Praised for its ‘wealth of experience and knowledge’, the team at Shoosmiths LLP is particularly strong in acting for clients in the automotive, IT, and technology sectors. Spearheading the practice, Jonathan Smart is located in Solent; he regularly acts for clients such as Honda and Volkswagen Group. Luke Coleborn is ‘an excellent lawyer’ who advises on various shareholder disputes, negligence claims, and breaches of warranties. Shelley White and Laura Clark are also key members of the team; White is recommended for high-value commercial disputes, while Clark has experience with multijurisdictional contractual disputes.
Commercial litigation: Hampshire in South East
Shoosmiths LLP
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Smart
Other key lawyers:
Luke Coleborn; Laura Clark; Harry Warren; Shelley White
Testimonials
‘The team are extremely dedicated, and they work around the clock to get the best outcomes for their clients.’
‘Luke Coleborn is an excellent lawyer who works tirelessly for his clients.’
‘The team’s strengths lie in their proven track record of success in handling complex commercial litigation matters. Their strong reputation in the automotive and technology sectors distinguishes them from competitors.’
‘I would recommend Jonathan Smart. He is bright and a good team leader, directing strategy and considering the merits of a case. He makes sure that work is delegated to the appropriate level of his team. He is extremely user-friendly and manages his clients well.’
‘The wealth of experience and knowledge within the team is phenomenal. They are truly able to deal with the full gamut of commercial litigation.’
‘Jon Smart is an exceptional lawyer whose knowledge and commercial acumen means that he is a force to be reckoned with.’
‘Shelley White is a meticulous and extremely knowledgeable lawyer with a proven track record of getting good results for clients.’
‘Laura Clark is a delight to work with. Instructions are clear, detailed, and helpful. She is responsive to queries.’
Key clients
Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Limited
Hewlett Packard
Three Mobile
Honda Motor Europe
Peugeot Citroen Group
Mercedes Benz
McDonalds
Nissan
London Electric Vehicle Company
RAC
Telefonica
Tesco Mobile
Work highlights
- Acting for the claimant in a high-value claim for breach of fiduciary duties arising from a hack of digital cryptocurrency assets worth in excess of £3.5bn.
- Defending an automotive company from a $19m claim in the High Court.
- Acting for a multinational home appliance manufacturer in a £10m contract dispute.
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
The commercial disputes practice at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP is led by Tom Beezer in Southampton, and is especially skilled at handling matters in the retail, technology, and energy sectors. Ian Newcombe advises on a broad range of claims, including contractual and share purchase disputes, while Andrew Parsons is recommended for matters relating to IT, cybersecurity, and digital media. Amy Prime and Jenny Gibbs are also noted for their assistance on some of the firm’s most important cases; Prime has experience advising on cases in the High Court, while Gibbs regularly advises on data protection breaches. Gavin Matthews retired in April 2023.
Practice head(s):
Tom Beezer
Other key lawyers:
Amy Prime; Jenny Gibbs; Andrew Parsons; Ian Newcombe
Key clients
Centrica
British Gas
Blackbaud
B&Q
Sunseeker
DS Smith
Carnival
Babcock
AIG
Quilter
Post Office
Screwfix
Rentokil
The Body Shop
Scottish Power
Lyca Media Limited
Work highlights
- Acting for The Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade, in a complex investigation relating to the insolvency of the Carillion group of companies.
- Acting for Rentokil, the global pest control company, in a dispute concerning the alleged underpayment of deferred consideration following a corporate acquisition.
- Advising Blackbaud on its response to a data breach involving the hacking of its customer databases.
Blake Morgan LLP
Blake Morgan LLP regularly handles commercial litigation across a variety of sectors, including the sport, retail, and utilities industries. Based in Southampton, Dan Geddes leads the team; he is recommended for shareholder and contract disputes as well as contentious insolvency matters. Richard Portlock advises on professional negligence and judicial review cases. Described as ‘exceptional’, Michael Colledge and Vikki Sidaway are further standout members of the team; Colledge handles disputes relating to insurance coverage and pensions, while Sidaway regularly assists clients with a range of commercial litigation matters. Jill Bainbridge left the firm in April 2023.
Practice head(s):
Dan Geddes
Other key lawyers:
Michael Colledge; Vikki Sidaway; Katie James; Amy Taylor-Morris; Richard Portlock
Testimonials
‘In a crowded field, Richard Portlock stands out in terms of his steady, thoughtful leadership. He has superb tactical skills as well as legal knowledge. He knows his clients, nurtures long term relationships, and he is able to provide clarity and direction in complex disputes.’
‘They have a strong depth of quality and experience. They are a very well organised firm. They are very nice individuals to work with.’
‘Dan Geddes is very savvy with cases and how to best meet client objectives. He is well prepared for cases and has great foresight in litigation. He’s very pleasant to deal with.’
‘Katie James is very experienced, friendly, and bright. She’s always a pleasure to work with. She cares a lot about her cases.’
‘Blake Morgan has a real strength in the size of their team as well as the efficient and professional way in which those different teams interact across practice areas in order to achieve the best results for clients.’
‘Dan Geddes and Amy Taylor-Morris are noticeably adept at covering the needs of business clients in a way which is practical and commercially focused.’
‘Michael Colledge and Vicki Sidaway were exceptional. Their grasp of the relevant law was impressive and reassuring. They also struck the right balance with communication.’
‘Dan Geddes covers both insolvency and commercial matters. He is able to clearly identify the issues in a case and effectively delegate tasks within the broader legal team.’
Key clients
Sutton and East Surrey Water
Specsavers
NHS England
SME Invoice Finance
Work highlights
- Represented NHS England in the successful defence of a challenge to the exercise of its commissioning functions in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
- Represented various professional sportspersons in relation to disputes concerning failed investments, tax schemes, and other contractual disputes.
- Acted for Specsavers in relation to various contentious matters affecting its property portfolio.
Moore Barlow
Moore Barlow advises on a wide range of commercial disputes, including debt recovery work, IP issues, and warranty breaches. The practice's experience encompasses a variety of sectors such as the manufacturing, insurance, retail, and education industries. The team is co-led by Claire Haverfield in Southampton and David Foster in Guildford. Described as ‘a talented litigator’, Haverfield is recommended for contractual claims, while Foster has more than four decades of experience advising on high-value disputes. Noted for her capabilities in the financial services sector, Susannah Marsh regularly advises lenders and mortgage providers. Mark Osgood left the firm in May 2024.
Practice head(s):
Claire Haverfield; David Foster
Other key lawyers:
Susannah Marsh; Sarah Watley; Ben Millward
Testimonials
‘They are a friendly, professional, and knowledgeable team. They are easy to work with.’
‘Ben Millward has always been available for a quick resolution. He’s extremely professional.’
‘They showed attention to detail and a genuine commitment to resolve the issues in a satisfactory way.’
‘Their client care is superb.’
‘Moore Barlow’s commercial litigation team occupies a fairly unique position in the industry, catering for claims by individuals all the way up to major lending institutions and other big businesses. They also have excellent experience in commercial litigation, professional negligence work, property litigation, and judicial review. This allows them to deal with all sides of most commercial disputes.’
‘Susannah Marsh is an excellent partner. She is very commercial and also technically very good. Claire Haverfield is robust and very client focused.’
‘The standout feature of this firm is the high quality of the partners and their dedication to the client’s case.’
‘Claire Haverfield is first-class. She is strategically astute and always has the client’s objectives at the forefront of her mind. She’s a talented litigator who is not afraid to fight in court when required. She also offers sound and realistic advice to clients. She is a great choice for shareholder disputes where there is an IT/IP element.’
Key clients
Tokio Marine HCC
Marriot Hotels
Camila Batmanghelidjh
Business Mortgage Finance 5 PLC
Business Mortgage Finance 7 PLC
Ijarah 3.0 Trust 2022-1
Hansard Trust Company Limited
CNK Alliance Limited
Trimount Properties Ltd
Nahid Residential Limited
Froyle Park Limited
Work highlights
- Acting for Business Mortgage Finance 5 Plc and Business Mortgage Finance 7 Plc in a high-value recovery case before the High Court and the Court of Appeal relating to secret commissions.
- Acting for a Delaware statutory trust in a winding-up petition against a company debtor with a complex multijurisdictional corporate structure.
Paris Smith LLP
Paris Smith LLP routinely advises clients on warranty claims, shareholder disputes, and debt recovery issues. David Eminton heads up the dispute resolution practice in Southampton with more than three decades of experience handling both commercial and property litigation. Helen Brown handles a variety of matters such as contractual disputes, IP infringement work, and professional negligence claims. Praised for being ‘pragmatic and commercially astute’, Chris Holliss specialises in litigation relating to banking and finance as well as insurance issues.
Practice head(s):
David Eminton
Other key lawyers:
Helen Brown; Chris Holliss
Testimonials
‘The quality of service has been first-class, and our experience of the firm has greatly enhanced by the work of Helen Brown.’
‘The quality of advice and work undertaken by Helen Brown has been excellent.’
‘Chris Holliss is pragmatic and commercially astute. He is one of very few lawyers with a solid grasp of both invoice finance and the recruitment sector. He’s definitely our first choice for any commercial dispute.’
‘Chris Holliss is the finest business and commercial dispute solicitor that I have had the pleasure of dealing with. His no-nonsense advice is refreshing. He is an asset to Paris Smith.’
‘The commercial litigation team at Paris Smith is a breath of fresh air in the industry. They are approachable, plain speaking and offer sanity at a time of crisis. Their approach is refreshing and straightforward.’
‘They were extremely thorough and respectful. They couldn’t have been more helpful. They were always available when I needed them.’
‘The team is excellent and very responsive.’
‘Chris Holliss is very skillful. His expertise and grasp of complex scenarios is fantastic.’
Key clients
Greenhalgh’s Craft Bakery
Barfoot Farms Limited
Lewis Kew
Quba Solutions Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Lewis Kew on alleged breach of restrictive covenants as well as the poaching of staff and clients.
- Advised Barfoot Farms Limited on the theft by a former employee of over £750,000 from company.
Trethowans LLP
The commercial litigation practice at Trethowans LLP is a go-to source of advice for both national and international household brands. Heading up the team in Southampton, Karl Cameron focuses on litigation relating to property, construction, and financial services issues. Jennifer Bowes handles a wide range of commercial disputes, including breaches of contract, warranty claims, IP matters, and shareholder disputes. Another standout lawyer is Richard Cook, who advises on a consultancy basis; Cook has a wealth of experience, which encompasses professional negligence claims, misuse of confidential information matters, and claims arising out of asset sale agreements. The team in Bournemouth was strengthened by the addition of Mark Osgood, who joined from Moore Barlow in May 2024.
Practice head(s):
Karl Cameron
Other key lawyers:
Jennifer Bowes; Richard Cook; Robert Bajaj; Mark Osgood
Testimonials
‘They are very competent, organised, and have a commercial focus.’
‘They are prompt with client communications and are able to effectively handle complex commercial disputes.’
‘Karl Cameron is calm, reassuring with clients, and he is always on top of what’s going on. He’s a formidable litigator.’
‘The commercial litigation team at Trethowans is modest in size but punches well above its weight. It acts for high-net-worth individuals up to lending institutions, developers, and other bigger businesses in a variety of commercial litigation.’
‘They are very client focused and commercial in their approach.’
‘Karl Cameron is a strong leader. He is excellent at client management. He’s also a very good technical lawyer, particularly in commercial litigation and professional negligence matters.’
Key clients
STARK Building Materials UK Limited
Industrial Cleaning & Equipment Limited
Great Star Limited
Eagle International Limited
Ministry of Defence
4Com Group Limited
Bacardi Limited
SCCI Ltd
Work highlights
- Advising a client in relation to a claim concerning wrongful trading and preferential payments following the demise of the company.
- Advising a client in relation to a claim in excess of £1m for the misuse of confidential information.
Broadfield Law UK LLP
The team at Broadfield Law UK LLP is led by Philip Smith in Reading, who has experience advising on multijurisdictional claims. Based in the Southampton office, Claire Collings advises on IP disputes, product liability matters, and breaches of contracts. Jacqueline Dickinson is another notable member of the team; she focuses on disputes within the financial services and insurance sectors. Rick Munro has taken on a consultancy role at the firm; he is a seasoned litigator with a depth of experience in resolving shareholder disputes and claims relating to insolvencies.
Practice head(s):
Philip Smith
Other key lawyers:
Jacqueline Dickinson; Rick Munro; Claire Collings
Testimonials
‘BDB Pitmans have an experienced and highly competent team of litigators. They regularly handle high value, complex disputes.’
‘The litigation team is known for its innovative and pragmatic problem-solving skills, which they use to achieve the best outcome for their clients.’
‘The team have a wide range of experience and are competent in handling all types of litigation from subrogated property damage claims to shareholder and partnership disputes.’
‘The team are always conscious to ensure that its clients make commercial decisions when it comes to litigation and are advocates for mediation and other forms of dispute resolution.’
‘Claire Collings is an excellent litigator with a wealth of experience not only in insurance litigation but also in general commercial litigation work. She will strive to go that extra mile, using all of her skills as a litigator to achieve the desired results for clients.’
‘Claire Collings has a real eye for detail. She is straightforward and clear in her communications.’
‘Claire Collings is an extremely thorough, hard-working, and thoughtful practitioner.’
‘Jacqueline Dickinson is very organised, pragmatic, and commercially minded. She advised the client well and ensured that his interests were protected.’
Key clients
SAGA
Mildren Construction
Mears Group
Premier Marinas Limited
Work highlights
- Acting on behalf of SAGA and one other insurer in relation to a claim concerning the escape of water, which caused a sinkhole.
- Advising clients in relation to a sub-underlessee of a property where there has been a breach of covenant not to cause nuisance as well as damages resulting from a fire.
- Acting on behalf of a client relating to claims against a tenant, former tenant, and its guarantor for substantial rent arrears under a lease.
Clarke Willmott LLP
Clarke Willmott LLP regularly handles commercial litigation across a variety of sectors, including the retail, technology, education, and financial services industries. The ‘highly competent’ team is co-led by Owen Williams and Cathy Harris. Williams splits his time between the London and Southampton offices; he is recommended for his skills resolving shareholder disputes. Harris has a breadth of experience advising on defamation claims, contract disputes, breaches of restrictive covenants, and allegations of professional negligence.
Practice head(s):
Owen Williams; Cathy Harris
Testimonials
‘Cathy Harris is terrific. She is friendly. She knows exactly what the right questions and issues are, and she knows how to deal with them.’
‘An excellent team of dedicated, proactive, very tough yet very pleasant people.’
‘Owen William and Cathy Harris are both outstanding individuals. They are attentive, very principled, decisive, thorough, and very pleasant to work with.’
‘Clarke Willmott in Southampton has always been very responsive and kept us up to date with proceedings regularly. They are very thorough. Their due diligence is to be applauded.’
‘Owen Williams is by far one of the best legal professionals we have worked with.’
‘The Clarke Willmott team are highly competent and nice people to deal with. They are experts by virtue of lengthy experience.’
Key clients
Sony Europe B.V
WeBuyAnyPhone Limited
A wholly owned subsidiary of Stockbridge Land Ltd.
Hampshire Sport & Leisure Limited
SME HCI Ltd t/a Vivup
Greene King Brewing and Retailing Limited
Work highlights
- Advising on the judicial developments in Covid-19 business interruption claims to advance Hampshire Sport and Leisure Holdings’ claim for compensation in the sum of £2m.
- Advised WeBuyAnyPhone Limited on its right to seek damages following a service providers’ attempt to renege from an agreed business venture worth in excess of £1m.
- Advising a client on its right to pursue compensation following a landowner’s decision to withdraw prematurely from a joint venture to develop land.
Dutton Gregory LLP
With Andrew Witt spearheading the team in Chandler’s Ford, the commercial dispute resolution practice at Dutton Gregory LLP has a growing presence in Hampshire. Praised for being an ‘outstanding lawyer’, Witt focusses on insolvency matters and shareholder disputes. Jayna Patel is another core member of the team, who specialises in professional negligence claims, advising individuals, financial institutions, and SMEs.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Witt
Other key lawyers:
Jayna Patel
Testimonials
‘Dutton Gregory is a very forward-thinking practice, which works incredibly hard to get the best results for its clients.’
‘Jayna Patel is excellent. She is really pragmatic and cuts through to the core issues. She’s a specialist in professional negligence.’
‘The commercial litigation team has a depth of experience.’
Herrington Carmichael LLP
Herrington Carmichael LLP has a broad commercial litigation practice, which encompasses shareholder disputes, debt enforcement work, and breach of contract claims. Described as ‘an excellent lawyer’ and ‘experienced litigator’, Stephen Baker heads up the team in Farnborough. Frankie Tierney and Edward Jones are also names to note; Tierney focuses on complex litigation and has experience with cases in the High Court, while Jones advises on a wide range of matters, including professional negligence claims, insolvencies, and property disputes.
Practice head(s):
Stephen Baker
Other key lawyers:
James Musallam; Frankie Tierney; Edward Jones
Testimonials
‘The team are very responsive to our needs and provide good, commercially relevant advice.’
‘Stephen Baker provides well-rounded advice. He is very open and honest with any advice and clearly states the boundaries of his expertise.’
‘Herrington Carmichael provide quality legal advice. The people at the firm are professional, personable, and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Stephen Baker gives commercially focused and pragmatic advice. He gives a realistic assessment of your options and potential outcomes so that you can make an informed choice on the best way to proceed for your business.’
‘Stephen Baker is happy to talk through any questions you may have. With his depth of knowledge and experience, he is able to explain legal concepts and litigation processes in an understandable and practical way. He is also a pleasure to work with!’
‘The team has a wide range of expertise in commercial dispute resolution, and in particular in company/shareholder disputes.’
‘Stephen Baker is an excellent lawyer.’
‘Stephen Baker is an expert at dealing with clients. He is an experienced litigator with good judgment. He is also a good team player and enjoyable to work with.’
Phillips Law
Located in Basingstoke, Phillips Law houses a ‘knowledgeable and dedicated’ team that advises on professional negligence claims, shareholder disputes, and debt recovery issues. Leading the practice, Max Hope is ‘an exceptional commercial litigator’, who regularly handles matters relating to property developments. The team was strengthened by the addition of George English, who joined from Gardner Leader LLP in August 2023; English has experience litigating in both the County Courts and the High Court.
Practice head(s):
Max Hope
Other key lawyers:
George English
Testimonials
‘Max Hope is outstanding. He is commercial, knowledgeable, and the right level of aggressive with the opponents.’
‘Phillips never disappoints. They always deliver.’
‘Max Hope is an impressive litigation lawyer. He is very personable with strong morals and principles. His tenacity and unwavering support undoubtedly sealed a successful outcome for me. Max went above and beyond with his availability, reassurance and communication.’
‘The practice has the depth of knowledge and experience to deal with any manner of matters arising. This is very helpful with regard to litigation in particular as the judicial process has a habit of bringing up unexpected issues.’
‘They make you feel like you’re the only client they have. The attention to detail and advice given is comprehensive.’
‘Max Hope is an exceptional commercial litigator who can effortlessly run high value complex litigation in the senior courts. We’re consistently impressed with his grasp of the finer details and the strategic route through litigation to drive the optimum result.’
‘Max Hope is accessible and easy to deal with. It is a pleasure working with him.’
‘The team is very knowledgeable and dedicated. I know that I am always going to get the best outcome as their client.’
Key clients
Kingscastle Limited
Topaz UK Properties Limited
Boldhurst Properties Limited
Savona Foodservice Limited
Lasercharm Limited
Aldershot Town Football Club Limited
Work highlights
- Advising the executors of an estate in the successful appeal of a Supreme Court case concerning issues of contract and restitution law.
- Advising a client in respect to a £3.5m claim for unfair prejudice.
- Advising a client on a professional negligence claim resulting from negligent tax advice.