DWF provides clients with corporate litigation expertise, handling shareholder disputes, director conflicts, and corporate governance issues, as well as contentious earn-out matters, warranty claims, and other post-completion disputes. Joel Heap and Daniel Williams co-head the practice, with Heap specialising in complex disputes arising out of partnership, shareholder, and director agreements, and Williams managing claimant-side professional negligence litigation. Chris Gee is a key contact for business reputation mandates, particularly those involving fraud, reputational harm, breaches of restrictive covenants, and the misuse of confidential information. Andrew Harris retired in May 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- In my experience, the commercial litigation team is partner-led, but with good support from a team of associates and senior associates. I have found the team to be approachable, collaborative, and client-friendly. They bring a good balance of "fight" alongside commercial awareness, in my experience.
- Michelle Maher - a really impressive lawyer who always makes sure clients' needs are paramount; gives very clear explanations of risks.
- A great team of lawyers to collaborate with. Their advice is always very practical and clear.
- Joel Heap - one of the best litigators around. Great commercial acumen and a fighter who clients want on their side. Dan Williams - a great technical lawyer who, the harder the case, the more he likes it!
- Unrivaled experience and skill - they can go toe to toe with anyone.
- DWF Manchester stands as one of the pre-eminent practices in the Manchester market. It consistently attracts high-quality, complex commercial work. The firm's scale and resources give it an edge on major matters. It would be my first recommendation in the market for any shareholder or corporate dispute.
Key clients
- British Airways Plc
- Oak National Academy Ltd
- Bridges Fund Management
- British Telecommunications Plc
- Zeus Group Ltd
- Walker Crips Group Plc
- Serco Limited
- Precision Engineering (Medway) Ltd
Work highlights
Acting for British Airways Plc in a claim brought by up to 6,000 claimants concerning a cyber-attack which took place in 2018, more than six years before the claim was issued.
Advising Project Emmanuel Bidco Ltd on a fraudulent breach of warranty claim against the sellers of Storetec Services Ltd, which was acquired indirectly through a PE stack of companies by Bridges Fund Management Ltd on 31 October 2022.
Acting for Mark Binks, Owen Goschen, and Gary Jefferies, the combined majority shareholders, in respect of a significant unfair prejudice petition brought by Ashley Smith under Section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the software company Bynx Ltd and its subsidiaries, Bynx Europe Ltd and Bynx Australia Ltd.
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 partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Chris Gee
Practice head
Joel Heap; Daniel Williams
Other key lawyers
Chris Gee