TERMS OF USE (PLATFORM RULES)
Last Updated: 9th May 2025
1. INTRODUCTION
(1) Welcome to InstantSettle, a trading name of Legal Applications Limited (company number 16431407). We provide an online blind-bidding platform (the “Platform”) which allows users to submit confidential offers to settle ongoing or contemplated legal disputes.
(2) By accessing or using the Platform, you agree that these Terms of Use (“Terms”), govern your relationship with InstantSettle. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use the Platform.
(3) If you continue to use or access the Platform, you are deemed to have accepted these Terms.
2. NATURE OF SERVICE
By accessing or using the Platform, you agree and acknowledge that:
(1) No legal advice: InstantSettle is not a law firm or a substitute for legal counsel. We do not provide legal advice or regulated legal services under the Legal Services Act 2007. If you need legal advice, consult a qualified solicitor or professional.
(2) Neutral Intermediary. InstantSettle acts as a neutral platform for exchanging confidential settlement offers. We do not guarantee any settlement outcome, nor do we assess the merits of your dispute or the fairness of any agreed figure. There has not and will not be any advisory, partnership, agency, or fiduciary relationship between you and InstantSettle.
(3) Dispute Between Users. Any settlement or negotiation is strictly between you and the other users of the Platform. InstantSettle does not enforce or guarantee performance of any settlement. Our role ends after the blind bids have been processed.
3. REVIEW OF OFFERS AND PLATFORM DISCRETION
By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree that:
(1) Terms of your settlement offer. InstantSettle may ask you to provide information about the terms on which you are willing to settle a legal dispute (“Your Offer”), including an amount which you would be willing to pay or receive (“Your Amount”).
(2) Terms of Other User’s settlement offer. InstantSettle may ask another user to provide information about the terms on which it would be willing to settle that same legal dispute (“Other User’s Offer”), including an amount which they would be willing to pay or receive (“Other User’s Amount”).
(3) Reviewing settlement offers. InstantSettle may review Your Amount and the Other User’s Amount to ascertain whether there is overlap or compatibility between the two. This review is conducted:
(a) Using a computer algorithm and without any human oversight.
(b) Without disclosing the terms of either party’s offer to the other.
(c) Solely for the purpose of determining whether a blind settlement can be facilitated.
(4) If the offers overlap. If Your Offer and the Other User’s Offer overlap, then InstantSettle will provide you with a statement of the arithmetic mean of Your Amount and the Other User’s Amount.
(5) If the offers do not overlap. Subject to clause 5(1) below, InstantSettle will keep the terms of Your Offer confidential. InstantSettle may, however, provide you with a certificate confirming that you have used the Platform to attempt settlement ofa legal dispute.
(6) Platform discretion. Subject to the above, InstantSettle may structure, modify or alter the format of the blind-bidding process at its discretion.
4. PAYMENT & FEES
By accessing or using the Platform, you agree that:
(1) Fee. InstantSettle charges a fee of £20 plus VAT for processing offers through the Platform. If you are starting a new dispute through the Platform, you will need to pay this fee. If you are responding to an existing dispute, you will not need to pay any additional fee.
(2) No Refunds. Fees are non-refundable, even if no settlement is reached. By paying the fee, you expressly request that supply of the InstantSettle’s service will begin immediately upon our confirmation of payment. You agree and acknowledge that you will lose your statutory right to cancel once we have begun providing the service in accordance with regulation 36(1) of the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 or any equivalent or successor regulation.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY & PRIVACY
(1) Confidentiality: InstantSettle will keep the terms of Your Offer confidential and will not disclose them to any person other than to the extent required by applicable law or by regulations of any stock exchange or regulatory authority or pursuant to any order of court or other competent authority or tribunal.
(2) Data Handling: We handle personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
By accessing or using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree that:
(1) No Guarantee of Enforcement. Enforcing a resulting settlement is the parties’ responsibility. We provide documentation of the agreement but do not guarantee payment.
(2) Limitation of liability. Nothing in this agreement limits any liability which cannot legally be limited. Subject to this, our total liability to you in connection with this agreement, whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise, shall not exceed any fees paid by you.
(3) No involvement in proceedings. The Parties agree not to call InstantSettle (or any of its directors, employees or associates) as a witness, expert, arbitrator or consultant in any litigation, arbitration or any other legal proceedings relating to this or any other dispute. If you act in breach this clause, you will fully indemnify InstantSettle (and any of its director, employees or associate) in respect of all the costs incurred in such legal proceedings.
(4) Technical failures. InstantSettle is not responsible for any downtime, data corruption, or email delivery failures beyond its reasonable control.
7. TERMINATION & MISUSE
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to the Platform if we suspect fraud, misuse, or any breach of these Terms.
8. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION
These Terms and any non-contractual obligations arising out of or in connection with them are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
9. AMENDMENTS
We may update these Terms from time to time. The most current version will be posted on our website. Continued use of the Platform indicates acceptance of any revised Terms.
10. CONTACT
If you have questions regarding these Terms or the Platform, please contact us using the "Contact Us" form.
