The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > South East > Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx

B P Collins LLP advises a range of clients across sectors such as environment, waste management, technology, and pharma on matters related to commercial contracts, professional negligence, IP and defamation. Practice head Matthew Brandis specialises in contractual disputes and professional negligence claims. Craig Williams helps manage the team and focuses on corporate divorce, involving shareholder and director disputes. Solicitor-advocate Simon Carroll frequently advises on cases involving an international element, such as jurisdictional challenges.

The Dentons team advises regional and international clients, including bluechip companies and financial institutions, on disputes covering banking, commercial fraud and corruption to product liability and franchising. Practice co-head James Fairbairn handles a wide range of matters, including professional negligence and construction disputes. Practice co-head Tim Constable is known for his work on freezing injunctions and search and seizure orders, as well as international product liability. While the team was previously divided across Milton Keynes and Watford, the Watford base was closed during 2020 after a successful shift to remote working during the coronavirus lockdown. Lawyers and staff previously based there will now work remotely, with the option to use the Milton Keynes office when necessary.

Sherrards Solicitors LLP advises on an impressive range of disputes, covering major fraud, recruitment conflicts, and franchising, retail and bank litigation. The team also handles white-collar criminal matters, defending clients in relation to money laundering, regulatory enforcement, and criminal asset recovery. Additionally, it frequently represents international clients, handling CIS-related matters, the enforcement of foreign judgments and other cross-border issues, particularly in relation to China, the US, and French-speaking countries. Practice head Paul Marmor works on cross-border and multijurisdictional litigation, while Barney Laurence is another key team member. Marta Grieve, who heads up the firm’s Russia, Ukraine and CIS desk, was promoted to the partnership in October 2019. Associate Greg Pooler joined the team from Grosvenor Law in November 2019.

Debenhams Ottaway advises clients on contentious insolvency matters, procedural applications, misfeasance claims, and breach of trust claims. The practice has extended its services to include professional negligence matters and has seen an increase in work in the technology and construction sectors. Juliet Schalker leads the professional negligence area of the practice and has particular expertise in banking litigation, private equity, and contentious insolvency. Commercial litigator Rosie Patterson specialises in IP disputes. Recently promoted senior associate Alex Neale is experienced in M&A and insurance disputes. Senior associate Mairead McErlean joined from Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors LLP in August 2019 and associate Elliot Nathan joined from Dentons in November 2019; former practice head Luke Harrison left to co-found a new firm in London.

Freeths LLP is known for its experience litigating on behalf of clients in the drinks and leisure industries, as well as in transport logistics. Practice head Simon Hobbs , who is based in Milton Keynes, is national deputy head of dispute resolution at the firm and specialises in litigation in regard to professional negligence and IP matters. Andrew Dashwood-Begg is known to be 'very professional and efficient'.

From its Bishop's Stortford base, Tees Law provides commercial litigation advice to many local businesses and substantial farming clients with a particular emphasis on agricultural work, property law and defamation. The practice successfully merged with Wortley Byers in January 2019. Practice head Darren Perks specialises in property disputes, often involving professional negligence and construction matters. Justin Robinson is adept at handling sensitive commercial matters, while Caroline Metcalf has expertise in agricultural disputes relating to partnerships. In November 2019, solicitor Harry Panayiotou joined from Nicholas & Co to specialise in property disputes.

Blaser Mills Law is known for its litigation capabilities in areas such as IP, reputation management, and data protection, with specialist industry knowledge in areas such as home care, and construction, alongside recent expansion into robotics and building. Team head Alka Kharbanda handles mediation and alternative dispute resolution regarding contractual disputes, civil fraud, and contentious probate. Partner Jackie Ray focuses on contract and IT disputes while Sangita Manek has expertise in contractual disputes and contentious probate. Associate solicitor Nina Bhatti joined from PDC Law; senior associate Emma B Dean joined from Royds Withy King.

Longmores Solicitors LLP represents clients in industry sectors such as recruitment and property management; practice co-head John Wiblin has specialist experience in representing clients in the recruitment industry, while practice co-head John Wagstaffe has a focus on property litigation. The bulk of Lauren Mackenzie's instructions are in relation to contentious probate, while junior member Isabel Williams deals with commercial disputes and contentious probate. In 2019, Nat Young joined the practice from SA Law LLP.

The Machins Solicitors LLP team in Luton has recently expanded into new areas of practice, including GDPR and IP related advice. Practice head Neil O’Callaghan has experience in dealing with contentious insolvency work, including pursuing and defending directors for breach of duties, bankruptcy proceedings, and liquidations. Janice Young is a property litigation specialist while Holly Baker works on commercial and property disputes.

From its Milton Keynes base, Shoosmiths LLP advises corporate and commercial clients on range of disputes, including defamation and reputation management issues. It also continues to advise TMT clients on various matters, as well as handling cross-jurisdictional recoveries. Practice head Stuart Montgomery specialises in receiverships, insolvency, and the recovery of secured and commercial debt, as well as partnership and shareholder disputes. Gabs Rodriguez-Cleary was promoted to solicitor in September 2019 and advises on contractual disputes, defamation, and harassment matters.

With three offices in Luton, St Albans and Harpenden, Taylor Walton LLP provides litigation services for both companies and private individuals in the South East and London, with experience spanning contentious probate and property disputes. Practice head James Carpenter specialises in litigation and mediation in relation to professional negligence claims, IP, defamation, civil fraud and contract disputes. Recently promoted partner Saljuq Haider is experienced in contract disputes, construction disputes, and financial disputes.

Nockolds Solicitors advises clients on litigation matters including insolvency, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, professional negligence, and product liability cases. Practice head Daniel Winter focuses on complex commercial contract disputes and professional negligence. Principal associate Alexander Haddad deals with warranty and misrepresentation claims. Lucy Slatter has experience in shareholder and director disputes, professional negligence claims, and IP claims. In June 2019, solicitor Rebecca Antill joined from Collins Benson Goldhill.