Dialogue Solutions (Guyana) Inc.

About Us

Guyana’s good fortune with the continued significant discoveries of oil and gas has initiated a rapid increase in foreign and domestic investment in the oil and gas industry and its related fields.

We have witnessed and will continue to witness several increasingly more complex joint venture agreements and commercial collaborations between local entities and their international co-venturers for the provision of goods and services to various industries particularly in Guyana but also in the Caribbean. This has led and will continue to lead to a steep increase in demand for the inclusion of arbitration and dispute resolution terms in commercial agreements.

Traditionally most agreements include provisions for arbitration and dispute resolution solutions which are extra regional and invariably in the New York, London or Paris. The old assumption was that experts in the relevant fields were more likely to be located in these jurisdictions or more disposed to travel to these locations. This, of course, was and remains not an entirely cheap or cost effective option for the resolution of disputes which are likely to arise in Guyana or involved Guyanese entities.

The Caribbean Region has long distinguished itself as a destination capable of providing world class experts in the areas of law, business, finance, engineering, maritime disputes and international border disputes, construction and off shore investments.

The time has come when the Caribbean has the ability to provide comparable world class arbitration, expert determinations, dispute adjudication boards, mediation and neutral non binding analysis services to the regional and international business community.

It was with this vision in mind that Dialogue Solutions Ltd, a regional company, offered to the Caribbean market place a world class high quality panel of experts who are available to provide professional dispute resolution services which include arbitration, mediation, expert determination, dispute adjudication and neutral analysis services.

The panel of experts and professional mediators include former appellate level judges, bankers, financial experts, engineers, oil and gas experts, environmental experts, labour dispute experts and insurance and reinsurance experts.

Dialogue Solutions Ltd has now partnered with a Guyana company to create Dispute Resolutions (Guyana) Inc which will make these world class dispute resolution services available in Guyana to both the local and international business communities.

What We Do

We connect dispute resolution expertise with client challenges and guide the dispute resolution process from beginning to end, providing specialised support for all types of dispute resolution processes ranging from mediation, adjudication, expert determination and arbitration to facilitation and dialogue processes.

50+ local and international neutrals in all sectors - HR, construction, manufacturing, energy, finance etc.
Online and In-Person Dispute Management
Multiple ADR Schemes/Process Packages to meet your financial, time and other resource constraints
Multiple ADR Schemes/Process Packages to meet your financial, time and other resource constraints
Tailored Electronic-Filing
Linkages in the UK, USA, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Grenada and Dominica
Relationships with the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Dispute Resolution Foundation (Jamaica), the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Caribbean Branch) & Caribbean ADR Initiative

Types of Disputes We Manage

Commercial Transactions

Customer Complaints

HR & Employment Contracts

Workmen Compensation

Mergers & Acquisitions

Land &
Estate

Breach of Commercial Contracts

Banking &
Insurance
Disputes

Labour &
Industrial
Relations

What is Mediation?

Mediation means a process in which parties discuss their disputes with the assistance of a trained third party (Mediator) who facilitates and encourages communication and negotiation between the Mediation parties, and seeks to assist them in arriving at a voluntary agreement. Mediation sessions may be an informal meeting among the parties or a scheduled settlement conference. The dispute may either be pending in a court or potentially a dispute which may be filed in court.

What is Arbitration?

Arbitration is a private, non-judicial process for the settlement of disputes where an independent third-party, an Arbitrator or a panel of arbitrators, makes a binding decision about the dispute after receiving evidence and hearing arguments.

Arbitration is often used for the resolution of commercial disputes, particularly in the context of international commercial transactions. The use of arbitration is also frequently employed in consumer and employment matters, where arbitration may be mandated by the terms of employment or commercial contracts.

What is Expert Determination?

Expert Determination refers to the appointment of an independent third party who will act as an expert rather than judge or arbitrator. The expert is mutually appointed by the parties to make a binding decision on the matter.

Expert Determination is an effective means of settling a complex technical issue or disputes between contracting parties privately.

What is Dispute Adjudication Boards?

DABs are typically associated with complex multi-million dollar construction matters. The DAB can be made up of one or a panel of three experienced, impartial and independent persons, selected by the parties and is normally organised before construction begins. It is also possible to agree to a DAB any time thereafter. Most DABs meet with Employer & Contractor representatives during regular site visits and encourages the resolution of disputes at job level. When any dispute flowing from the contract or the work cannot be resolved by the parties, it is referred to the DAB for final Decision.

What is Neutral Non-Binding Analysis?

Neutral Analysis refers to a range of non-binding processes in which one or more parties retain a neutral to deliver an evaluation, either in person or via written report, based on the merits of the case.

Neutral Analysis typically involves review of factual and legal positions either through briefs, oral arguments, mock exercises or an evaluation of what a likely Jury outcome might be.

Meet Our Team

Mr. C.A. Nigel Hughes

Mr. C.A. Nigel Hughes is a Partner in the law firm Hughes Fields & Stoby and the Chairman of H F S Corporate Services Inc. After graduating with honours in his first degree (L.L.B.) and a Masters in law (L.L.M) at University College, London University in 1986, Mr. C.A. Nigel Hughes attended the Council of Legal Education (C.L.E) in London in 1987 from which institution he graduated.

Mr. Hughes was then called to the Bar in London as a member of the Inner Temple on the 24th day of November 1997.

Mr. Hughes was thereafter attached to the commercial chambers at 3 Essex Court, Middle Temple, London and subsequently at 1 Pump Court, London.
In April 1998 he returned to Guyana where he joined the firm of Hughes Fields & Stoby. After his arrival at the firm Mr. Hughes was appointed head of the firm’s IT department and was responsible for the considerable modernization of the firm. The firm is now an international law firm with a significant percentage of its work originating from off shore jurisdictions.

Mr. Hughes has been involved in several significant developments in the field of advocacy and legal practice in Guyana. He has developed considerable expertise in the areas of banking, commercial law, insurance, intellectual property, telecommunications Law, Public Utilities, mining, oil and gas, international finance, project finance and mergers and acquisitions.

Chambers and Partners, an independent international market research firm based in London and publishers of Chambers Global, ” The World’s Leading Lawyers”, ranked Mr. Hughes as one of the top five lawyers in Guyana.

After he was elected Vice President of the Guyana Bar Association in 1999 Mr. Hughes initiated and managed the annual conferences of the Guyana Bar Association in which several International presenters attend. The forum is now the leading law conference in the country.

In 2002 Mr. Hughes was elected to the Presidency of the Guyana Bar Association and in that capacity was instrumental in convening the Social Partners Initiative which comprised the Guyana Bar Association, the Private Sector Commission and the Trades Union Congress. This initiative was established after the traditional means of engagement between the two major political parties had become significantly challenged and country embarked a period of increased social degradation.

Also in his capacity as President of the Guyana Bar Association Mr. Hughes established a special committee of the Guyana Bar Association to assist the Chief Justice in the reduction of backlog of cases. The committees successfully reviewed and advised the Honourable Chief Justice on the status of at least two thousand cases which semenax side attects were subsequently brought up for consideration and disposed of by Judges of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature.

During the year 2003 Mr. Hughes was invited by the Chancellor of the Judiciary to sit on the Rules Committee which was established to examine the proposed new rules of the High Court of the Supreme Court.

In 2003 Mr. Hughes was invited to sit and did sit upon a Criminal law Review Committee headed by Senior Counsel Rex Mc kay. The Committee was tasked with the responsibility of reviewing the criminal law and procedures in Guyana. The Committee concluded its deliberations in 2004 and submitted its report to the Honourable Chancellor.

Mr. Hughes was retained by the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) as a consultant on civil society in 2003. In this capacity he developed the Civil Society action plan for the Bank’s Civil Society Advisory Board. Mr. Hughes has attended an IADB meeting on Civil Society participation in Government in Peru.

In 2004 Mr. Hughes was lead Counsel in commercial litigation for an independent cellular operator which heralded the removal of the monopoly in cellular telecommunications in Guyana. Mr. Hughes thereafter participated in and was an integral part of the negotiations for the sale of the independent cellular company to Digicel.

In 2005 Mr. Hughes was legal advisor to the successful bidder in one the Caribbean’s largest mergers and acquisitions. The take over and acquisition of COURTS ( UK) Ltd in the Caribbean.

In 2006 Mr. Hughes was member of the Chief Justice’s select Committee which was tasked with the responsibility of establishing new rules for the Commercial Court. The Rules are now an integral part of the new Commercial Court.

In 2006 Mr. Hughes was the lead counsel in the first successfully litigated criminal appeal in Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). (Vaughn Thomas v The State).

In 2007 Mr. Hughes was appointed a lecturer for the University of the West Indies Executive Masters in Business Administration Programme. He has lectured in Belize, Tortola and Guyana as part of the post graduate programme.

Mr. Hughes is a member of the International Bar Association, International Trade Mark Association, State Capital Global Law firm Group and the World Services Group.

Mr. Hughes is a member of the Board of Governors of St Stanislaus College in Georgetown, Guyana and the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Guyana Inc.

Paul Solomon

A senior Harbour Pilot of 30+ years international maritime experience; driven by an overarching goal of contributing to raising the standards of the local and regional maritime industry; with extensive experience in technical, operational, financial, and HR management as well as a certified Simulator operator and trainer.

A firm believer in social justice, with practical experience as Chairman of the East Port of Spain Development Co. Ltd. A Member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitration, with considerable leadership experience and a strong background in consultative decision making

Seeraj Gajadhar

Mr. Gajadhar is the Chief Executive Officer of Dialogue Solutions. He possesses an MSc in Mediation Studies with a focus on Workplace and Corporate Conflict Resolution. He has extensively trained both the public and private sector in Alternative Despite Resolution and effective communication techniques.

Mr. Gajadhar has been working local and international organisations across various industries in the areas of Strategic Planning, Corporate Governance, Team Development, Marketing and Stakeholder Management and Change Implementation.

He has worked both in a lead and advisor roles in strategy, governance, change management and Organisational Development work for multinationals, BSOs, SMEs and NGO clients. He is actively involved with the American Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago and serves as Vice-Chair of its Transparency, Accountability and Governance Committee and is also a member of the Experience and Imaging Committee. He previously served as the Chair of Chamber’s Programme and Events Committee and lead the development of its Charter and Strategy Implementation Plan. He is also working with an internationally based Non-Profit Organisation currently doing work in Trinidad and Tobago and is advising the Board on the development of its Strategy Development and Governance Framework.

Mr. Gajadhar also possesses a BSc in Management Studies with concentrations in Human Resource Management and Marketing. He is an internationally trained Experiential Facilitator having received training from Stucki Leadership & Team Development SA, Switzerland. He is also trained in Corporate Communications and Project Management from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Jed Vasconcellos

Mr. Jed Vasconcellos graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelors of Laws Degree (LLB) in 2012 from the University of Guyana. Thereafter, he attended the Hugh Wooding Law School where he earned his Legal Education Certificate (LEC) in 2014.

Mr. Vasconcellos joined the team at Hughes Fields and Stoby as an Associate in July, 2014 and was subsequently appointed a Senior Associate in 2018. His practice focuses on a mixture of Civil and Criminal Law Litigation.

Specifically, in the Civil Law arena, his practice areas include Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Insurance, Personal Injury and Estate Claims, Mining and Environmental Law, as well general advice and due diligence on the aforesaid areas of Law and Civil Litigation. Mr. Vasconcellos has had first-hand experience in advising several foreign corporate and oil and gas companies on existing Petroleum, Company, Environmental and Taxation Legislation, among others.

Elizabeth Solomon

Her Honour Elizabeth Solomon is a Judge of the Industrial Court. She is an experienced mediator who has practiced mediation in a wide variety of political, post-conflict and commercial context around the world. She is a member of the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago. As Trinidad and Tobago’s representative on the Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth Network, she is an enthusiastic advocate for greater inclusion of women in international mediation.

Elizabeth had a full career in journalism before joining the United Nations, thereafter spending the next 17 years as a conflict prevention and peacebuilding practitioner with the UN and OXFAM. Elizabeth’s work in post conflict countries has focused on supporting local efforts to build resilient democratic national institutions in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Somalia. Her work on human rights and development has been in Guyana, Brazil and India.

She spent five years in The Netherlands where she worked with academic institutions including The Institute for Social Studies in Den Haag and the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights in Utrecht. She spent three years as a Senior Political Affairs officer in the Department of Political Affairs at UN headquarters in New York before taking up her post as Deputy Coordinator of the Good Offices in Cyprus where she was a member of the UN mediation team. Elizabeth was later posted as the Peace and Development Adviser to Sierra Leone to support the transition from Peace Keeping to the development mandate of the United Nations Country Team.

Elizabeth holds a degree in journalism and an LLB; at the Post Graduate level, she has qualifications in Human Rights and in International Relations. She is currently engaged in a Master’s programme on Leadership, Coaching and Mentorship.

Benefits of ADR

You control the process which is more flexible than the court's
Achieve settlements in a shorter timeframe vs. going through the courts
Preserve the commercial relationships you depend on
Increase your privacy from the public domain & safeguard against reputational risk
Save your organisation on costs typically associated with going through the litigation route
Reduce the emotional and psychological stress on you and your team

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About our Training

Dialogue Solutions connects dispute resolution expertise with client challenges!

Our roster of Dispute Resolution professionals and trainers are among the most experienced nationally, regionally and internationally. The Dialogue Solutions training faculty are all certified adult learning trainers who work as a team to design and deliver dedicated training programmes intended to provide participants with a range of dispute resolution and leadership skills.

As a result, Dialogue Solutions can provide specialised dispute resolution training services ranging from high stakes arbitration to emotionally fraught disputes requiring specialty trainers.