United Kingdom > North West > Dispute resolution
Banking litigation
Banking litigation
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP (Manchester)
- DLA Piper UK LLP (Manchester)
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- Shoosmiths (Manchester)
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- DWF LLP (Liverpool)
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Squire Sanders LLP (Manchester)
Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s practice spans financial regulatory, fraud, professional negligence, and mis-selling claims. It successfully defended a bank against a £40m claim in relation to a development project. Michael Isaacs leads the team, which acts for major UK banks and achieved new panel appointments with HSBC and Santander.
DLA Piper UK LLP ‘has a good range of expertise in order to provide the knowledge that is necessary on each case’, and represents asset finance lenders, banks and payment service providers. It defended RBS against multiple claims regarding alleged defects in regulated financial agreements. Ben Johnson ‘can use his own expertise to great effect’.
Shoosmiths is appreciated for its ‘excellent advice and commercial approach’, acting for clearing banks and asset finance and mortgage lenders. Harold Brako is ‘knowledgeable and proactive’, and associate Helen Collinge ‘enjoys a challenge and is very tenacious’. Clients include Bibby Financial Services, The Co-operative Bank and RBS Invoice Finance.
DWF LLP is recommended for higher-value, technical recovery cases, with clients including Fortis Lease, FirstRand Bank, and Bank of Ireland Business Finance. Practice head David Wood ‘has years of experience in asset finance litigation, and is honest about the possibility of success’.
Squire Sanders LLP handles professional negligence claims for banks, with clients including Lloyds Banking Group, Yorkshire Building Society and Northern Rock. Banking litigation specialist Anthony Taylor regularly works in a cross-office team on high-value claims.
Commercial litigation: Manchester
Commercial litigation: Manchester
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- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP
- DAC Beachcroft LLP
- Gateley
- Pinsent Masons LLP
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Squire Sanders LLP
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Berg Legal - Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP
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George Davies Solicitors LLP - Irwin Mitchell
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JMW Solicitors LLP
- Kennedys
- Kuit Steinart Levy LLP
- Laytons
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Nexus Solicitors - Weightmans LLP
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Goodman Harvey - Mason Hayes
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Addleshaw Goddard LLP has ‘very good bench strength’. The team worked with colleagues in London in representing a number of defendants in the BTA Bank v Ablyazov litigation. Department head Susan Garrett is ‘of the highest calibre, and the best pensions litigator in the North of England’, and is currently acting for ITN on Part 8 proceedings. The ‘very able’ Mark Molyneux handles fraud matters, while John Gosling represents corporates in professional negligence claims.
DLA Piper UK LLP provides ‘a strong commercial outlook, offering good value and sophisticated advice’. Its experience includes advising international clients in high-value cases. Stewart Plant is ‘a lateral thinker and looks for solutions’, and Andrew Harris is ‘a standout choice for shareholder disputes’. Also recommended are Tim Buckingham, who acts for institutional clients; national head of litigation and regulatory David Gray; and Jonathan Eatough, whose practice includes white-collar crime matters.
Eversheds LLP is noted for its strength and depth in complex commercial disputes, including cross-border matters. It represented the defendant in Qioptic Limited v Teledyne Scientific & Imaging at the High Court; and acted for the Daisy Group CEO in a defamation claim against the BBC. Other clients include TNT, European Metal Recycling and Essar. The well-regarded Michael Clavell-Bate leads the team.
Cobbetts LLP’s Jon Hainey is ‘an excellent leader, who has instilled a commercial, pragmatic approach in his team’. The firm defended Salford City Council in judicial review proceedings, and regularly acts for mortgage lenders in defective security cases. Mark Whittell handles professional partnership disputes, and is ‘committed and develops great depth of knowledge of a case’.
DWF LLP acts for clients in sectors including retail, insurance and utilities; representative names include JJB Sports, Makro and First Title. Steve Morris acted for Mitras Automotive in defending a £4m contract claim.
Hill Dickinson LLP ‘always considers the commerciality aspect of any potential litigation’, and has specialist expertise in sports disputes, fraud and public inquiries. Practice head Geraldine Ryan has ‘an excellent grasp of issues at hand, and is tenacious in her pursuit of the right results for clients’. She continued to act for Wayne and Coleen Rooney and their companies in a claim brought by former agents. Julian Diaz-Rainey is defending an £8m claim brought by Anglo Irish Asset Finance.
Pannone LLP acted for DRL in a £5m-plus damages claim, which was settled following a favourable Appeal hearing, and advised a minority shareholder in the High Court case Williams v Williams & others. It also handled claims related to the Arch Cru investment fund scandal. Paul Jonson leads the team, which includes Simon Pedley and Kit Sorrell.
At Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, ‘hard, seasoned litigator’ Jeff Lewis is ‘calm and seemingly unruffled when facing the other side. His professionalism and commitment are impeccable’. Lewis’ expertise includes contract and warranty disputes, and he recently successfully defended a £20m claim regarding a joint venture agreement for a development site.
DAC Beachcroft LLP’s three-partner team is led by Jan Levinson, and offers expertise in areas such as healthcare, technology, pensions and fraud, with experience in high-profile, large-scale claims. Representative clients include DB Schenker, Aviva, Pirelli and Balfour Beatty. The ‘calm, precise’ Sydney Fulda is experienced in contractual and shareholder disputes, and associate Harald Loeffler is also recommended.
Gateley continues to build a strong reputation, with a team of ‘strong associates in the wings’. Sarah Sabin heads the team and focuses on corporate and contractual disputes as well as surety claims. Representative clients include Nuvia, Chartis, the British Medical Association, and Manchester City FC.
Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is now led by Kevin Bridges, who moved from the Bristol office and has experience in regulatory matters. Emma Flower has expertise in export controls. Clients include IKEA, Delphi Group and Royal & Sun Alliance.
Squire Sanders LLP’s practice is broadening in scope, and includes fraud, shareholder and, increasingly, pensions disputes. The ‘sympathetic, candid, and realistic’ Lucci Dammone defended a former director against a £2m breach of fiduciary duty claim brought by a financial services company. Victoria Leigh leads the team, and senior associate Mike Caird is also recommended.
Berg Legal’s expertise includes shareholder disputes, and financial claims for corporates and directors. Damian Carter handles corporate disputes. Lee Dunnill is now with Hewlett Swanson LLP.
Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP is noted for its specialist expertise in areas related to the insurance sector, including cases with a cross-border element. It predominantly acts for insurance companies, but is increasingly acting for insured corporates. Mark Benson heads the practice, and Angus Crawford ‘takes a commercial approach to situations’.
At George Davies Solicitors LLP, associate Sandra Morrison leads on cross-border cases for German clients. ‘Highly skilled litigator’ Richard Dawson Gerrard joined from Stephensons Solicitors LLP to co-head the department.
Irwin Mitchell focuses on the utilities, leisure and finance sectors, recently defending E.ON in contractual disputes. Other clients include Aviva, RBS, Inbev and HSBC. Practice head John Lord is ‘tenacious as well as practical. He provides a common-sense, pragmatic approach and has exemplary judgment’.
JMW Solicitors LLP provides ‘good legal advice balanced with commercial considerations’, to a mainly SME client base. Practice head Andrew Farrell leads on a range of matters including shareholder and corporate disputes. Nigel Hyder is ‘knowledgeable, realistic, and supportive’.
Kennedys’ Anne Kershaw is ‘a very good lateral thinker, totally committed and a tough negotiator’. Her focus includes shareholder and professional partnership disputes.
Kuit Steinart Levy LLP’s expertise includes insolvency, product liability, contractual and professional negligence disputes. Andrew Weinberg heads the practice, and associate Daniel Fitzgerald is also recommended.
Laytons’ Stuart Farr specialises in commercial litigation and professional negligence, as well as handling product liability disputes.
Headed by Chris Pugh, Nexus Solicitors continues to handle professional negligence and commercial fraud cases. Clients include high street retailers and property management companies.
Weightmans LLP’s ‘very commercially minded and extremely knowledgeable’ department head Robert Jones has expertise in contractual, partnership, defamation and professional indemnity disputes.
Goodman Harvey’s key contact is Mark Jones.
Mason Hayes’ Marcus Hayes advises a range of public and private companies, including major telecoms operators.
At Stripes Solicitors, practice head Andrew Stripe is appreciated for his ‘hands-on involvement in cases’. Tony Winterburn moved to Ward Hadaway.
Commercial litigation: Liverpool
Commercial litigation: Liverpool
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Morecrofts LLP
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DLA Piper UK LLP’s Mark Goodwin ‘has a knack of demonstrating a calm persona even in the most stressful times’. He leads the team in advising on high-value and often cross-border disputes, and successfully acted for the claimant in the shareholder dispute Hawksford Trustees v Stella Global UK. Andrew Roberts handles complex contractual and warranty claims. John Gollaglee joined from Pannone LLP, and has expertise in regulatory disputes.
Hill Dickinson LLP has been involved in some noteworthy Supreme Court cases; among them, Jonathan Berkson acted in Jivraj v Hashwani, a contractual dispute regarding whether arbitrators can be considered employees. Clients include Thomson Reuters, Eddie Stobart and Bibby Financial Services. Colin Gibbons is appreciated for his ‘City experience and quality of work’, and Fiona Parry is ‘incredibly bright and unflappable’.
Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s Paul Lunt is ‘a wise, intelligent practitioner’, and specialises in shareholder disputes. The practice recently defended Digital Satellite Warranty Cover against alleged breach of fiduciary duties. Jacqui Lloyd handles contractual and professional negligence disputes.
DWF LLP’s national litigation head Graham Dagnall has expertise in complex litigation. Maria Burquest leads on contentious education sector matters, and also on pensions, media and defamation cases.
Weightmans LLP’s national practice head Andrew Cox has recently advised on consumer credit and payment protection insurance claims. Michael Green’s expertise includes partnership disputes, and clients include Baker Tilly and London Borough of Harrow. Craig Blakemore is recommended for contractual disputes.
Morecrofts LLP’s Anne Heseltine is experienced in contentious probate matters.
Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North West
Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North West
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- Aaron & Partners LLP (Chester)
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP (Preston)
- Forbes (Blackburn)
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Gorvins (Stockport) - Hill Dickinson LLP (Chester)
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Neil Myerson LLP (Altrincham)
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Hillyer McKeown (Chester) -
Jolliffe & Co. Solicitors (Chester) - KBL (Bolton)
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Keoghs LLP (Bolton) -
Napthens LLP (Preston) - Slater Heelis LLP (Sale)
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Stephensons Solicitors LLP (Bolton)
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Aaron & Partners LLP’s John Devoy has expertise in contractual and professional negligence matters, and leads a six-partner team. Trefor Jones acts for Welsh Water on numerous claims, and David Harries advises a number of major local companies.
Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s Stuart Irons is experienced in contractual disputes and debt recovery matters.
Forbes’ Robin Stephens handles a range of disputes, including contractual, fraud and regulatory cases, for public and private sector clients.
Gorvins ‘takes a commercial and informed view on cases’, handling regulatory, shareholder and partnership disputes. Noted for his finance expertise, Michael Morris ‘knows the Consumer Credit Act inside out’.
Hill Dickinson LLP’s strength lies in Consumer Credit Act litigation. Team head Iain Campbell has ‘a meticulous yet pragmatic approach to commercial disputes’.
Neil Myerson LLP acts for regional SMEs, with Tim Norman handling contractual and director disputes. Newly promoted partner Adam Maher is ‘fair and courteous but, equally, dismisses the spurious and vexatious with firm resolve’.
Hillyer McKeown’s ‘intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable’ department head Duncan McAllister has expertise in contentious probate. The team has been increasingly handling shareholder and director disputes.
Jolliffe & Co. Solicitors is ‘a first-choice firm in Cheshire for commercial disputes’. Andrew Bartley is ‘frank, and driven to get results for clients. He can run procedural rings around opponents’.
KBL’s Michael Slater leads a team of three fee-earners, acting mainly for clients in the locality and recently handling shareholder and partnership disputes.
Keoghs LLP’s Matthew Rogers acts for insurer clients such as Endsleigh, RBS Insurance and AXA. The team is three partners strong, following the arrival of Julie Bowker from DWF LLP.
Napthens LLP ‘makes it its business to know its clients’ business and needs’. Department head David Barnes handles corporate disputes, and commercial litigator John Whittingslow is noted for his ‘experience and expertise’.
Slater Heelis LLP’s team is led by the ‘excellent’ Helen Brown, and Chris Bishop is ‘quite outstanding’. Clients include Kall Kwik, Matrix Telematics, First4Skills and J Sykes & Sons.
At Stephensons Solicitors LLP, associate Alistair Gregory is ‘a strong negotiator’, and is recommended for contractual disputes and insolvency matters.
Debt recovery
Debt recovery
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Bermans (Liverpool, Manchester) - Hill Dickinson LLP (Liverpool)
- Irwin Mitchell (Manchester)
- Pannone LLP (Manchester)
- Shoosmiths (Manchester)
- Weightmans LLP (Liverpool)
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- Aaron & Partners LLP (Chester)
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP (Liverpool)
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colemans-ctts LLP (Manchester) -
Gorvins (Stockport) -
Greenhalgh Kerr (Wigan) -
Jolliffe & Co. Solicitors (Chester) -
KJP Law (Birkenhead) - Mason Hayes (Manchester)
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Thomas Higgins & Co (Wallasey)
Bermans is a niche firm known for its debt collection work, enjoying a very high reputation in the market.
Hill Dickinson LLP’s debt recovery team is ‘excellent in every way’, with practice head Jonathan Berkson recommended for ‘larger, complex claims’. Clients include Bibby Factors Northwest Ltd and United Utilities. The team successfully acted in a Court of Appeal case over the non-payment of fees to a football agent. Philip Sheard is also recommended.
Irwin Mitchell’s team continues to grow, and acts for a number of impressive banking clients. It is sole appointed legal adviser to Heineken UK, and also receives a significant flow of instructions from E.ON. John Lord is the firm’s national head of recoveries.
Pannone LLP’s ‘service is second to none’, and ‘every client is treated with a personal touch’. Karl Williams heads the team, which acts for major property company The Emerson Group.
Shoosmiths has a large, ‘efficient’ cross-office team, which provides a complete recoveries service including unsecured and secured banking and asset finance related matters. The team is advising on debt portfolios in excess of £1bn. Darren Shaw is head of mortgage recoveries, and his approach ‘always reflects clients’ commercial requirements’.
The ‘well-regarded’ Andrew Cox heads a sizeable team at Weightmans LLP. It has a broad client base which includes HSBC. The team recently took three contested cases to the Court of Appeal.
Kerry Davies is recommended at Aaron & Partners LLP, which is mainly instructed by owner-managed businesses and also acts for BAC Florida Bank.
Tony Foley leads the team at Brabners Chaffe Street LLP.
colemans-ctts LLP acts for property managing agents, with Simon Stopher recommended.
Gorvins’ Michael Morris has particular expertise in asset finance, leasing and consumer credit issues.
At Greenhalgh Kerr, name partners Ian Greenhalgh and Richard Kerr are ‘excellent’.
Jolliffe & Co. Solicitors acts for estate agents and auctioneers, on matters including large and complex claims. Andrew Bartley is recommended.
KJP Law is experienced in business-to-business debt recovery and property-related matters, including pursuing debt against parties overseas. Keith Jones is recommended.
Mason Hayes acts for household names in the technology and telecoms sectors.
Niche firm Thomas Higgins & Co specialises in business-to-business debts.