United Kingdom > Yorkshire and the Humber > Dispute resolution
Banking litigation
Banking litigation
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Leeds
- DLA Piper UK LLP Leeds, Sheffield
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- Cobbetts LLP Leeds
- Walker Morris Leeds
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- DWF LLP Leeds
- Pinsent Masons LLP Leeds
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Leeds
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is well known for its presence in the financial sector, and its banking litigation team is regularly involved in high-profile, complex cases and also specialist disputes. The Leeds practice stands at three partners following the internal promotion of Ben Lowans, joining Ian Hastings and Sally Butt.
DLA Piper UK LLP’s banking litigation team is appreciated for its ‘strong legal advice and commercial drive’, and has an enviable client base of major UK and global financial institutions. Recent work includes successfully acting for Barclaycard Business in the Court of Appeal case Lancore Services v Barclays Bank. Other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, BNP Paribas and Lloyds Banking Group. Key contact Hugh Evans is highly recommended.
The team at Cobbetts LLP is led by the ‘extremely able and experienced’ Andrew Bennett, and includes Ciaran Corry, who is ‘clever and tenacious’. It is instructed by clearing banks, mortgage banks and specialist lenders on issues including fraud, professional negligence and defended repossession claims, and recently added Investec Bank and Bank of Ireland to its client roster.
Walker Morris’ practice was recently realigned to sit within the firm’s wider real estate and banking litigation group, and focuses on recovery work for lenders. As well as developing existing relationships with major players such as Lloyds Banking Group and National Australia Group, the firm saw new client wins including Ocean Money. Andrew Beck heads the department.
At DWF LLP, the key contact is Andrew Breckenridge, who impresses clients with his ‘attention to detail’ and ‘decision-making skills’.
Pinsent Masons LLP’s national head of fraud Mohan Bhaskaran has a growing reputation in heavyweight litigation cases.
Squire Sanders Hammonds’ team operates on a national basis, with Simon Miller at the forefront of the practice in Leeds.
Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Leeds
- DLA Piper UK LLP Leeds, Sheffield
- Eversheds LLP Leeds
- Pinsent Masons LLP Leeds
- Walker Morris Leeds
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- Cobbetts LLP Leeds
- DWF LLP Leeds
- Gordons LLP Leeds, Bradford
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Leeds
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Leeds
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- Beachcroft Leeds
- Brooke North LLP Leeds
- Clarion Leeds
- Ford & Warren Leeds
- Harrowells LLP York
- Lupton Fawcett LLP Leeds
- McCormicks Harrogate
- Schofield Sweeney Bradford, Leeds
- Stewarts Law LLP Leeds
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- Denison Till York
- Keeble Hawson Leeds, Doncaster
- Langleys York
- Last Cawthra Feather LLP Bradford
- Lee & Priestley LLP Leeds
- Ramsdens Huddersfield
- Shulmans Leeds
- The Needle Partnership LLP Leeds
- Watson Burton LLP Leeds
Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘excellent’ team acts for an impressive array of FTSE-listed clients and is renowned for its international reach and specialist abilities. It recently advised RTS Flexible Systems in a dispute with Müller over the provision and integration of robotic production lines; and also acted for Liverpool PCT and Royal Liverpool Hospital trust in defending a high-profile judicial review action brought by an anti-PFI campaigner challenging the planned £450m redevelopment of the Royal Liverpool Hospital. Key contacts include Mark Amsden, who is ‘cool and commercially minded’, and Simon Kamstra.
DLA Piper UK LLP has ‘an excellent range of skills’ and ‘a high level of expertise’. The team’s recent successes include defending an application for a Group Litigation Order against Miller Argent on behalf of 517 residents in Merthyr Tydfil, relating to allegations of noise and dust nuisance emanating from the company’s Ffos-y-fran Land Reclamation Scheme. ‘Impressive litigator’ Paul Stone heads the department, which includes the ‘responsive and attentive’ Simon Kenyon. David Young ‘stands out for his business knowledge’.
‘Representing good value’, Eversheds LLP continues to build on its established Yorkshire client base as well as advising a range of UK businesses and multinationals such as DHL, Samsung and Tyco. Recent work includes advising GDF Suez in a breach of warranty claim concerning the purchase of one of Europe’s largest power plants. The team also has considerable recent expertise in procurement disputes. Richard Matthews is the lead partner in Leeds.
Pinsent Masons LLP counts Asda, Nestlé, Tesco and William Hill among its blue-chip clients. It is appreciated for ‘taking the time to understand clients’ businesses’, and is ‘proactive’ and provides ‘appropriate advice’, with ‘excellent response times’. Damian Crosse heads the department.
Gwendoline Davies heads the team at Walker Morris, which has been very active of late, particularly following the addition of David Williams from Squire Sanders Hammonds. Highlights included acting for Montpellier Estates in a deceit claim against Leeds City Council arising from a competition undertaken by Leeds to procure a new £70m arena for the city. Malcom Simpson is highly recommended.
Cobbetts LLP’s team provides an ‘excellent service’ under the leadership of Nick Carr, who ‘takes a common-sense approach’. Recent work includes acting for the vendor in a substantial share sale breach of warranty claim.
DWF LLP’s flourishing practice is headed by the highly respected James Haddleton, and recently recruited Jason Blakey from Dickinson Dees LLP. Key clients include Leeds Metropolitan University.
Gordons LLP counts Morrisons as a client, and recently represented it in a judicial review claim relating to the opening of a new store, opposing a claim brought by Asda seeking to prevent it. Matthew Howarth is recommended.
Irwin Mitchell LLP has an impressive practice, led by well-respected practitioner Nick Bates. Recent work includes defending freezing orders and underlying claims for millions of pounds of damages relating to a dispute between a then Premier League football club and its former chairman.
Squire Sanders Hammonds’ client roster includes the European Commission, Enersys and Safestyle. It successfully represented Northern Rock in the consumer credit case Brooks v Northern Rock. Practice head Simon Miller is ‘a very good leader’, and gives ‘good-quality advice’. Clients also recommend Chris Caulfield as ‘consistently providing a good service’.
Manchester-based Jan Levinson heads the well-respected team at Beachcroft. Clients include various NHS trusts and a variety of insurers. The practice has ‘a good reputation in the market’, as a ‘strong performer’.
Brooke North LLP’s litigation practice is headed by Richard Stockdale, and focuses predominantly on construction and property clients.
Simon Young heads Clarion’s practice, which recently gained new instructions from Grattan and Hesco Bastion, and was appointed to the panel of Yorkshire Forward.
Ford & Warren’s practice head is senior partner Nicholas Collins. Both Collins and John Flint are ‘excellent lawyers and litigators’.
Simon Black leads the practice at Harrowells LLP, which handles disputes for clients including Carter Jonas LLP and Thornaby Town Council. Richard Hugillis also recommended.
Lupton Fawcett LLP’s primary contacts are Paul Houghton and Howard Rutter. The practice acts for a number of blue-chip and international clients, but remains popular among SMEs and OMBs in the region.
McCormicks’ Peter McCormick has an ‘excellent brain’, and Neil Goodrum and James Martin are also recommended.
Schofield Sweeney’s practice is headed by James Staton, who is ‘always pragmatic, intellectually sparky, and a pleasure to deal with’.
Stewarts Law LLP is increasing its capabilities in this area, and was boosted by the arrival in late 2009 of Jonathan Sinclair from Eversheds LLP. Sinclair is ‘very intelligent, analytical and clear thinking’.
Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
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- DLA Piper UK LLP Sheffield
- Nabarro LLP Sheffield
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Sheffield
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- HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP Sheffield
- Hill Dickinson LLP Sheffield
- Keeble Hawson Sheffield
- Taylor & Emmet LLP Sheffield
- Wake Smith & Tofields Sheffield
DLA Piper UK LLP has traditionally acted on contract and trading disputes, with an emphasis on IT and telecoms clients such as Verizon, while others have included Bradford & Bingley and Lombard North. Ashley Mott, Richard Norman and Stephen Sly are the department’s leading lawyers.
Nabarro LLP represents clients from a range of sectors and is particularly noted as having ‘good knowledge of the housebuilding industry’. Practice head Gerard Khoshnaw ‘produces excellent results’. Recent mandates include acting for Persimmon Group in a claim against Great Lakes Reinsurance relating to an ATE insurance policy.
Irwin Mitchell LLP has a particularly strong presence in finance and real estate. The Sheffield team works alongside colleagues in Leeds, and is headed by Nick Bates. Recent highlights include defending freezing orders and underlying claims for damages in a dispute between a then Premier League Football Club and its former chairman.
HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP’s practice is led by Simon Lockley Warne, and is valued for its ‘excellent level of service’. Recent highlights include acting for a Sheffield engineering company in a claim against former directors for breach of fiduciary duty.
Hill Dickinson LLP’s commercial litigation practice was acquired from the now defunct Halliwells, and is headed by Giles Searby. Recent work includes advising Transaction Network Services in a number of significant disputes.
Keeble Hawson appointed Michael Peacock as head of department in 2010. Clients appreciate his ‘consistent advice’.
The 2009 addition of Paul Clarke from DLA Piper UK LLP was a boost to Taylor & Emmet LLP’s practice. Clients praise his ‘fighting spirit and clarity’, and say he is ‘quick to act, respond and explain matters’.
Mark Serby heads the ‘above-average’ team at Wake Smith & Tofields. It recently acted for one of the defendants in a £90m dispute involving claims by a waste management multinational for deceit, breach of warranty and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of its sale to a national metal recycling business.
Commercial litigation: East Yorkshire and the Humber
Commercial litigation: East Yorkshire and the Humber
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- Andrew Jackson Hull
- Gosschalks Hull
- Rollits LLP Hull
Andrew Jackson’s team is ‘professional, competent, committed and honourable’, with capability across a wide range of matters including contractual and commercial disputes, product liability and economic torts. Practice head Hugh Smith is renowned for his ‘razor-sharp mind’ and ‘ability to untangle the small print’. The practice also includes well-respected practitioners Peter Duffus and Jeff Swales.
Gosschalks ‘represents extremely good value for money’, and delivers ‘exceptional service and quality’. Recent highlights include representing Reynolds in a widely reported £1.7m construction dispute relating to the insolvent Trinity Walk development in Wakefield. Nick Dean, Matthew Fletcher and Steve Dillon are the key individuals.
Rollits LLP’s practice is led by George Coyle and Ralph Gilbert, and is popular with clients in the food and motor sectors. Areas of expertise include product liability defence, shareholder disputes and warranty claims. Its reputation also extends to contentious insolvency and recovery work.
Debt recovery
Debt recovery
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- Drydens Bradford
- Incasso LLP (Cobbetts LLP) Leeds
- Optima Legal Bradford
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- DWF LLP Leeds
- Fairfax Solicitors Limited Leeds
- Lee & Priestley LLP Leeds
- Lupton Fawcett LLP Leeds
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- Carrick Read Leeds
- Ford & Warren Leeds
- Keeble Hawson Sheffield, Leeds
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- Clarion Leeds
- Gordons LLP Bradford
- HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP Sheffield
- The Needle Partnership LLP Leeds
The ‘excellent and highly professional’ 22-fee-earner team at Drydens has recently been appointed to several major lender’s panels for secured recoveries work. Philip Holden and Tamsin Cooper are noted for their ‘commercialism, integrity and knowledge’.
Incasso LLP (Cobbetts LLP) ‘knowledgeable and consistent’ team continues to advise the London University Purchasing Consortium and a number of local authorities. It has also recently won mandates from Network Rail Infrastructure and Countrywide Estate Agents. Richard Webb is the main partner contact.
Optima Legal in Bradford has a sizeable recoveries practice led by Philip Robinson, acting for a range of high-profile banks and other financial institutions. Melanie Dickinson joined the firm as head of the debt litigation practice, and recoveries director Kirsty Moffatt is also a new appointment. The firm handles repossession litigation and sales as well as collections and debt litigation.
DWF LLP’s ‘efficient’ debt recovery team acted for a number of new clients including Bank of Scotland and Arkle Finance. It is led by Ron Lack and David Scottow, and has recruited Justin Coley as secured recoveries manager, from Optima Legal.
Fairfax Solicitors Limited was established in 2009 by former Eversheds LLP partner Peter Wordsworth. The ‘excellent’ team provides debt recovery services to central government, and is the only law firm on the HMRC recovery panel. Its advice is ‘clear, succinct and timely’.
The team at Lee & Priestley LLP won mandates in 2010 from several local authorities and utilities companies, and continues to work for SMEs. Steve Bailey leads the team.
Lupton Fawcett LLP has an ‘excellent’ business-focused cash flow services division, advising the firm’s commercial clients. Led by Karen Adams, the team recently received instructions from an airline and a major insolvency practitioner.
Carrick Read is instructed by individual and corporate clients.
The team at Ford & Warren, led by Nicholas Collins, secured instructions from new clients Sell Quick and Express Estate Agents. It also expanded its services to include pre-legal work.
Keeble Hawson acts for a number of the major UK steel stockbrokers as well as several large commercial groups.
Andrew Howard heads the ‘effective’ debt recovery team at Clarion, which saw the arrival of Daniel Carlton from Ford & Warren. The team received instructions from new clients Sanderson Weatherall and the WYG Group in 2010.
Gordons LLP handled work for clients across the manufacturing, retail, construction and banking sectors, such Wm Morrison Supermarkets and Europipes (UK), and is noted as ‘knowledgeable and efficient’. Debt recovery manager Lynne Ord is recommended.
The three-fee-earner team at HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP provides a bespoke service to SMEs and plcs, and is led by Emma Broadhead.
The Needle Partnership LLP acts for a number of international clients in pursuing and defending debt recovery claims.