Forligs

Forligs is a Danish term referring to a settlement or conciliation reached between disputing parties, usually through negotiation, mediation, or other forms of alternative dispute resolution. The core idea of a forlig is that the parties agree on a resolution that ends the dispute without ongoing litigation or further adversarial proceedings.

In legal practice, a forlig is a voluntary agreement that settles claims and defines the rights and obligations of the parties. A forlig can cover monetary payments, performance of duties, non-disclosure arrangements, and waivers of further claims. The enforceability of a forlig often depends on the parties’ signatures and, in some cases, court approval or incorporation into a formal order, which can give it binding effect similar to a court judgment.

In the context of labor relations, forligs may arise during collective bargaining or during disputes between employers and employees or their representatives. A mediator or forligsmand may facilitate discussions with the aim of producing a forlig that both sides can accept, thereby avoiding strikes or escalated industrial action. The resulting forlig is typically monitored by the parties themselves, with breaches addressed through the agreed mechanisms or, if necessary, by legal enforcement.

Mediation-focused processes emphasize confidentiality and voluntary agreement, distinguishing forligs from adversarial litigation. The concept is used in Danish law and, to some extent, in neighboring Nordic legal traditions, as part of broader ADR practices designed to resolve disputes efficiently and pragmatically.