Addleshaw Goddard’s litigation practice remains a leading force in the North West, distinguished by its depth of expertise and ability to handle complex, high-stakes disputes. The team represents local, national, and global clients in high-profile matters, including insolvency litigation linked to intricate restructurings and pioneering opt-in class actions. Nick Ashcroft leads the practice, advocating for PE houses, major financial institutions, FTSE 100 companies, and high-net-worth individuals. Samantha Haigh has acted on cases at every level of the UK judicial system and before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Catherine Radcliffe provides strategic expertise in mediation and expert determination, while Paul Rowley bolsters the team with his strong grasp of judicial review and regulatory issues. Susan Garrett and Clare Dwyer retired in June and December 2024, respectively.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘AG’s commercial litigation practice is top notch. They have the bandwidth and technical capability to handle the largest and most complex pieces of litigation.'
- 'Nick Ashcroft is down-to-earth and level-headed, he brings a rare breadth of understanding that enables sharp strategic thinking—combined with the tenacity to win. I wouldn’t want to be without Nick on any battlefield.'
- ‘Mark Molyneux is one of the standout litigators in the country. He is strategic, calm under pressure and excellent with clients.'
- ‘Samantha Haigh is technically superb.'
- ‘James Currie is on the path to big things. Very bright and brilliant to deal with. His written work is superb.’
- ‘The team worked well at understanding the wider commercial issues of the matter.’
- ‘Tom Howe handled the matter day-to-day and did a great job talking through points and highlighting risks.’
- 'The individual team members are all incredible.'
- 'Seamless working across different offices and practice areas. Practical advice taking into account business priorities and strategy.'
- 'Jake Minards-Tongue is excellent: knowledgeable about litigation process and strategy, confidently guided us through difficult issues.'
Key clients
- Associated British Foods
- Soteria Insurance
- Co-op Group
- Credico Marketing
- Diageo
- Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank
- Road Haulage Association
- Skanska Construction
- Stroma Building Control
- Tata Chemicals Europe
- Toyota Material Handling
- Stella McCartney
- Currys
- Anglian Water
- Origin Packaging
- British International Investment
- UK NetEase Interactive Entertainment
Work highlights
Defending a claim brought by liquidators against various Cooperative Group companies.
Acting for the Road Haulage Association in a unique opt-in class action seeking to represent several thousand class members.
Acting for Sanlam International Trustees concerning a shareholder dispute valued at $1 billion.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Samantha Haigh
Catherine Radcliffe
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Paul Rowley
Practice head
Nick Ashcroft
Other key lawyers
Samantha Haigh; Victoria Pool; Catherine Radcliffe; Alexandra Seabridge; Lisa Slevin; Jake Minards-Tonge; Hannah Nelson; Joanne Haythorn; Tom Howe; Paul Rowley; Helen Mattingly; James Currie