Parties generally have unfettered power to compromise their disputes. However, there are a small number of exceptions to this unfettered power to settle.

This note considers the power to settle where a child or a protected party who lacks capacity is involved, or where the party is a company or partnership or the opposing party is a foreign entity. It also looks at the power of legal advisers to compromise a dispute on their client's behalf, the effect of an insurer's involvement and the role of expert witnesses.