Dispute Resolution

Disputes between agents and their principals can often arise under the Commercial Agents Regulations. Our recognised team understands the importance of these regulations and actively seeks to resolve disputes that involve these or the breach of any other agency or distributor agreements. If alternative forms of dispute resolution fail to reach an agreement between the parties our team is well averse to carrying out successful litigation in the courts.

Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution and we have a team of experts in this field that works hand in hand with clients to ensure disputes are resolved without the need to go through the courts. Our arbitration team has specific experience in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors and also regularly advise on ad-hoc arbitrations in other sectors when required.

High value commercial disputes require specialist knowledge and acumen. Our team of litigators are experienced in a number of business sectors and on hand to deal with any client disputes.

Disputes in the construction sector require specialist legal construction knowledge. Our team of expert litigators in this area regularly interpret construction related contracts including those produced by the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) and other standard sector contract forms. The team has also a wealth of experience carrying out a number of adjudications including under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

We understand the frustrations that can be caused to a business and to creditors when they are owed debt and the stresses put on debtors to pay this back. We work flexibly and sensitively with clients to ensure that the process of recovering outstanding monies is done appropriately and in accordance with the stipulations of regulators when required.

Defamation disputes have become a news hot topic over the recent years, the access to social media has certainly helped this happen. Whether a client believes that they have been slandered (defamed by the spoken word) or been victim to libel (published writings) we have a team of experts on hand to help. We understand that no type of dispute is an easy process but in the case of defamation and the personal nature of such a dispute we understand emotional distress caused to our clients and act as sensitively as possible in guiding them through the process.

A company director is bound by statutory obligations and the risk that they face are becoming more onerous by the day. We understand these challenges and have a team of experts who can advise on the full range of duties faced whether as a non-executive director or executive director.

We represent individuals who have been accused of carrying out fraud or breaching their fiduciary duties. We have vast experience in advising clients in respect to matters in the Magistrates Courts as well as in the Crown Courts and work closely with selected barristers to ensure our clients receive a seamless defence service to enable them to promptly and strongly respond to any allegations made which is crucially important in cases such as these.

We understand that the effects of workplace incidents and accidents can be detrimental to a business. The risks involved can be significant, and can be both financial and reputational. Our disputes experts can advise on all workplace health and safety-related issues and spring in to action to protect your business when things go wrong. Additionally, we have proven expertise in advising businesses on product liability issues, from steps to minimise and manage risk through to creating effective product-recall programmes and managing reputational damage.

Our disputes team understands the importance of insurance and insurance related security to any business. We are on hand to assist with any matters subject of a disagreement including the breach of contracts such as undertakings, covenants, direct agreements, brokerage, underwriting and all other insurance-related matters. We are also available to advise on any compliance related issues.

Intellectual property is one of the key assets to any organisation and the theft or misuse of such can have devastating consequences. We have a team of contentious IP experts who regularly advise clients who are facing the prospect of such a dispute against either a competitor, an employee or other third party. Our expertise include dispute correspondence, internet take down procedures, settlement agreements, and international litigation proceedings.

For more complex matters, particularly where a cross-border element is involved, international arbitration is an increasingly common method used for resolving disputes. Our specialist international team has dealt with a vast range of arbitrations, across many jurisdictions, and is well-versed in conducting them under numerous procedural and substantive laws and forums, including but not limited to the ICC, LCIA, ad hoc and local courts. With the largest all-partner level disputes team in the UK, our practice has a highly established track record of success when it comes to handling high value, intricate cases.

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that requires specialist training and knowledge and today forms a central part in the UK’s dispute resolution landscape. We are well positioned to guide our clients through the mediation process as a number of our advisors are accredited and experienced in this field. Our experts work tirelessly to ensure that the best possible representation in any alternative dispute resolution is on offer for their clients.

We are experts in mental capacity and best interests disputes relating to a person’s health and welfare and property and affairs. We provide expert advice pre proceedings and representation in complex disputes in the Court of Protection relating to the actions of attorneys or deputies, and all other disputes about a person’s capacity or best interests. We also provide advice and representation before the High Court when it acts under its Inherent Jurisdiction in relation to vulnerable adults.

We have a team of experts dedicated to advising clients in relation to disputes arising from all matter of partnership disagreements and disputes. We regularly advise clients affected from standard partnerships under the Partnership Act 1896 and affected through a limited liability partnership (LLP) and have successfully resolved these types of disputes through alternative resolution, including arbitration, and through litigation in the courts.

Professional negligence cases are complex and require specialist knowledge in order to resolve these cases successfully. We have a team of experts on hand to guide clients through the legalities and procedures, and who can recommend accounting professionals able to quantify the claim.

Our team of real estate lawyers has a long history of successfully resolving disputes that concern real estate. They regularly advise clients on all related matters including high value commercial property disputes between companies and those between commercial landlords and their tenants.

Today’s political climate has led HMRC to be under more pressure than ever to be seen to be clamping down on organisations and individuals suspected of improperly handling their tax affairs and those advising them to do so. We regularly help our clients resolve disputes related to tax in relation to COP9 investigations, and both criminal investigations and prosecutions. We have also successfully advised clients on statutory tax appeals within the Tax Tribunal.