Praised for ‘collaborating to meet the client’s multiple needs’, Dentons' commercial litigation team retains a reputation as experts in complex commercial and corporate disputes. Rob Francis is an expert in representing both public and private sector clients on high-value work with a particular focus on contractual claims, shareholder, and partnership disputes, while Sarah Rutnah has expertise in contractual disputes, cross-border disputes, commercial fraud and professional negligence claims. Sonia Vilar works closely alongside construction, automotive, and retail clients in contracts and franchising disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Sonia Vilar was absolutely fantastic. Clever, engaged, experienced and hardworking. Everything you want on a difficult trial. It wasn't just Sonia though, the entire team was superb. Real strength and depth at every level of the department. I could not recommend them highly enough. ’
‘Sonia Vilar is an absolute star.’
‘Dentons are not entrenched in the traditional solicitor-client framework: they work seamlessly as an extension of the client’s in-house legal team - flexibly, collaboratively, and cost efficiently. Dentons offer a team of paralegals to manage high-volume work that in-house teams cannot resource.'
‘Working with Rob Francis is like working with a member of your own team. He knows the business. He listens, understands and delivers what I want, whilst pro-actively making his own insightful recommendations.’
‘Dentons is a whole service firm whose strength lies in having expertise from difference practice groups within the firm to build a bespoke legal team collaborating to meet the client's multiple needs.'
‘Rob Francis is a stand out lawyer, calm under pressure, an astute and brilliant lawyer, and a highly effective team leader.’
Key clients
- Department for Business and Trade
- TUI Airways
- IG Index
- NHBC
- Capita
- Mitie Technical Facilities Management
- Blade Motor Group
- John Lewis
Work highlights
Engaged by the Department for Business and Trade to facilitate the GLO Compensation Scheme, which relates to the Post Office Horizon scandal, described as the UK's largest miscarriage of justice.
Representing TUI over group action by eight employees and former pilots against changes to Permanent Health Insurance benefits, claiming contractual entitlement to PHI benefits and seeking damages and a declaration of protection against changes.
Represented IG Index in a claim against businessman Robert Tchenguiz for an outstanding balance on his spread betting account of circa £9 million after liquidating large positions in FirstGroup.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Rob Francis; Sarah Rutnah
Other key lawyers
Sonia Vilar