With a large team, Shoosmiths LLP boasts an impressive commercial litigation practice, handling high-value, complex shareholder, corporate and commercial disputes, often involving cross-border elements. Additionally, it represents major multinational corporates, private equity and investment firms, financial institutions and companies across a range of sectors. Co-leader Hannah Field leads on complex, high-value corporate, shareholder and cross-border disputes. Co-leader Jonathan Smart is adept across the mobility, logistics and manufacturing sectors. Co-leader Peter Richards-Gaskin is experienced in matters relating to professional negligence. Co-leader Andrew Bowden-Brown focuses on tech litigation matters. Co-leader Darren Allen is key in financial services matters. Co-leader Susie Wakefield is knowledgeable in insurance litigation. Matthew MacLachlan, Laura Clark, Luke Coleborn and John Shirley-Rakhra, are key contacts at the firm. Sandeep Challa joined from Linklaters in December 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- The Joint Liquidators for The Food Retailer Operations Limited (In Liquidation)
- UrbanChain Ltd
- Get Living
- Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Ltd
- Opel Automobile GmbH
- Mercedez-Benz
- Gresham House Asset Management Limited
- McDonald's Restaurants Limited
- Honda Motor Europe Limited
- Hewlett Packard Limited
- Estee Lauder Cosmetics Limited
- Three Mobile
Work highlights
Advised the joint liquidators of The Food Retailer Operations Limited (Somerfield) on an £850m+ undervalue and preference claim against The Co-operative Group, one of the largest insolvency-driven commercial claims ever brought in England and Wales.
Advised a leading car manufacturer Opel Automobile GmbH on the successful defence of a High Court claim and ongoing Court of Appeal proceedings in a $21m cross-border contractual dispute involving politically sensitive issues relating to the UK Government’s recognition of Palestine as a state.
Advised Gresham House Investment Management (Guernsey) Limited and Telcom Group Ltd on high-value litigation against a former CEO, including fraud allegations, injunctive proceedings and enforcement of share call option rights.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
John Shirley-Rakhra
Practice head
Hannah Field; Jonathan Smart; Peter Richards-Gaskin; Andrew Bowden-Brown; Daren Allen; Susie Wakefield
Other key lawyers
Matthew MacLachlan; Laura Clark; Luke Coleborn; John Shirley-Rakhra; Sandeep Challa