Shoosmiths LLP has continued to build out a banking litigation practice, with a particular concentration on asset finance, recoveries, fraud, professional negligence, and contentious regulatory issues. The team appears increasingly engaged on motor finance commission work and related disputes affecting lenders. Jonathan Mills leads the practice and is particularly associated with high-value recoveries, asset finance disputes, and broader lender-side litigation, while Mahesh Vara adds experience across both contentious and regulatory financial services matters. Recent growth in the team, including the arrival of Timothy Pickworth, who jointly heads the wider commercial litigation practice, points to a broader disputes offering around the core banking litigation practice.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Jonathan Mills is a real leader and ensures his clients receive fair pricing, quality legal work, and, where appropriate, settlement at the right level or recovery figures that offset any legal spend. He has built and trained an exceptional team. Mahesh Vara, as Legal Director, was an astute hire and has excellent legal knowledge.
- Shoosmiths has built a banking litigation practice in Leeds under the guidance of Jonathan Mills (Partner) that rivals all in the City. The team undertakes national and international work, with a real emphasis on ensuring (1) brand protection for clients and (2) cost/benefit analysis (including any recovery work). Not many firms have such attention to detail regarding the value of service that Shoosmiths provides.
- The time and effort taken by lawyers at every level to fully understand the business and its desired outcome and cater a bespoke approach to every matter accordingly. Jonathan Mills is an exceptional partner who combines technical excellence with a calm, strategic mindset. Jonathan brings a level of judgment and foresight that is truly stand-out. His advice is consistently trusted because it is informed, measured, and anchored in a deep understanding of both the law and the pressures the business faces.
- The Shoosmiths team stands out for its combination of legal excellence coupled with commercial pragmatism. Rather than offering purely legal advice, the team focuses on solutions that are commercially realistic, strategic, and aligned with the business objectives.
Key clients
- BPCE Equipment Solutions UK Limited
- United Trust Bank Limited
- SAF1 Limited t/a Simply
- Haydock Finance Limited
- Novuna
- Arkle Finance Limited
- John Deere SA
- Advantage Finance Limited
- Close Brothers Limited
- Allica Bank Limited
- Cambridge & Counties Bank Limited
- Honda UK Limited
Work highlights
Advised BPCE on a £1.3m stocking fraud. Pursuing return of the excavators. £400,000 was recovered, dealing with title challenges and settling a claim form and particulars of claim against the guarantor for breach of his guarantee and indemnity following demand.
Advised Southern Water Limited on a £10m overcharging claim for breach of contract.
Practice head
Jonathan Mills; Timothy Pickworth
Other key lawyers
Mahesh Vara