Commercial litigation

The Commercial Litigation team has wide-ranging experience and can advise you on:

• Pre-dispute, strategic, ‘litigation avoidance’ advice
• Pre-action advice and dispute resolution strategies
• Interim injunctions (including freezing orders, search orders and Norwich Pharmacal orders)
• Trial litigation
• All aspects of appeal litigation
• Regulatory work, including industry-specific tribunals and appeals
• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

To avoid unwelcome surprises, we will work with you to evaluate the strengths and limitations of your position at an early stage. Your commercial objectives and circumstances will determine the approach and, whether a pragmatic or an uncompromising approach is called for, you can rely on us to fight your corner with tenacity and intelligence.

Our clients range in size from multi-national corporations and major public companies to entrepreneurial, single shareholder private companies. Our clients operate in many and varied sectors, including advertising, aviation, beauty, film & TV, financial investment, insolvency, live events, music, property, publishing, retail and fashion, technology, theatre, sport, telecommunications and video games.

Providing advice and services to individuals in their personal capacities has always been a fundamental part of what we do.

In our experience understanding the particular needs and sensitivities of the individuals involved is crucial to dealing effectively with personal disputes. The fact that many of our clients remain with us throughout their lives is testament to the genuinely personal service we offer.

We act for individuals in a wide variety of capacities – including as entrepreneurs, company directors, shareholders, trustees, owners of high value property, individuals with significant private wealth and individuals with the highest of media profiles.

Due to the contentious nature of litigation and other forms of dispute resolution, confidentiality and sensitivity to our clients’ PR objectives is one of our central concerns. As a matter of policy we do not identify specific clients (and/or disputes) by name, save in rare circumstances, with the express consent of our clients.

Advising businesses

Retail sector agency dispute

We are advising a luxury US clothing designer/retailer in connection with a dispute arising out of the termination of agency agreements.

Retail sector LCIA arbitration

We are acting for a retail sector client in relation to a series of claims arising out of the sale of a sizeable overseas retail business under a share purchase agreement. The claims are to be resolved via an LCIA Arbitration.

Entertainment sector contractual claim

We are acting for an international visual entertainment group in defending a multi-million pound claim asserted against it.

Contractual claim against an international investment group

We were instructed by an international investment group to respond to a multi-million pound claim asserted against it arising out of contentious aspects of the sale of one of its businesses.

Contractual technology and engineering dispute and IP claims

We advised a major engineering group in connection with contractual and IP infringement claims against a former corporate partner, arising out of the sale of part of its business to a competitor. The claims were worth tens of millions of pounds (at least) and were of a multi-jurisdictional nature and were resolved at the pre-action stage by agreement.

Investment & finance sector claims

We advised an offshore company which had provided financial advisory services in respect of an investment by an overseas investment fund (managed by a UK plc) in a foreign listed property investment vehicle. Our client’s claims for breach of contract and procuring a breach of contract were settled by agreement.

Contractual dispute

We acted for an international airline in defending and responding to a multi-million pound contractual claim relating to the termination of a services agreement.

Expert determination

We acted for an industry leader in a confidential expert determination as to industry practice and remuneration and advised thereafter in respect of the implementation of the decision.

Advising individuals

Shareholder dispute

We are acting for the shareholders of a financial advisory sector client in connection with a dispute which has arisen under a shareholder’s agreement regarding the exit from the company of a former director.

Financial fraud claims

We are advising a businessman in the Middle East on claims and allegations of fraud brought against him and his companies totaling $9billion arising from the collapse of the world financial markets in 2008. The firm’s role is to handle litigation taking place in England and to oversee and co-ordinate litigation and strategy with teams of professionals in other jurisdictions, notably the Cayman Islands, Bahrain, Switzerland and the US.

Professional/regulatory

We advised a regulated professional in the financial sector in relation to an investigation into his role in the collapse of a bank.

Property litigation

We acted for two ultra-high net worth individuals in pursuing claims arising out of the development, design and construction of a substantial residential property.

Debt/financial instrument claims

We are advising an individual in connection with claims in respect of a substantial six-figure debt arising out of personal guarantee agreements.

In general (and save where otherwise agreed), we charge for the work which we undertake on a time cost basis by reference to our lawyers’ hourly rates (which are reviewed annually).

These hourly rates range from £290 – £525 (plus VAT) for Associates, Senior Associates and Managing Associates, £650 – £675 (plus VAT) for Partners and £200 – £235 (plus VAT) for Trainee Solicitors and Paralegals. Normally, most of the work we carry out on your behalf will be carried out by an Associate, Senior Associate or Managing Associate, along with a Trainee Solicitor or Paralegal, but a Partner will supervise, advise, and undertake work as needed.

Where possible we will provide estimates of our fees for particular items and/or phases of work we carry out on your behalf. Each case will have its own facts and requirements, and information may well become available during the course of dealing with your claim which changes our estimate of likely charges. If this occurs, we will let you know.

Additional or follow-up work arising out of particular work or phases of work for which we have provided estimates will be charged at the hourly rate(s) of the relevant lawyer(s) with conduct of your matter.

We do not normally offer conditional fee or damages based agreements.

All references to VAT are to VAT at the standard rate.

Further information on our fees can be found here.