Paula Swain > Shoosmiths LLP > Southampton, England > Lawyer Profile

Shoosmiths LLP offers a multi-disciplinary team and specialises in the recovery of commercial debt, utilising its ‘broad spectrum of talent‘. National clients including national utility companies instruct the team, which deploys specialist lawyers for each debt type. Commended for its ‘unique approach to maintaining relationships with debtors’, the group’s ability to provide a cradle to grave service stands out. Solent-based practice head Paula Swain also heads up the wider business to business debt recovery team nationally.

Shoosmiths LLP‘s dispute resolution and litigation team draws on the firm’s bank of experienced lawyers to act for major brand-name clients in sectors spanning from the retail and leisure industries to the food, hospitality and education arenas, with particularly notable expertise in the automotive and technology industries. The team is led by Jonathan Smart, who is highly recommended for his ability to handle complex cases and navigate media attention, especially for clients in the IT sector. Paula Swain is a specialist consumer finance litigator, known for her in-depth knowledge of consumer credit law, while Shelley White handles asset-based finance litigation and recovery issues, with additional experience in contentious insolvencies. Luke Coleborn is noted for his broad corporate litigation practice, which includes handling partnership and shareholder disputes, breach of warranty claims, breach of contract matters and product liability work.

At Shoosmiths LLP, the national debt recoveries practice is led by Paula Swain based in the Solent office – it manages complex asset recoveries, fraud claims as well as pre-collection litigation for clients operating in the utilities, technology and financial services sectors. The firm has a joint venture business, Equivo, working alongside national recoveries and enforcement business, Chartsbridge from bases in London, Northampton and Manchester. The team has a tracks record of cases before the County and High Courts and has strong experience in insolvency work. Director of client services at Equivo, Melanie Chell,  is the key name for asset-based lending litigation and consumer credit issues.