Brown Rudnick LLP

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Partner

Jane Colston is co-practice group leader of the firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group in London. Her practice focuses on complex and high-value commercial banking, contract and tort disputes as well as company, shareholders and partnership disputes. Jane has acted in numerous complex fraud cases and has extensive experience of forensic investigations, most of which have involved working with teams of investigators and accountants, and coordinating lawyers in multiple jurisdictions to trace and freeze assets. She has managed numerous cases involving freezing, proprietary, search, disclosure, gagging, imaging and delivery up injunctions as well as breach of confidence and privacy claims. Jane is also a CEDR Accredited Mediator.

A significant part of Jane’s practice involves brand and reputation protection for, among others, high-profile individuals, global companies and sovereign states. She has acted in numerous high-stakes, headline-grabbing cases involving millions to billions of pounds, euros and dollars, including international, high-net-worth divorce proceedings, wherein the personal and business reputations, as well as privacy, of those involved were of paramount concern. Clients turn to Jane for sound practical advice on legal and risk management because of her deep technical knowledge and real hands-on experience running cases successfully.

Jane has been ranked Band 1 – the highest ranking possible – in Chambers UK for civil fraud multiple years in a row. The prestigious directory commented that she is “direct, smart and fierce” and “very bright”. One client in particular commented that she is “known for her particular expertise on search orders and has brilliant knowledge of implementing search orders efficiently and effectively." Additional comments included that she is “one of the top fraud lawyers in London” and “Jane is a force of nature as a person and as a solicitor. She commands incredible respect. She is formidable.” She is also ranked in Chambers Litigation Support Guide for asset tracing and recovery. The guide commented that “market peers and clients both past and present consider her to be a strong practitioner and a formidable litigator.”

Jane has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal as a “Global Elite Thought Leader” for Asset Recovery and Commercial Litigation. Peers have called her a “skillful and very adept” and “a very dynamic, tough operator.” Sources have commented, “Jane Colston is a top-class lawyer who garners strong support thanks to her great expertise in high-value commercial banking, contract and tort disputes among others” and have distinguished Jane as “one of the best English disputes practitioners.”

Legal 500 2026 ranked Jane within the “Hall of Fame” for Civil Fraud, describing her as “one of the leading litigators in this field”; as a “Leading Partner” for Banking Litigation: Investment & Retail; and a “Recommended Lawyer” for Commercial Litigation: Premium. Clients have made the following comments in the recent guide: “If you find yourself on the other side of Jane Colston, settle quickly and go home. One of the few lawyers I wouldn't go into battle against, which is why we make sure she's always on our side!” “Jane Colston is smart, hardworking and seemingly always available. She provides excellent tactical advice and outstanding client service, which feels like you are her only client.” “Jane Colston's team was excellent both in terms of legal services and client management.” Legal 500 2025 testimonials included: “Jane Colston is simply wonderful - legally, strategically and technically astute.” “Jane Colston and Jessica Lee are great lawyers with the right blend of strategic and legal wisdom.” “Jane Colston is one of the very best litigators in the market. Hugely effective, efficient, great use of tech and a warmth and an unequalled compassion for clients.” “A wonderful team led by Jane Colston who I rate as one of the best fraud litigators in London. Calm, measured, legally and strategically astute, allied to being incredibly approachable and commercial.” “A stand-out commercial and fraud litigator.” Jane was part of the team which won The Legal 500 award for crime, fraud and licensing in 2018 and 2019.

Jane has substantial experience of acting as a supervising solicitor appointed by the Courts of England and Wales in regard to the execution of search, imaging and door-step delivery up orders and leads Brown Rudnick’s Supervising Solicitors team. Jane also lectures on topics including the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal and insolvency professions at international conferences, such as those hosted by the International Bar Association, C5 Fraud Asset Tracing and Recovery, the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and INSOL Academic Group, INSOL Asia Hub and SGRI (SMU).

Jane is a visible champion for the firm’s efforts to recruit, hire, develop and promote diverse and women lawyers, and actively engages firm leadership to ensure equity and inclusion remain strategic business priorities. From 2020 to 2023, Jane served as the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion partner and worked alongside the director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion to develop and implement the firm’s strategy for maintaining an inclusive work environment.

Jane’s passion for inclusion extends to her practice and external activities. Since 2016, Jane has organized the firm’s Women in Business speaker series, bringing together women lawyers and business professionals from across industries to discuss their experiences in forging a successful path in their chosen careers.. Jane has also spoken at several diversity-related conferences on topics related to inclusion in the legal profession.

Prior to joining Brown Rudnick, Jane co-founded the commercial litigation boutique Masseys in 2004, which was described by The Times as a “go to” for banking disputes. It merged with Stewarts in 2010. She previously worked at Baker McKenzie and Hogan Lovells.

England & Wales Higher Courts in England & Wales Supreme Court of England & Wales

University of East Anglia – LL.B. Law