If they make unreasonable or excessive demands for information or documents, ask them to justify their relevance and necessity. If they raise new or irrelevant issues during conferral, remind them of the scope and purpose of conferral and ask them to focus on the main issues in dispute.
Be flexible: Conferral is not a one-way street. You have to be willing to listen to the other side's perspective and consider their proposals. You may have to compromise on some points or make some concessions to reach an agreement. However, this does not mean that you have to give up your core principles or accept an outcome that is detrimental to your interests. You have to balance flexibility with firmness, and know when to accept an offer and when to walk away. Being open to negotiation does not mean allowing the other side to exploit the process or use conferral as a weapon.
Be aware of delay tactics: Recognise when the other side is using delay as a weapon and address it head-on. Keep track of the timeline and document any deliberate delays or stalling tactics used by the opposing party. If the other side consistently prolongs the conferral process without good reason, consider discussing the issue with them, or if necessary, inform the court or seek appropriate remedies.
Set clear boundaries and deadlines: Establish a clear agenda and reasonable timeframes for the conferral process to prevent unnecessary delays or diversions. Make sure both parties are aware of these boundaries and deadlines, and hold the other side accountable if they fail to adhere to them.
Stay focused on the primary issues: Keep the conferral process centred on the main issues in dispute and avoid getting sidetracked by irrelevant matters. If the other side attempts to introduce unrelated or trivial topics, gently steer the conversation back to the primary concerns.
Know your options: If the conferral process is being misused and you have exhausted all efforts to address the issue, be prepared to move on to the next step in the litigation process. Do not allow conferral to drag on indefinitely or become an obstacle to resolving the dispute. Understand the available alternatives, such as mediation, arbitration, or ultimately, litigation, and be ready to pursue these options if necessary.

By being prepared, proactive, respectful, assertive, and flexible, you can more effectively navigate the challenges posed by the misuse of conferral and minimise the impact of conferral being used as a weapon in lawyer-on-lawyer disputes.

Stay focused on your goals, and be willing to adapt your approach when necessary to achieve a fair and satisfactory resolution.