United Kingdom > South West > Dispute resolution
Commercial litigation: Bristol
Commercial litigation: Bristol
Burges Salmon LLP’s 11-partner team is headed by Paul Haggett, who brings ‘overarching experience’ to any matter. Recent work for the firm includes representing Eurostar International in its large and complex procurement dispute with Alstom; and acting for Helphire in a dispute with great implications for the credit hire industry. Associate Brian Wong is ‘very bright, with a sharp legal mind’. New partner Kevin Kennedy, who joined from Clarke Willmott LLP, ‘works extremely hard to find practical solutions to clients ’ problems’.
Peter Clough’s team at Osborne Clarke provides ‘pragmatic advice that reflects good knowledge of the client’s business and aims’, and acts for clients including British Gas, Dell and Bank of Ireland. The team acted for Turbo Centre and others in a $300m bondholder dispute relating to a development financing in Russia. ‘Rising star’ Catherine Wolfenden was made up to partner in 2011; and Charlie Wedin is ‘relevant, focused and pragmatic’.
Bond Pearce LLP acted for Misonix in a claim for breach of warranty made by Puricore International in connection with a share purchase agreement. Other clients include Royal Mail Group, Scottish Power Renewables and Gala Coral. Litigator Stephen Lister is recommended.
‘Stellar’ firm DAC Beachcroft LLP acts for clients including Zurich and Vodafone. It acted for various independent financial advisers and their insurers in defending a large recovery claim by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Ben Daniels heads the three-partner team.
TLT LLP acts on a large number of banking and corporate-related matters for clients including Dyson and The Peacock Group. The team represented Air India in an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding a Court of Appeal verdict in favour of a former employee. Jonathan Hoey and Chris Owen lead the team.
The ‘notably good’ Emily Heard leads Bevan Brittan LLP’s ‘crack team’ of five partners, which acts for a range of public sector clients. It represented Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council in a claim for judicial review relating to the Secretary of State for Education’s cancellation of school building funds.
Clarke Willmott LLP’s specialisms include claims against solicitors, surveyors and financial services professionals. The team acted for EnviTec Biogas in a dispute. Team head Paul Chapman ‘sees disputes from the client’s point of view and provides practical advice’; and Michael Clarke is also recommended.
Thrings LLP has expertise in financial services litigation, and defamation cases, as well as IP, pensions and directors’ claims. Clients include Thomson Directories and Hamptons International. Alastair Govier and Simon Holdsworth are recommended.
Veale Wasbrough Vizards has a broad practice, with particular strength in education cases and debt recovery matters. Team head Nigel Puddicombe and Tabitha Cave are recommended. Insolvency litigator Ed Husband joined from Bevan Brittan LLP.
Rory Mac Neice is recommended at Ashfords LLP.
Philip Siddons is recommended at Humphreys & Co..
Commercial litigation: Dorset and South Wiltshire
Commercial litigation: Dorset and South Wiltshire
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- Lester Aldridge LLP (Bournemouth)
- Steele Raymond LLP (Bournemouth)
- Wilsons (Salisbury)
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- Frettens LLP (Christchurch)
- Parker Bullen LLP (Salisbury)
Lester Aldridge LLP’s ‘excellent’ team has expertise in international, marine, defence and financial matters. Michael Giddins ‘grasps the facts of a case very quickly and gets to the nub of the issue’.
Steele Raymond LLP’s clients are ‘impressed with its depth of knowledge, speed at dealing with issues, and ease of contact’. Financial services and property matters are areas of focus. Robert Bajaj and Peter Rolph’s ‘knowledge of their respective fields is amazing’, and both are ‘quick and efficient’.
Mike Parker leads Wilsons’ ‘able and hardworking’ four-partner team, which acted for St Mary Magdalene Academy in judicial review proceedings launched by a pupil.
Frettens LLP’s ‘fantastic’ team acted for Pampurred Pets in a directors’ dispute. It also handles a large number of contentious probate matters. Michelle Hayter is ‘on the client’s wavelength, explains everything and exceeds expectations’.
Parker Bullen LLP’s Peter Hatvany handled a breach of fiduciary duty claim as well as professional negligence and restrictive covenant claims.
Commercial litigation: M4 Corridor and Gloucestershire
Commercial litigation: M4 Corridor and Gloucestershire
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- Charles Russell LLP (Cheltenham)
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Maitland Walker LLP (Cheltenham)
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- BPE Solicitors LLP (Cheltenham)
- Stone King LLP (Bath)
- Thrings LLP (Swindon, Bath)
- Withy King LLP (Bath, Swindon)
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Rickerbys LLP (Cheltenham)
- Willans LLP (Cheltenham)
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Charles Russell LLP’s practice is ‘hugely broad’ and provides ‘excellent service, promptly responding to instructions and quickly assimilating facts and issues’. It represented MMI Research in complex High Court telecoms patent litigation involving claims of infringement and invalidity. Other clients include Cobham and Nationwide Building Society. Team head Peter Scandrett is an expert in aviation litigation, and Patrick Gearon has strength in patent and health and safety litigation.
Maitland Walker LLP’s ‘outstanding’ three-partner team handles anti-trust cases, shareholder disputes, construction matters, and professional negligence claims. It is acting for Earthshine in its ongoing claim against HMRC. Team head Rupert Croft is ‘one of the top litigation solicitors in the UK’ and ‘really understands how litigation works in a way few can match’.
‘Welcoming and professional’, BPE Solicitors LLP has ‘very good strength in depth’, and recently represented the two majority shareholders in disputes following their sale of a multimillion-pound consumer and trade show business. The two partners are Philip Radford, who has a ‘forensic ability to pick apart and analyse documents’, and Susan Archer, who joined from Shakespeares in 2011.
Stone King LLP’s ‘very timely and efficient’ team has core expertise in education, charity and contentious probate disputes, and acted in a High Court action concerning terms of lease and the effect of a Charity Commission Scheme. Paul Sutton ‘gives good advice which is appropriate to the organisation and the circumstances of the case’.
Thrings LLP’s ‘active and punchy’ team is particularly known for its expertise in automotive, defence and aerospace disputes. Recent matters include acting for MAN Truck and Bus UK on issues arising from the M4 Bryn Glas tunnel fire, and other clients include Mint Financial Services and Citipost AMP. Andrew Herridge is recommended.
Withy King LLP’s ‘very responsive and very service-focused’ group acted for Bath Youth Rugby regarding the distribution and realisation of trust assets, and also represents Bath Building Society and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Team head Chris Kane is a ‘very intelligent and seasoned lawyer who grasps issues quickly and forms practical recommendations’.
Rickerbys LLP is noted for the expertise of Colin Gibson, who acts in matters including breach of contract claims, freezing orders, unfair prejudice petitions and professional disputes.
Willans LLP’s two-partner team recently acted in two CFA-funded professional negligence claims against solicitors and in various cases involving design rights and patent infringement. Nick Cox is recommended.
Commercial litigation: The West Country
Commercial litigation: The West Country
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Ashfords LLP (Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton) - Michelmores LLP (Exeter)
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- Bond Pearce LLP (Plymouth)
- Foot Anstey (Exeter, Taunton, Truro, Plymouth)
- Stephens Scown LLP (Exeter, St Austell, Truro)
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- Clarke Willmott LLP (Taunton)
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Follett Stock (Truro, Exeter) - Kitsons LLP (Exeter, Torquay)
- Porter Dodson (Taunton, Yeovil)
- Stokes Partners LLP (Crewkerne)
- Stones Solicitors LLP (Exeter)
Ashfords LLP has ‘a fine commercial litigation offering’, and acts for clients including Gemalto and Penhaligon’s. Antony Lee has strength in corporate disputes and cases with an international element.
Michelmores LLP ‘always gives 100%’, and its ‘competitive pricing’ is a major plus for clients. It acted for Monaghan Mushrooms in a high-value contested business rates matter. Team head Tim Richards provides ‘great support’.
Gareth Kagan’s team at Bond Pearce LLP acts for clients including Princess Yachts International, Carlsberg and Marks and Spencer, and recently defended Carthy & Co against a claim brought by a large property developer over the interpretation and enforceability of a s38 agreement.
David Turner leads Foot Anstey’s five-partner team, which has experience across financial services, professional negligence, breach of contract and contentious probate matters. It successfully acted for clients in a dispute with Noel Edmunds over the proceeds of sale arising from a joint property venture.
Stephens Scown LLP’s advice is ‘balanced and always proves to be the best course of action’. It acted for Viridor Waste Management, as the occupier of a waste disposal site in the north of England, in a dispute with a landowner regarding the payment of royalties. ‘Outstanding litigator’ Chris Harper is ‘readily accessible’ and ‘ensures the client is kept aware of developments at all times’.
Tim Russ is recommended at Clarke Willmott LLP.
At Follett Stock, Martin Pearse and team head Chris Lingard are both recommended.
James Cross leads Kitsons LLP’s team, which acts for clients including Marsh Toyota, Torquay Boys Grammar School, and EW Glendinning. Andrew Perkins has strength in commercial contact disputes, shareholder litigation and partnership matters.
Porter Dodson’s two-partner team is particularly known for Stephen Wray’s expertise.
Brendan Pang is the name to note at Stokes Partners LLP.
Stones Solicitors LLP’s Paul Keeling is recommended.
Debt recovery
Debt recovery
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- TLT LLP (Bristol)
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- Bond Pearce LLP (Plymouth, Bristol)
- Clarke Willmott LLP (Taunton)
- DAC Beachcroft LLP (Bristol)
- Lester Aldridge LLP (Bournemouth)
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Ashfords LLP (Exeter) - BPE Solicitors LLP (Cheltenham)
- Burges Salmon LLP (Bristol)
- Foot Anstey (Plymouth)
- Michelmores LLP (Exeter)
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Rickerbys LLP (Cheltenham) - Stephens Scown LLP (Truro, Exeter)
- Veale Wasbrough Vizards (Bristol)
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TLT LLP’s extensive team acts in mortgage enforcement, the sale of repossessed property, the appointment of receivers and unsecured debt recovery, and also has particular expertise in secured recoveries of residential, business and commercial debt. Lead partner Richard Waller divides his time between Bristol and London. Clients include Acenden, Bank of Ireland, Barclays Bank and Nationwide.
Bond Pearce LLP deals with all aspects of debt recovery for major client B&Q, including unpaid trade accounts and supplier accounts. Gareth Kagan’s team also provides litigation advice to Carlsberg UK, and represents Princess Yachts International and Marks and Spencer.
Clarke Willmott LLP’s Jane Dunlop ‘has built a superb team and works to ensure consistent levels of service’. The group received a new instruction from Thames Water Utilities in relation to the collection of unpaid charges, and acts for various London boroughs with outstanding council tax payments. The team also handles a steady flow of work for Ageas Insurance.
DAC Beachcroft LLP shows ‘in-depth knowledge’ and a ‘very high’ level of service. Team head Giles Hindle is experienced in acting for large multinationals, health authorities, limited companies and family-run businesses. Noteworthy clients include Imperial Tobacco, Burdens, Tyco Fire and Integrated Solutions, and Mitie Engineering Services.
Karen Savage leads Lester Aldridge LLP’s sizeable commercial and consumer debt recovery team, which handles defended and undefended claims and insolvency matters. Sector strengths include banking, motor finance, waste disposal and telecoms.
Ashfords LLP works on the recovery of commercial and consumer debt on behalf of private clients, national accountancy firms, local authorities, and housing associations. Team head Victoria Bonnet leads advice to national lenders on the recovery of unsecured debt.
BPE Solicitors LLP has a branded Debt and Asset Recovery service (DART) which deals with high-volume secured and unsecured debt recoveries for secured lenders, asset finance companies, commercial businesses and public sector institutions. Simon Marks leads the practice.
The ‘friendly’ and ‘very professional’ Amanda Vaughan leads Burges Salmon LLP’s debt recovery team, which is experienced in enforcement officers and third party debt orders as well as bankruptcy and charging orders.
Foot Anstey attracts instructions from clients such as Bank of Scotland and Hitachi Capital. Sian Phillips is ‘particularly good’, and team head Robin Brown is highly experienced.
Hannah Kearns-Pollard handles volume debt recovery at Michelmores LLP, and recently advised on recovery procedures for one of the UK’s largest lottery fund distributors.
Rickerbys LLP’s Colin Gibson acts for a wide variety of businesses in issuing debt claims and enforcing debt judgements. Steven Murray and Claire Preece are very able.
Brian Dolan and Andrew Ring are recommended at Stephens Scown LLP, along with dispute resolution team head Chris Harper .
Ed Husband’s group at Veale Wasbrough Vizards acts for a range of private and public sector clients including EDF Energy, Wiltshire Council and Clifton College. Tabitha Cave is recommended.