Inter partes

In disputes involving two or more sides, the Registrar may have to give preliminary views on a range of issues between the parties during the proceedings. If one or more of the parties thinks they are being disadvantaged or disagree with the preliminary view they have the right to request a hearing to resolve the issue, this will be either a joint or interlocutory hearing. Usually the Hearing Officer will issue an oral decision at the conclusion of the hearing but a full written decision can be requested if a party wishes to appeal the decision.

At the end of legal proceedings before the Registrar the parties have the right to request a hearing at which they have the opportunity to put their case to the Hearing Officer prior to the final decision. This is a main hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing the Hearing Officer will normally give a time scale for the issue of the formal written decision.

Inter parties hearings are more formal and will more closely follow the procedures of the High Court with the Hearing Officer taking the role of judge. Each party will have a chance to put its case and the Hearing Officer will not allow argument between the parties during the hearing. The sequence of speaking will normally follow the same pattern as the filing of evidence, the party bringing the action will put their case, the defendant will put their case and respond to the other parties argument and then the original party concludes by responding to the defendants argument.