Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx in South East

B P Collins LLP

Based in Gerrards Cross, B P Collins LLP is a ‘powerhouse‘ when handling contentious mandates for a varied client base, most notably Biffa Waste Services, Toshiba Medical Systems, and the National House Building Council. Practice head Matthew Brandis is an ‘excellent lawyer‘, and a professional negligence and private parking specialist. Craig Williams exhibits ‘exemplary‘ understanding of disputes in the environmental and waste management sectors, supported by associate Rajiv Malhotra, who is ‘incredibly hardworking‘ and has expansive experience in the manufacturing and biotech sectors. Simon Carroll frequently acts for professional athletes in arbitrations, and Steven Smith, who was promoted to partner in May 2022, displays ‘excellent knowledge‘ of construction disputes and misrepresentation claims.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Brandis


Other key lawyers:

Craig Williams; Simon Carroll; Phil Hind; Rajiv Malhotra; Steven Smith


Testimonials

‘They’re quick with dealing with matters, efficient and extremely knowledgeable. The team is excellent and deals with matters quickly.’

‘The team is extremely knowledgeable on their sectors and industry, often attracting cases of high complexity and value.’

‘Matthew Brandis is an excellent lawyer, his client care is excellent. He has an amazing ability to make each client feel that they are his most important client.’

‘Craig Williams. He is very good at identifying, at an early stage, a client’s best strategy to achieve their aims in litigation. Craig’s grasp and understanding of commercial and legal matters is exemplary.’

‘Matthew Brandis and Craig Williams complement each other well and make a formidable team – this partnership of minds, passion for the law, and effort makes them stand out from their competitors.’

‘A powerhouse of a regional firm, the results that they achieve are first-class, surpassing all expectations.’

‘Simon Carroll is charming and a pleasure to deal with, but also reassuringly realistic and pragmatic when conducting litigation. Raj Malhotra is incredibly hardworking, all over the detail.’

‘Steven Smith provides excellent knowledge and experience, he displays a very high level of understanding.’

Key clients

National House Building Council (NHBC)


P B Donoghue Group


Biffa Waste Services Limited


Continental Tyres


Kawasaki Motors UK


Toshiba Medical Systems Limited


BIC UK Limited


Summerleaze Group


The Amtico Company Limited


Grove Court Properties


Dentons

Demonstrating ‘very impressive capabilities‘, the Milton Keynes-based practice at Dentons is adept at acting in Financial Ombudsman Service proceedings, and adjudications. Recently promoted partner Rob Francis is among the key names in the office; he is praised for how he deals 'thorny issues and complex problems', and has been leading the firm's work for the National House-Building Council in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Senior associate Sarah Rutnah has ‘excellent judgement‘ concerning commercial fraud and professional negligence claims.

Other key lawyers:

Rob Francis; Sarah Rutnah; Sonia Vilar


Testimonials

‘An excellent team that competes with London disputes firms. It offers great lawyers.’

‘Sarah Rutnah is a litigation partner in the making, one of the best that I know. Sarah is a rising star with a strong technical skills, an eye for the important details and excellent judgment.’

‘Sonia Vilar is a rising star.’

‘The team in Dentons has some really very impressive capabilities, handling a wide range of commercial and related disputes with City-level skill and expertise.’

‘Highly capable team with good experience – timely delivery of high quality advice and always on hand to support and reliable especially in crises.’

‘Rob Francis is a stellar individual. He’s a pragmatic litigator with a great client-facing approach to dealing with thorny issues and complex problems.’

Key clients

Pathfinder Mozambique SA and JV Consultores Internacionais Limitada


National House-Building Council


Assignee of a claim by Green Box Recycling Limited


Iliv Realty PTE


IG Index


Avis Budget UK Limited


Network Rail


Silverstone Circuits Limited


Vodafone Italia S.p.A.


TUI Airways Ltd


Work highlights


  • Advising two defendant Mozambican companies in five claims brought against them by an investment trust, English investors and an English company; the complex cross border dispute arises out of the funding of a Mozambique mining project over the course of a decade.
  • Acting for the National House-Building Council (NHBC) in The Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which has requested NHBC to provide evidence surrounding guidance which it issued prior to the fire.
  • Acting for Tui in a group action brought against it by eight employees and former pilots in relation to changes made to Tui’s health insurance benefits.

IBB Law

The ‘excellentPaul Kite leads the Uxbridge-based ‘heavyweight‘ team at IBB Law, which has expertise spanning the insolvency, leisure, and product liability sectors. Kite frequently acts for SMEs and high-net-worth individuals, utilising his expertise in the automotive and professional services sectors. Praised for her ‘analytical sharpness‘ and ‘intelligence‘, Sarah Jackson is particularly skilled in handling partnership disputes and civil fraud cases. Russell Ford joined the team through the firm's merger with Owen White Limited in January 2023, adding his expertise in contentious matters concerning franchising and joint ventures to the practice.

Practice head(s):

Paul Kite


Other key lawyers:

Sarah Jackson; Ayushi Chadha; Russell Ford


Testimonials

‘IBB have a very strong commercial litigation team. The firm has great breadth and depth.’

‘The absolutely excellent Sarah Jackson is a stand-out individual due to her analytical sharpness, intelligence, and her brilliant client-handling skills. She can make the most complex concepts straightforward for clients. She has strong support and loyalty from her team including the very thorough and personable Ayushi Chadha.’

‘Sarah Jackson is the star of the team. She is dynamic, intuitive, pragmatic, and her clients love her. She is also highly regarded by her peers as a sensible litigator, and is revered as being co-operative and collegiate.’

‘Good communication skills and strong knowledge. The team punches above its weight, has great industrial knowledge, and are able to put together a heavyweight team.’

‘Paul Kite is confident and pragmatic but always picks up the small details. He is an excellent lawyer, rated by clients, and is able to work with international teams.’

‘Sarah Jackson and her team are very hands on, supportive and commercial in their approach.’

‘Sarah Jackson is an excellent leader and beautifully manages clients’ expectations. She strongly supports mediation but is quick to resist a quick fix when her client has a strong case.’

Key clients

Renault UK


Woods Food Service


Renault Retail Group UK


Interpath Advisory


LA Micro Group (UK)


Tandem Property Asset Management LLP


Quantuma Advisory Ltd


Patek Phillipe


Cove Communities Management


Dwyer UK Franchising (Neighbourly Group)


Robsons Residential Lettings


Work highlights


  • Acting for LA Micro, a major IT company, and its shareholder founder in declaratory relief proceedings concerning a disputed interest in another shareholding.
  • Acting for an individual in defending a High Court claim for breach of contract, fiduciary duty and covenants relating to a share sale agreement, plus the pursuit of a counterclaim for earn-out, with a combined value of £8m.
  • Advising the shareholders and directors of a company valued at approximately £50m, on multiple litigations between the company, its employees, directors and shareholder.

SA Law LLP

The team at SA Law LLP combines ‘strong knowledge with practical expertise‘ when advising a diverse client roster of universities, shareholders and multinational corporates. Robert Ryall and Tracy Lacey-Smith jointly head the St Albans-based team. Lacey-Smith often appears before the High Court, and ‘always goes the extra mile‘ when acting in cases concerning breach of contract claims, while Ryall is ‘calm and experienced‘ when handling claims of alleged wrongdoing, frequently advising professional athletes and sports clubs. ‘Stand-out‘ practitioner Simon Walsh has expansive experience in insolvency and civil claims, in addition to handling freezing injunctions. Praised by clients for being ‘the ideal solicitor‘, senior associate Clare Mackay predominantly handles shareholder disputes, purchase agreements, and vexatious complaints, and associate Helen Young takes a ‘tenacious and realistic‘ approach when assisting clients with contested debt recovery mandates.

Practice head(s):

Robert Ryall; Tracy Lacey-Smith


Other key lawyers:

Simon Walsh; Clare Mackay; Helen Young


Testimonials

‘Clare Mackay is the ideal solicitor. She is totally on top of her cases and is fantastic at putting clients at ease. Top quality service delivered in a friendly and approachable way. Clare provides very strong support and advice from a legal perspective.’

‘SA Law has a strong commercial litigation practice, particularly in relation to shareholder disputes, and is very highly regarded outside London in the home counties. The team combine strong knowledge with practical expertise, including a welcome focus on finding practical, commercial solutions alongside potential resolutions of dispute in court.’

‘The team are very pragmatic, dedicated to their clients, highly responsive and pragmatic when it comes to questions of legal and commercial strategy. Clare Mackay is very strong in this regard and stands out in this area.’

‘Tracy Lacey-Smith is so approachable and is able to get to the heart of the problem very quickly. She understands the pragmatic needs of an in-house legal team. Tracy is friendly, proactive, and able to deal with demanding matters, she always goes the extra mile for clients.’

‘Robert Ryall is someone that I can relate to on a personal level, someone who has the patience to clearly explain legal terms and implications when necessary. He particularly impressed me with his skills of quickly building a position and a chronological way forward. I recommend Robert and his team. Rob has a calm, experienced approach making him the go-to lawyer on messy, heated disputes.’

‘The team fully supported me, not only on legal matters, but in an emotional way as well. SA Law projects a team environment, where everyone supports all clients, there was always someone at the end of phone who could help.’

‘SA Law’s service is enriched by a diverse, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to team. The firm’s strengths are its people, there is always a person that can help. The service provided is about quality. Genuinely down to earth solicitors who get on well with clients – this makes such a difference in long running litigation.’

‘Helen Young is a stand out solicitor and star of the future. She has excellent grasp of the detail whilst also being user friendly and very commercial. Helen is a superb associate who is a great mix of tenacious and realistic.’

Key clients

Motor Fuel Group


Techna International Limited


The Watford Association Football Club


Oaklands College


Ocado Group PLC


Chesside Homes Limited


Arora Group


Upstream Workplace Solutions


MSH Planning Limited


Middlesex University


Work highlights


  • Advised Motor Fuel Group on a range of commercial disputes, including obtaining judgment in a fraud claim, and advising on the termination of supply and equipment leasing agreements.
  • Acting for Techna International Limited in the High Court in a multi-jurisdictional commercial dispute.

Sherrards Solicitors LLP

Praised for its ‘serious, rigorous, but inventive approach‘, the St Albans-based practice at Sherrards Solicitors LLP is proficient in dispensing advice on a variety of areas, including high-value asset disputes, white-collar defence, and trust disputes. Practice head Paul Marmor has extensive experience in international banking and finance disputes with the ‘rigour of a classic commercial litigator‘, while the ‘excellent and creativeMarta Grieve primarily handles matters relating to the CIS and eastern Europe regions. Karen Dobson leads on matters concerning contentious insolvencies and professional negligence claims, and the ‘excellent and extremely professionalBarney Laurence frequently appears before the High Court and the Commercial Court in restraint of trade injunctions within the franchising sector.

Practice head(s):

Paul Marmor


Other key lawyers:

Marta Grieve; Karen Dobson; Barney Laurence; Charles Burrell; Greg Pooler


Testimonials

‘The team is highly responsive and demonstrates high levels of knowledge that bring about the right result in complicated matters. City levels of expertise.’

‘Having worked with Paul Marmor and Charles Burrell, I really couldn’t have asked for more attention to detail and responsiveness.’

‘Greg Pooler is very hard working and bright, a capable pair of hands, and someone to watch.’

‘Sherrards’ team is commercially very astute. From my perspective, they adopt a serious, rigorous, but inventive approach to commercial litigation. I have worked with them primarily on sanctions issues arising in the context of ongoing litigation and they have handled a series of novel issues with considerable astuteness. They may be a regional firm, but they provide a high-quality City-level service.’

‘Paul Marmor combines the rigour of a classic commercial litigator with ingenuity and adaptability when faced with novel problems. He is also a delight to work with.’

‘The team has a great combination of excellent skills, client focus, creativity, and aggressiveness. They really know the market they operate in and can quickly bring their expertise to support us in a very timely manner.’

‘Marta Grieve is an excellent and creative lawyer who listens to the client’s requirements and circumstances very attentively and finds the best solution for them.’

‘Barney Laurence is excellent, extremely professional, and able to easily explain complex legal concepts in a straight forward manner. He has a very practical sense of how best to support us.’

Key clients

Vital Electronics Limited


HBL Bank UK Limited (formerly Habibsons Bank)


Aurora Leasing Limited


Cambria Automobiles Limited


Winkworth Estates & Lettings


Villa Plus


Berry Recruitment Limited


111 Skin Limited


The Jewellery Channel Limited


ParentPay Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising a Chinese manufacturer and exporter of food products around the world, which suffered a fraud. The firm is pursuing this against multiple defendants, with injunctive relief and actions in multiple jurisdictions including England, Hong Kong and the BVI.
  • Representing an international bank which is claiming $24m from a customer and its guarantors. This has included injunctive pre-action relief and dealing with an anti-suit injunction, being fought through the High Court, including Summary Judgment proceedings, applications for Security for Costs, and considering the impact of sanctions on the parties in this multi-jurisdictional case.
  • Acting for a leading international cosmetics business in two matters. In the first it suffered a fraud by its former finance director, and the second case involves a failed distribution agreement.

Blaser Mills Law

Exhibiting a ‘very good depth of talent‘ across the team, Blaser Mills Law handles a variety of contentious issues concerning the IT, manufacturing, and financial services sectors. Divided between High Wycombe and London, Jackie Ray leads the group alongside Nina Toor. Ray is ‘massively experienced‘ in handling a broad array of contract disputes and disputed claims for commercial clients in the off-trade and agricultural sectors. ‘Phenomenal‘ London-based senior associate Jade Salton-Brooks regularly appears before the High Court, having acted for the Labour Party, European investment banks, and Championship football clubs on contractual disputes and injunctions.

Practice head(s):

Jackie Ray; Nina Toor


Other key lawyers:

Jade Salton-Brooks; Jonathan Lilley


Testimonials

‘Blaser Mills have an effective commercial litigation team with extensive experience in high-level commercial litigation, they manage to provide an excellent service.’

‘There is a strong can-do attitude throughout the practice, they provide a full range of civil law services and are extremely proficient in all aspects.’

‘Jackie Ray is an excellent, client focused commercial lawyer. She is massively experienced in the sector, and really understands her clients’ drivers and commercial objectives.’

‘Nina Toor is a very good junior lawyer, who is well attuned to clients’ needs.’

‘Blaser Mills is excellent at delivering debt recovery solutions for clients, whether at volume or in one-off cases. They are adept at using a systems-based approach. The firm has excellent strength in terms of service provision and delivery. It has very good depth of talent at all levels of qualification.’

‘Jade Brooks is phenomenal. They are truly excellent. They deal with very high profile and complex High Court litigation for a range of clients and high value claims. Case preparation is exemplary.’

Key clients

Pythagoras Capital Ltd


McCambridge Duffy


C F Services


First Collect International Ltd


Bunzl UK Ltd


Stannah Lift Services Ltd


THX Ltd


Correcco Ltd


Kawasaki Motors Europe


Debenhams Ottaway

Exhibiting ‘perfect depth, excellent breadth, and a great team dynamic‘, the team at Debenhams Ottaway acts in a variety of professional negligence and boardroom disputes. ‘Super bright, pragmatic, and a delight‘, Juliet Schalker heads up the St Albans practice, often representing high-net-worth individuals and owner-managed businesses. The ‘bright and pragmaticAlex Neale has broad experience spanning contract, insurance, and recovery action-related disputes. Andrew Carter joined the team from Woodfines LLP in April 2022, contributing his expertise in partnership and agency disputes.

Practice head(s):

Juliet Schalker


Other key lawyers:

Alex Neale; Andrew Carter; Robyn Adams


Testimonials

‘Juliet Schalker and Alex Neale run a very capable ship. They are all very bright and pragmatic solicitors who work collaboratively.’

‘Juliet Schalker leads the team, she is an inspiration. Super bright, pragmatic, and a delight to have on the opposing bench. She is fabulous with even the most difficult of clients.’

‘Alex Neale is pragmatic and has empathy and a kindness that is rarely seen whilst always striving to achieve the very best for his clients.’

Robyn Adams is up and coming, and thoroughly excellent. Robyn is pragmatic, commercially minded and efficient. She is a formidable opponent and is able to cut through the issues to focus the parties on the real crux of a dispute.’

‘This team has the perfect recipe – perfect depth, excellent breadth, and a great team dynamic, headed by the dynamic Juliet Schalker.’

‘Juliet Schalker is a formidable opponent and an inspirational figure.’

‘Andrew Carter has an excellent grasp of Chancery commercial litigation.’

Key clients

Dermal Laboratories Limited


Access Group


Trend Tool Technology


Innoway Future Solutions PTE


MSP Capital Limited


Three Oaks Care Home


Davis & Co LLP


Squad Security Limited


St Albans City and District Council


Work highlights


  • Acted for Dermal Laboratories Limited and Diomed Developments Limited in their c£4m claim against Leumi ABL Limited, an asset-based lender. The client engaged DDD Limited as a distributor and agent to sell its products, which went into administration in February 2020, owing the client c£4m.
  • Acting in a complex and high-value director and shareholder dispute of c.£2m, spanning a consortium of inter-related companies that appear to be insolvent.
  • Advising a family owned and run business worth c.£3m in a highly fraught and contentious dispute. A claim was made by minority shareholders that the client failed to pay historic dividends correctly.

Freeths LLP

Freeths LLP‘s ‘very confident, competent, professional, and hard-working‘ team assists a diverse client roster consisting of corporations, and charitable and educational institutions. The Milton Keynes-based practice handles a myriad of disputes, including those arising from M&A, energy claims, and shareholder conflicts. Practice head Simon Hobbs is a ‘superb litigator‘ who has expansive knowledge spanning energy, insolvency, and professional negligence disputes, supported by managing associate Tom Holden, who is ‘incredibly hardworking‘, and has extensive expertise in handling the full spectrum of commercial disputes.

Practice head(s):

Simon Hobbs


Other key lawyers:

Tom Holden


Testimonials

‘The team are focused and client orientated. They take time to listen and give good and accurate advice, including realistic prospects for choices of action.’

‘The team is very confident, competent, professional, and hardworking – this applies equally to Tom Holden and Simon Hobbs.’

‘First class legal advice, a firm which understands its clients and fosters an exceptional working relationship.’

‘Simon Hobbs is a superb litigator who never misses the important details and always has a watchful eye on the long term strategy when dealing with a case. He develops excellent relationships with clients to fully understand their needs.’

‘Tom Holden is an incredibly hardworking lawyer who fights hard to push for the best outcome for the client.’

Key clients

Dawsongroup Plc


Amscan International Limited


Wells & Co LimitedAPCOA Parking (UK) Limited


FedEx UK Limited


Cromwell Tools Limited


London Luton Airport Limited


Triad Group Plc


Bristol Airport Limited


Ultramap Limited


Work highlights


  • Acting for Dawsongroup in a claim brought against it and EvoBus UK (a division of Mercedes Benz) by Irish coach operator Last Bus Limited.
  • Advising Triad Plc on the injunction it had obtained against its former CEO in respect of a ‘twitter war’ that had been raged against Triad, its directors and advisers.

Machins Solicitors LLP

The ‘thorough, outcome focused and highly skilled‘ team at Machins Solicitors LLP advises a variety of clients, including SMEs, high-net-worth individuals, and start-ups. Neil O’Callaghan heads up the Luton-based practice, and has longstanding experience in handling shareholder and insolvency disputes, using his ‘great tactical and legal instincts‘ to advise directors and shareholders. Associate Holly Baker exhibits ‘outstanding attention to detail‘ when assisting with commercial and property disputes, while associate Benedict Smith is particularly adept at advising clients on contentious probate issues.

Practice head(s):

Neil O’Callaghan


Other key lawyers:

Benedict Smith; Holly Baker; Ben Walters


Testimonials

‘The team has a strong litigation offering, which offers specialist advice. They are a thorough, outcome focused, highly skilled team, with a pragmatic approach to achieving results for their clients.’

‘Holly Baker has a strong practice covering commercial, and property litigation as well as some insolvency. I trust Holly to do a good job, be a commercial thinker and get the best outcome for clients. She operates at a level beyond her PQE. Holly has outstanding attention to detail, and is highly engaged, responsive and pro-active. She goes the extra mile for her clients, understands their requirements, and finds solutions.’

‘Holly Baker stands out, her promptness, attention to detail, thoroughness, and foresight mean she provides her clients with an excellent service. Holly deals with difficult mediation cases and is meticulous in her work. She is always measured with her advice, I would not hesitate to recommend her as an effective solicitor to anyone contemplating litigation.’

‘Neil O’Callaghan has great tactical and legal instincts, and is thorough and focused on getting the outcomes his clients want and need.’

‘The team is approachable and empathetic. They listen and base their advice on practicable solutions.’

‘Great collaboration between members with extensive knowledge.’

‘I strongly recommend Machins, their preparation in litigation and their multi-disciplinary knowledge has ensured that I can leave the legal aspect to one side.’

‘Their understanding of cases, in particular, Benedict Smith and his support, both legal and emotional. Understanding my needs, appointing only the necessary external advice.’

Shoosmiths LLP

The ‘fantastically hardworking‘ team at Shoosmiths LLP assist clients in the manufacturing and education sectors with claims arising from the termination of supply contracts, and damages litigation. Alex Bishop leads the national practice, while Stuart Montgomery heads up the Milton Keynes group; using ‘enviable commercial sense and rock-solid knowledge‘, Montgomery advises on shareholder and partnership disputes. Leveraging her ‘sharp legal mind‘, principal associate Kate Connolly handles disputes concerning breach of restrictive covenants and termination claims, while the ‘friendly, hardworking, and cleverGabs Rodriguez-Cleary assists IT and telecoms clients with ADR processes.

Practice head(s):

Alex Bishop; Stuart Montgomery


Other key lawyers:

Kate Connolly; Gabs Rodriguez-Cleary


Testimonials

‘The team are very friendly, approachable and easy to deal with. Their instructions are always received well in advance and are prepared to a very high standard.’

‘Stuart Montgomery – he knows what his clients needs are and he is a pleasure to work with.’

‘The team have been a great source of support to me and my team. Gabs Rodriguez-Cleary is responsive and provides clear guidance.’

‘Shoosmiths is agile and commercially savvy, offering an effective service to its clients. The team is fantastically hardworking, and combines excellent client-facing skills with legal acumen and sound commercial sense.’

‘Stuart Montgomery is superb with clients and a master at winning their confidence, Stuart always gets quickly to the heart of the problem, and offers pragmatic advice rooted in an enviable commercial sense and rock-solid knowledge. Hard to fault.’

‘Kate Connolly should really be a partner. She has a sharp legal mind and a ferocious work ethic.’

‘Gabs Rodriguez-Cleary is an excellent team player who is friendly, hardworking, and clever.’

Key clients

British Business Bank


Tesco Mobile Ltd


Checkatrade


Enzen Global Ltd


Ecolab Limited


Work highlights


  • Represented the British Business Bank against a claim both in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
  • Acted for Ecolab Limited, defending against an eight-figure breach of contract claim.

Tees Law

The ‘very helpful and supportive‘ team at Tees Law handles a wide variety of disputes for individuals and construction companies. Darren Perks leads the practice alongside senior associate Polly Kerr from Bishop’s Stortford and Royston respectively. Perks is a property dispute specialist who acts for major portfolio owners, while Kerr acts for a variety of clients in cases against local authorities. Bishop’s Stortford’s Caroline Metcalf is ‘extremely diligent and sensible‘, having longstanding expertise in agricultural partnership disputes.

Practice head(s):

Darren Perks; Polly Kerr


Other key lawyers:

Caroline Metcalf; Jason Torrence


Testimonials

‘Caroline Metcalf is extremely diligent and sensible.’

‘The practice is versatile and is able to accommodate our diverse needs.’

‘Jason Torrence is very professional and very approachable, both qualities which I admire.’

‘The team are very helpful and supportive during a very difficult time, their clarity of the issues is vital to us.’

Caroline Metcalf is always there to help, and clearly goes above and beyond to help.’

Duncan Lewis Solicitors

The Harrow-based team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors serves a diverse client base consisting of government authorities and financial institutions. The practice exhibits expertise in the defence of claims by rogue lenders, with particular emphasis on cross-border claims. The ‘outstanding’ Sobashni De Silva jointly leads the team alongside ‘class actAnthony Okumah; De Silva assists a number of corporates, charities and high-net-worth individuals with civil fraud, defamation, and contractual disputes, while Okumah has extensive knowledge of professional negligence claims against solicitors and barristers.

Practice head(s):

Sobashni De Silva; Anthony Okumah


Other key lawyers:

Thomas Clark; Kulwant Sokhal; Karolina Natkaniec


Testimonials

‘Thomas Clark is a star. He is honest and straightforward, with excellent communication skills.’

‘Sobashni De Silva is an outstanding professional. She oversees her team with great skill. They appear to have the utmost respect for her and great faith in her abilities.’

‘The team has a diverse client base which it serves very well – it is particularly good at dealing with individuals or small businesses who require assistance in identifying and navigating unfamiliar legal territory.’

‘Sobashni De Silva remains a stand out partner. Her collaborative approach is very much appreciated.’

‘Sobashni De Silva is a shrewd adviser who understands end goals, and keeps markers in a case.’

‘Kulwant Sokhal remains on top of a case and ensures momentum is not lost. Deals with sensitive and vulnerable clients well.’

‘Anthony Okumah is a class act. Karolina Natkaniec is very thorough and one to watch.’

Key clients

SES Ltd


Byron Height Limited


Babel Green Limited


Rajan and Dev Developments Limited


New Health Supplies Limited


Salisbury Support 4 Autism Limited


Work highlights


  • Acted for SES Ltd in obtaining a worldwide freezing order against a former business associate. The dispute involved an outstanding debt in excess of £5m.
  • Represented a Libyan national to enforce a Libyan court judgment in the UK.

Longmores Solicitors LLP

Longmores Solicitors LLP‘s ‘outstanding‘ team is located in Hertford, and the group assists a varied client roster including insolvency practitioners and medical recruitment businesses. The ‘very competent and professionalJohn Wiblin heads up practice, while John Wagstaffe leads on the property litigation side. Wiblin handles unfair prejudice claims and partnership disputes, and ‘star’ practitioner Nathanael Young is adept at advising on defamation and cross-border litigation. Associate Lauren MacKenzie is ‘super efficient, knowledgeable and professional‘, focusing on contentious probate and insolvency disputes.

Practice head(s):

John Wiblin; John Wagstaffe


Other key lawyers:

Nathanael Young; Lauren MacKenzie


Testimonials

‘Longmores provide a very professional and personable service. I would not hesitate to recommend them in the future. I have dealt with many solicitors in my work, and Longmores are outstanding. The practice is reliable, efficient and always delivers results. Advice is clear and well presented.’

‘Lauren MacKenzie has been a marvellous help. She has guided us through a very difficult time and process with kindness and compassion whilst being super efficient, knowledgeable and professional. We are very grateful.’

‘Longmores has an impressive depth of expertise. They have the right specialists. They have a collaborative approach across the firm which reaps benefits. The culture is noticeably friendly and approachable. They will help you through to the other side of your dispute. You are left confident that your case is handled with thought and care.’

‘Lauren Mackenzie has been my voice when I felt I didn’t have one. Lauren has listened and taken on board the whole picture of events, which was incredibly important to me.’

‘I cannot praise this firm highly enough and am so happy that we were advised to instruct Longmores for the work we required.’

‘John Wiblin stands out as very competent, professional, knowledgeable, and committed. John thinks hard about his cases and gives clear, realistic and sensible advice. He provides exceptional levels of service and is always clear, honest and concise.’

‘Nathanael Young is a star. He is an instantly reassuring presence for clients and completely on top of all his cases. He is the man you want with you in the trenches on a difficult case. He always provides innovative and commercial solutions to complex problems.’

‘John Wagstaffe is very approachable. His advice on the interpretation of key clauses in leases is excellent and he has helped us overcome many difficult problems.’

Key clients

Pulse Healthcare Limited


Pathology Group Limited


Andusia Recovered Fuels Limited


Goldings Amenities Ltd


Vicars Moor Lawn Tennis Club


Work highlights


  • Advised a leading figure in the spa industry regarding the unauthorised activity and misuse of funds by his business partner.
  • Advised a major medical recruiter on a committal application following a breach of a court injunction by a former consultant.
  • Advised a company director on a dispute between shareholders when former directors were found to have carried out unauthorised property transactions.

Taylor Walton LLP

James Carpenter leads the Luton-based practice at Taylor Walton LLP, which houses a ‘dependable strong team of skilled professionals‘, who have broad experience spanning Inheritance Act claims and IP disputes, and handle the pursuit of injunctive relief for property developers. Carpenter has a great deal of experience in advising sole traders and private individuals on contentious probate, partnership disputes, and professional negligence issues, and the ‘concise, unequivocal and extremely capable’ Saljuq Haider is particularly adept at representing sub-contractors in construction disputes and corporate debt recovery cases.

Practice head(s):

James Carpenter


Other key lawyers:

Saljuq Haider; Katarina Morgan


Testimonials

‘Strength in depth with good quality lawyers at all levels of the firm.’

‘The team are very communicative and provide clear instructions. They liaise well with outside parties and keep you advised of progress in matters you are involved with.’

‘James Carpenter is very good at explaining how things will unfold, allaying my fears and almost everything he said would happen did happen – that made the whole experience much easier to deal with and plan for.’

‘Immediate response and exemplary communication. A high level of client confidence is immediately provided – most reassuring at difficult times. A dependable strong team of skilled professionals.’

‘Saljuq Haider has a talent for identifying the wisest route through any problem. He is concise, unequivocal, and extremely capable. His approach to matters is direct and clearly stated. He is quite simply the person you wish you could have found earlier in life. Saljuq has an undeviating desire to rectify injustice coupled with a realistic, efficient, attitude to the client. He is the man you would want on your side when confronted with difficulty.’

‘Katarina Morgan is the stand out up and coming solicitor. She gives clients excellent well rounded advice that is commercially well thought out.’

Lennons Solicitors

Led by Kumaran Sivathillainathan, the practice at Lennons Solicitors has broad knowledge covering a variety of disputes, including the enforcement of indemnity clauses, and disputes concerning property ownership. Sivathillainathan has extensive experience in handling contentious probate issues, contractual claims, and professional negligence disputes, while Andrew King predominantly advises SMEs, property developers, and individuals on IP disputes and contractual issues.

Practice head(s):

Kumaran Sivathillainathan


Other key lawyers:

Andrew King


Key clients

A Class Corporate Travel UK Ltd


T2 Fitness Training & Education Limited


Work highlights


  • Acted for T2 Fitness Training & Education Limited on contract terminations, debt recovery, and intellectual property disputes.

Neves

Neves houses a ‘good team of highly experienced litigators‘, which dispenses advice on a broad variety of disputes in Milton Keynes. Leading the team, associate Fiona Hewitt is an ‘excellent negotiator and litigator‘, often assisting clients with a number of contractual claims concerning insolvencies, construction issues and professional negligence matters, often representing SMEs and transitioning businesses. ‘Go-to problem solverPeter Kelly has longstanding experience in contentious probate and estate work, injunctions, and inheritance tax claims.

Practice head(s):

Fiona Hewitt


Other key lawyers:

Peter Kelly


Testimonials

Good team of highly experienced litigators, at all levels of seniority and experience.’

‘Fiona Hewitt is highly experienced, efficient, and particularly good at looking after vulnerable clients in high value, complex cases. Excellent negotiator and litigator.’

‘Peter Kelly has very wide experience, built up over a long career, of all types of commercial litigation. He is a go-to problem solver. He can pick up and effectively litigate cases that do not seem to fit into any obvious category, or that involve unusual points of law or procedure.’

Key clients

Ashridge Investments Ltd


UK Addiction Treatment Limited


Heritage Care Homes Limited


Chamberlain Group plc


Pump Gyms Ltd


Overworld Ltd


Critical Power Supplies Ltd


CCT International Ltd


Work highlights


  • Acted for Ashridge Investments Limited in injunctive proceedings for trespass, unlawful works, and service charge arrears in relation to a multi-million pound, high-profile Belgravia property.
  • Advised UK Addiction Treatment Limited on claims brought by former service users.

Nockolds Solicitors

In Bishop’s Stortford, Daniel Winter leads the team at Nockolds Solicitors, leveraging his extensive expertise in agency regulation claims and franchising work. The group is particularly praised by clients for handling a variety of disputes ‘brilliantly‘, including company breaches of restrictive covenants, distribution agreements, and product liability cases. Associate Lucy Slatter is adept at handling director and shareholder disputes, and associate George Burton maintains a contentious IP-focused practice, advising on domain disputes, corporate goodwill, and brand protection issues.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Winter


Other key lawyers:

Lucy Slatter; George Burton; Alex Haddad


Testimonials

‘The team deals with a broad range of disputes and the associates manage to have specialist knowledge of several areas. So, a commercial dispute may involve a property angle and an insolvency angle and one team (and sometimes one individual) is able to handle all aspects brilliantly.’

‘Lucy Slatter stands out.’

Key clients

Lasered Components Limited