Mr. Hayes was hired to help the company resolve a costly dispute with a federal agency and also to lobby federal energy regulators.

Recent legislation (particularly the Employment Act 2002) has stressed the importance of employees and employers resolving their differences between them prior to starting costly legal disputes.

It was a costly dispute.

"America's decision will, I fear, spark the biggest, most difficult and costly legal dispute in the W.T.O.'s history," said Peter Mandelson, Europe's trade commissioner.

Ms. Miers built her private practice around commercial litigation, handling often costly disputes between large companies, contract disputes and, a few times, class-action lawsuits.

The outcome of a damaging and costly dispute has resulted in substantial progress towards a more realistic and effective way of working".

All too often, friction mounts, positions become entrenched and the courts are left to adjudicate the costly disputes.

The perception among league negotiators and owners as they began this lockout on July 1 seemed to be that the players would have no stomach for a prolonged, costly dispute.

The tour, and the costly disputes, continued with the rebels eventually setting sail for home a week earlier than their colleagues.