FS Legal > Birmingham, England > Firm Profile
FS Legal Offices
1 HAGLEY COURT SOUTH, WATERFRONT EAST
BRIERLEY HILL
DY5 1XE
England
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FS Legal > The Legal 500 Rankings
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the North West Tier 1
FS Legal is known for its ability to deal with high-value, complex litigation for international corporates, local businesses and high net-worth individuals. Kit Sorrell
covers the full spectrum of commercial litigation issues such as shareholder disputes, warranty claims, contractual disputes and expert determinations. He co-heads the team with Julia Norris who is well-versed in professional negligence disputes. Christine Newton  is experienced in the manufacturing and construction sectors while Nicola Stanley  has a specialism in property litigation matters. Practice head(s):
Kit Sorrell; Julia Norris
Other key lawyers:
Christine Newton; Nicola Stanley
Testimonials
‘The wide range of skills and varied experience across the team ensure that the full spectrum of options are explored.’
‘Kit Sorrell’s experience and knowledge of the law is second to none and his ability to being original and creative thinking to the case opens new avenues for resolution.’
‘Christine Newton’s case management skills, tenacity and attention to detail keeps the case on track and minds focused.’
‘Very commercially focused. Good strong team able to communicate and is straightforward.’
‘They have provided me with all legal guidance from the first letter of response, right through to the upcoming ADR process.’
‘A team of strong lawyers carrying out serious cases against London firms, and as good as any firm in the regions. It is a disputes only practice so every decision and recruitment is aimed at furthering that goal; essentially a boutique but from before the time firms started using that expression.’
‘Kit Sorrell – one of the most experienced litigators in the NW, brilliant tactical nous and can still get stuck into excellent drafting when needed. Christine Newton is an excellent lawyer who always goes the extra mile to advance the client’s case.’
‘Communications were swift and very accurate. I was kept informed at every stage and could not have been happier with the outcome.’
Work highlights
- Instructed by clients to defend proceedings brought by the FCA.
Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 2
Boutique litigation firm FS Legal has a strong record in professional negligence disputes; standout recent work includes acting for the defendants in FCA v Steel & Foster, an important case in the pension transfers space. Joint practice heads Kit Sorrell and Julia Norris are recommended for their experience in handling claims against financial advisors and tax advisors. Legal directors Nicola Stanley, Christine Newton and John Colvin support. Practice head(s):
Kit Sorrell; Julia Norris
Other key lawyers:
Nicola Stanley; Christine Newton; John Colvin
Testimonials
‘Excellent attention to detail and timescales coupled with a deep knowledge of client drivers produce an outstanding service with a high level of commercial success.’
‘Kit Sorrell provides full commitment to, and understanding of, a client’s needs and objectives. He is one of the best negotiators I have worked with in complex mediations. He is more than ably supported by Christine Newton in her grasp of the main points of litigation and management of the in-house and external team.’
‘Very commercially focussed. Good strong team able to communicate in straightforward terms. Overall, excellent.’
‘The following have all been outstanding: Julia Norris and John Colvin.’
‘The team keeps me updated in a timely manner and it leaves me with the confidence that their pursuit for a successful outcome is always uppermost. The upfront communication of costs and their negotiation in achieving the best value for money is commendable.’
‘The high level of dedication and compassion that Julia Norris has shown is comforting in what has been a very stressful time. She brings a personal touch to the proceedings along with uttermost professionalism and expertise.’
‘The team was extremely professional. There was a huge amount of information to collate and everyone was very au fait with the details. I think the word ‘team’ cannot be underestimated with this company, everyone pulled together and I felt very much part of this team. I was reassured at all stages with any concerns I had and I was never put under any pressure.’
‘I was given a great degree of information and transparency. Things were explained to me in simple terms which was very reassuring. I was very impressed with Julia Norris and I felt she was living and breathing my case and certainly wanted the resolution that I wanted.’
Work highlights
- Instructed by Mr Steel and Ms Foster to defend proceedings brought by the FCA, seeking an extension of the provisions of Section 382(2) FSMA to authorised IFA individuals.
- Acting for Mr Graham Knights and his companies, Evergreen Trees and Shrubs and Knights Investment Management, in two claims for a combined value of £1.6m.
North West > Insurance > Professional negligence
Boutique litigation firm FS Legal has a strong record in professional negligence disputes; standout recent work includes acting for the defendants in FCA v Steel & Foster, an important case in the pension transfers space. Joint practice heads Kit Sorrell and Julia Norris are recommended for their experience in handling claims against financial advisors and tax advisors. Legal directors Nicola Stanley, Christine Newton and John Colvin support. Practice head(s):
Kit Sorrell; Julia Norris
Other key lawyers:
Nicola Stanley; Christine Newton; John Colvin
Testimonials
‘Excellent attention to detail and timescales coupled with a deep knowledge of client drivers produce an outstanding service with a high level of commercial success.’
‘Kit Sorrell provides full commitment to, and understanding of, a client’s needs and objectives. He is one of the best negotiators I have worked with in complex mediations. He is more than ably supported by Christine Newton in her grasp of the main points of litigation and management of the in-house and external team.’
‘Very commercially focussed. Good strong team able to communicate in straightforward terms. Overall, excellent.’
‘The following have all been outstanding: Julia Norris and John Colvin.’
‘The team keeps me updated in a timely manner and it leaves me with the confidence that their pursuit for a successful outcome is always uppermost. The upfront communication of costs and their negotiation in achieving the best value for money is commendable.’
‘The high level of dedication and compassion that Julia Norris has shown is comforting in what has been a very stressful time. She brings a personal touch to the proceedings along with uttermost professionalism and expertise.’
‘The team was extremely professional. There was a huge amount of information to collate and everyone was very au fait with the details. I think the word ‘team’ cannot be underestimated with this company, everyone pulled together and I felt very much part of this team. I was reassured at all stages with any concerns I had and I was never put under any pressure.’
‘I was given a great degree of information and transparency. Things were explained to me in simple terms which was very reassuring. I was very impressed with Julia Norris and I felt she was living and breathing my case and certainly wanted the resolution that I wanted.’
Work highlights
- Instructed by Mr Steel and Ms Foster to defend proceedings brought by the FCA, seeking an extension of the provisions of Section 382(2) FSMA to authorised IFA individuals.
- Acting for Mr Graham Knights and his companies, Evergreen Trees and Shrubs and Knights Investment Management, in two claims for a combined value of £1.6m.
FS Legal > Firm Profile
Recognised by both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading firm, FS Legal Solicitors LLP (FS Legal) is a specialist firm of lawyers which focuses on complex and high-value litigation while also providing corporate support services.
FS Legal has recently been awarded The Legal 500 ‘Hall of Fame’ in the fields of both professional negligence (insurance) and commercial litigation.
FS Legal, is also a member of the Government’s Northern Powerhouse Partnership Programme. It is one of a growing number of businesses from across the North that is part of the network. Through the scheme, partners work towards building a Northern Powerhouse in four main areas; connectivity and transport, skills, science and innovation, quality of life and culture, and devolution.
The firm typically acts on multi-million-pound claims for high-profile and well-known individuals and companies who seek out the firm based on reputation and word-of-mouth recommendation alone. FS Legal does not act for banks, insurers or other large institutions and prides itself on remaining conflict-free.
The firm: With offices in Manchester and Birmingham, FS Legal has a national presence and boasts a team of highly skilled litigators and corporate lawyers who are renowned as specialists in their field. The firm also has a national network of retained clients who are regulated by the financial regulators (the FCA and PRA) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
The firm specialises in litigation and is particularly renowned for high-profile tax negligence claims in which it frequently recovers seven-figure settlement sums for its clients. FS Legal is also known for dealing with complex commercial litigation including shareholder disputes, contract litigation and construction disputes for national corporations and high net worth individuals as well as professional negligence claims against a wide range of professionals and their insurers.
FS Legal’s lawyers have been recognised individually by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners along with the Manchester Law Society and Birmingham Law Society in their respective annual legal awards. They are frequently quoted in the press including the Financial Times, The Mail on Sunday, FT Adviser, Citywire, Moneymarketing and IFA Online.
Manchester partner, Kit Sorrell, has become the first lawyer in the North West to be inducted into The Legal 500 Hall of Fame for professional negligence work. Kit has been recognised for being at the pinnacle of the legal profession for the last ten years and has also been awarded Hall of Fame status for commercial litigation.
Kit’s Hall of Fame entry for commercial litigation makes him one of only seven lawyers in the North West of England to receive this honour.
Manchester partner, Julia Norris, was invited by Sir Eric Pickles to write a submission on the industry and best practice in the inaugural Law and Justice edition of the 2018 Parliamentary Review with forewords from Prime Minister Theresa May and President of the Law Society, Joe Egan.
Types of work undertaken
Litigation and dispute resolution: the firm advises on general commercial litigation (business and individuals), high-value and complex professional negligence claims, construction disputes, commercial contracts, sports litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of warranty and guarantee claims and international asset tracing. It has a unique and exceptionally high level of experience in the financial services sector, acting for both the professional advisor industry and individual investors and has successfully recovered millions of pounds for investors caught up in failed tax schemes and high-profile fund collapses.
Construction disputes: FS Legal has a specialist team with extensive experience of the technical, legal and practical issues that can arise during construction projects, including claims for payments, damages and defects in design and construction. This team includes nationally renowned litigators. The firm also advises on other forms of resolution that may be available including arbitration, adjudication, ADR, dispute review boards, expert determination or mediation. Where litigation does prove necessary, clients benefit from the team’s recognised contentious capability. It has extensive experience in the Technology and Construction Court and has successfully represented well-known corporate clients and local authorities in disputes with architects, surveyors, engineers, project managers and developers.
Corporate: FS Legal advises many firms on a wide range of issues. The firm’s focus is mainly on SME and owner-managed businesses of all kinds (whether limited companies, limited liability partnerships or unincorporated businesses). It has a down-to-earth and straightforward approach to the matters clients raise, and covers incorporation advice; business sales and purchases; advice to directors and shareholders; shareholder agreements; partnership and LLP agreements; and restructurings.
Commercial contracts: from contracts with suppliers and customers to the engagement of self-employed individuals, FS Legal can provide a variety of agreements to protect businesses, including terms of business; appointed representative agreements; introducer agreements; self-employed contracts; and exclusivity agreements.
Employment: FS Legal has specialist employment lawyers who understand the regulated sectors as well as the dynamic employment law background. The firm covers both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. These include: drafting employment contracts; preparing policies and handbooks; advice on and representation at employment tribunals; compromise (settlement) agreements; and advice on restrictive covenants and business protection.
Pensions including pension schemes and trustee responsibilities: Trevor Clarke, who advises in this field for the firm, has over 25 years of experience in this specialist and highly complex area of law, advising employers, trustees, members and other beneficiaries, investors, investment advisers, fund managers and IFAs, insolvency practitioners, actuaries and accountants, and law firms that require a specialist outsourced pension law service. The firm also provides advice in respect of SSAS and SIPPS.
Notable cases
Halsall v Champion Consulting Ltd [2017] EWHC 1079 (QB)
Represented the claimants in a £6m claim arising out of tax avoidance schemes. This widely reported case is believed to be one of the first claims of this type to reach the courts.
Anthony Barness and Otrs v Formation Group Pls & Otrs
Representing one of the 150 defendants in this multi million pound claim brought by over 260 separate claimants. The claims concern tax avoidance schemes, football agent disputes and allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation.
Representing the claimants in a £9m action arising out of EBT and EFURBs tax mitigations schemes in a claim against their tax advisers and accountants.
Represented a high profile claimant in a £22m claim against his former solicitors, a well known national firm, concerning the acquisition of a substantial shareholding of a UK PLC.
Acting for a group of high-net-worth individuals in a £5m claim against an international law practice arising out of negligent conduct of litigation initially brought against their accountants and tax advisers.
Acting for a client in a seven-figure professional negligence claim against Gibraltar based IFA company arising out of the clients’ investment into a £50m failed investment scheme.
Acting for minority shareholder in a shareholder dispute in relation to his holding in a highly successful engineering company. Action resolved with an order for the purchase of his shares on very satisfactory terms.
Acting for a national property/property development company in Judicial Review proceedings challenging enforcement orders made by the Authority which threatened a regeneration scheme the value of which ran to many hundreds of millions of pounds.
Acting for a sports management company in a dispute over the ‘ownership’ of a very high profile premier league professional footballer.
Acting for Morris Homes Group, the country’s largest privately owned house builder, in a number of complex seven-figure claims against various property professionals.
Representing the claimants in a £4m+ claim against a firm of solicitors in a loss of opportunity claim.
Represented 300+ claimants in a £3m+ claim against a firm of solicitors arising out of the promotion and sale of a land banking scheme involving four substantial land sites across the UK.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managing partner, Manchester | Julia Norris | julia.norris@fsl.legal | 0161 714 4520 |
| Senior partner, Manchester | Kit Sorrell | kit.sorrell@fsl.legal | 0161 714 4520 |
| Managing partner, Birmingham | Paul Crutchley | paul.crutchley@fsl.legal | 01384 88 99 00 |
| Senior partner, Birmingham | Gareth Fatchett | gareth.fatchett@fsl.legal | 01384 88 99 00 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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Martyn Anderson | Solicitor | View Profile |
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Mr Paul Crutchley | PARTNERPaul is the Managing Director of the firm overseeing all of the… | View Profile |
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Mr Gareth Fatchett | PARTNERShortlisted for International Lawyer of the Year by the Birmingham Law Society,… | View Profile |
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Baljit Ruprah | Legal Director, Birmingham | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 4 Number of other UK fee-earners : 15 :- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the North West
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Insurance > Professional negligence
Firm Rankings
- North West > Insurance > Professional negligence