
The team of ‘highly skilled professionals’ at Addleshaw Goddard is adept at contentious asset-based lending, secured lending, regulated lending and fraud matters and acts for a range of UK clearing banks, international banks and financial services providers. Harold Brako leads the team and advises a litany of banks, private equity houses and independent funders in banking, asset-based lending and receivables financing litigation. Helen Jack is an active member of the practice and handles all types of recovery, fraud and enforcement litigation across asset finance, invoice discounting and factoring and Ashlee Simms is well versed in alternative dispute resolution methods. Helen Collinge is instructed by both banks and insolvency practitioners across fraud and asset recovery matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'They are very responsive and knowledgeable. The firm also has great resources and programmes to support in house lawyers.'
- 'Harold Brako and Helen Jack are very knowledgeable and commercial.'
- 'What makes the practice unique is the attention to detail that the individual members put into their cases and helping to educate us on best practice for our situation. It has helped give our company the upper hand many times and brought some very good results.'
- 'They deliver excellent service and are our go-to firm for our larger cases.'
- 'Ashlee Simms & Harold Brako are our main contacts at the firm. Always approachable, very knowledgeable, experienced and nice people to deal with too.'
- 'The team is composed of highly skilled professionals with diverse backgrounds, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. The team excels in finding innovative solutions to complex problems. Members are adept at understanding and responding to our needs, fostering strong relationships.'
- 'Harold Brako is a formidable litigator with worldwide experience and a knack for building trusting relationships with clients. He is also a joy to work with.'
- 'Harold Brako and his team are excellent. Ashlee Simms, Danielle Cooper and Patricia Elder are all experienced and thoughtful in their approach to cases. Ashlee has a keen eye for strategy and is fantastic at keeping counsel involved in cases as they progress which creates a real team approach.'
- 'The team at AG are well renowned as being a formidable banking litigation team and one of the go to firms when complex high value disputes arise.'
- 'The individuals in this practice are distinguished by their exceptional expertise, dedication, and collaborative spirit. They bring a unique blend of skills and qualities that set them apart from competitors.The team prioritises understanding our company and are able to provide advice and a number of options for resolution.'
Key clients
- Amicus Asset Finance Limited
- Ultimate Finance Limited
- Bibby Financial Services Limited
- Kroll Advisory Ltd
- DF Capital Bank Limited
- Time Finance plc
- Genser Energy Ghana Limited
Work highlights
Acting for Kroll as liquidators of the Arena Group of Companies following its collapse in November 2021.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Helen Collinge
Ashlee Simms
Practice head
Harold Brako
Other key lawyers
Helen Jack; Ashlee Simms; Danielle Cooper; Patricia Elder; Helen Collinge