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Commercial litigation: Newcastle

Craig Monty, who provides ‘sound and pragmatic advice’ and splits his time between the firm’s Newcastle and Tees Valley offices, leads the ‘impressive’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP. Key highlights included representing PD Teesport in the high-profile trial relating to a £300m deficit in the Pilots’ National Pension Fund.

Ian Collinson’s ‘first-rate’ team at Ward Hadaway includes fraud expert Mark Heath, who recently arrived from Watson Burton LLP, and the ‘outstanding’ Paula Myers. Robert Glassford led a team that acted for Nottingham City Council in novel judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State for Education relating to funding termination through a BSF programme. Key clients include Persimmon plc, Newcastle Airport and City Electrical Factors. The firm is noted as ‘providing a wide range of funding options’.

At Eversheds LLP, Bill Gilliam is praised for his invaluable industry knowledge, and is considered a ‘tough opponent’. The team recently received new instructions relating to procurement disputes, notably from Kelly Park Caring Agency.

Muckle LLP’s clients ‘cannot recommend the team highly enough’ for its ‘prompt, professional and relevant responses’. Stewart Irvine is currently acting for a national retailer in the defence of £1m-plus claims against three creditors relating to its purchase of 80 stores from a company in administration. Susan Howes recently joined the team from Crutes Law Firm.

Helen Ager’s team at Crutes Law Firm, which includes new arrival David Summerhayes from Watson Burton LLP, successfully acted for a local NHS Foundation Trust in obtaining a £5m award in arbitration against a national housebuilder. Key clients include Bellway plc and Metnor plc.

Gibson & Co has a specialist banking litigation practice, and recently advised on a high-value derivatives dispute in the Commercial Court against Standard Chartered Bank. It is also currently acting for the European Commission at the High Court in an important insolvency-related test case. Clients rate Jane Gibson and Toby Gibson. New clients include Bank of New York Mellon.

Hay & Kilner’s team covers the full gamut of work, particularly for insurance, professional partnership and railway clients. Key highlights included acting for a large waste management company in judicial review proceedings, and on minority and majority shareholder claims. Martin Soloman is a mediator and heads the team.

Sintons LLP is acting for Technology Services Group in a number of defended contractual claims relating to software and hardware systems, and for a specialist finance broker in a misrepresentation claim brought by a major plc. Angus Ashman is ‘very perceptive and provides quality advice in a timely manner’. The firm continues to offer CFAs and ATE insurance to its clients.

Watson Burton LLP offers funding alternatives through ATE insurer FirstAssist, and recently acted in several high-value breach of warranty claims arising from corporate transactions and partnership disputes. It recently saw the departure of Mark Heath to Ward Hadaway, Tristan Meears-White to DWF LLP, and Lee Dixon to Winn Solicitors LLP.

Graeme Ritzema leads the Newcastle-based team at BHP Law, which represented longstanding client Harbro Supplies in a series of multi-party contract disputes over the supply of marble-cutting machines. Property litigation is also a prominent feature of the team’s work.

Jonathon Stokes is the main contact at Gordon Brown Law Firm LLP.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s Sara Keating, who is praised for her ‘ability to think ahead’, is currently defending a claim in the High Court for injunctive relief, and continues to advise on property litigation matters.

Mark Green and Tim Berg jointly head the team at Short Richardson & Forth LLP, which is currently representing two former directors and 21 minority shareholders in substantial claims against co-directors and majority shareholders for obtaining a secret profit.

Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North

Patricia Hall leads the four-solicitor team at Burnetts, which includes new arrival Sian Spencer from Cumbria County Council. The team recently acted in architect and developer disputes, and in agency agreement disputes in the agricultural sector. It counts UCLan and the CN Group as clients.

Paul Bennett, who has over 30 years’ experience, heads the practice at Endeavour Partnership LLP. The five-solicitor team recently advised on a complex, cross-border contractual matter, and on a complex land sale case. It continues to represent architects, accountants, surveyors and financial services firms.

Nigel Kidwell’s team at Jacksons Law recently acted in several domestic and international shareholder disputes and a multi-party injunction and freezing order. Paul Barnes specialises in engineering and property litigation.

At Crutes Law Firm, commercial property litigator Michael Robson recently handled land ownership, easement and probate disputes.

Craig Monty divides his time between Dickinson Dees LLP’s Newcastle and Tees Valley offices, and continues to have a flourishing pensions litigation practice.

At Archers Law LLP, Robert Irons and Leanne Nash recently handled a contractual dispute concerning industrial equipment.

BHP Law’s team has seen the arrival of ecclesiastical specialist Philip Wills to its Durham office. Richard Baker continues to represent a wide range of commercial businesses and individuals in disputes.

John Wilson handles commercial litigation at Baines Wilson Solicitors.

Nicholas Richards provides commercial and employment litigation services at Cartmell Shepherd.

Cumbria-based Hayton Winkley acted for a landlord in a substantial rent arrears claim and in a breach of covenant dispute. John Oldroyd is the key contact at the firm.

Latimer Hinks’ Mark Gardner is currently representing a number of clients in high-value claims for rent arrears.

The team at TBI continues to represent a large number of claimants against a national housebuilder and the NHBC.

Debt recovery

At BHP Law, John Lisgo and Tom Lisgo continue to advise large businesses on debt recovery matters. New client wins include Evolution Business Recovery Services and FRP Advisory.

Associate Terry Phillips heads the ‘excellent’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP, which successfully acted for a school in recovering unpaid tuition fees and for a caravan site in relation to unpaid sites fees. New client gains include HM Plant and Street North East.

Hay & Kilner has noteworthy strength in the estate agency sector, with clients singling out the ‘dedicated’ Kevan Stronach for his knowledge and ‘valuable support’. The team also counts two major financial lenders and a major software supplier as clients.

Stewart Irvine heads the full-service team at Muckle LLP, whose clients include Newcastle College and Vertu Motors plc. It recently acted for clients on the recovery of monies for unpaid goods and medical reports. Its ‘overall level of service is second to none’.

Short Richardson & Forth LLP’s Mark Green continues to provide a debt collection service to regional and national clients.

Pauline Appleyard’s team at Ward Hadaway includes nine legal executives and paralegals. It has a strong regional and national client base, and continues to build on its property-related experience.

Anthony Brown’s team at Watson Burton LLP has merged with the firm’s commercial department. It is a panel firm for Halifax, and has recently acted in disputes involving the installation and maintenance of hardware and software systems.

Archers Law LLP recently handled debt recovery claims for Pickerings Europe and Roseberry Newhouse.

Debt recovery is a growth area for Crutes Law Firm. Tom Whitfield and the team continue to represent Go-Ahead, and Barrow and Durham Councils.

Toby Joel’s team at Jacksons Law successfully tendered for CE Electric UK’s contract and has been instructed to recover £524,000 in repair costs.

Latimer Hinks is currently representing a large international company in claims against ex-employees for the recovery of PSV licence costs.

Allison Chatto’s team at Simpson Millar LLP represents Ellwoods (North & South) East on unpaid invoices for goods supplied, and Towergate Risk Solutions on unpaid insurance premiums.

Sintons LLP recently handled complex debt recovery matters for Nissan, Technology Services Group and a number of leading educational establishments.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
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