Commercial dispute resolution

Our Commercial Disputes group has very diverse skills, ranging from acting on commercial disputes, mediations and arbitrations. The lawyers are commercial, approachable and pragmatic and are quick to master a brief and deliver prompt and expert advice in a wide variety of fields. We advise on:

• commercial contract/tort claim
• defamation 
• insolvency 
• intellectual property 
• M&A litigation/arbitration 
• professional negligence 
• shareholder disputes.

Much of our work is in the English courts, but we regularly represent clients involved in disputes governed by English law in other countries around the world. Our clients range from public limited companies, multinationals, SMEs and individuals. Our international and cross-border work includes asset-tracing, white-collar fraud and English law arbitrations of overseas contract disputes. Our group includes two CEDR-accredited mediators.

Experience

Global consultancy v HMRC
Acting for a global consultancy firm in its substantial appeal before the Special Commissioners against a number of tax decisions and determination made by HMRC in respect of a restricted share plan bonus scheme which operated in the period 1999 to 2002.

Boardroom rift leading to the departure of two executives
This AIM listed property company was the subject of a well reported boardroom rift that led to the departure of two executive directors.  We acted for the company in defeating the executives’ interlocutory application for reinstatement as directors and employees of the company and their claim to use the company’s assets in a derivative claim. This was the first reported case on the bringing of derivative claims pursuant to S.260 of the Companies Act 2006.

Defending French chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli, against claim 
We acted for the celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli in his defence of a claim brought by ex-suppliers in the High Court relating to the redevelopment of his cookery school in Luton and his involvement in the business "Edible Garden".

Complex multi-jurisdictional fraud case
Advising a politician and his wife in respect of a civil and criminal investigation into serious corruption and money laundering allegations by the Metropolitan Police and others alleging the defrauding of an African government of US$200 million. We were successful before the Court of Appeal in having it rule inadmissible considerable evidence against our clients which the Metropolitan Police had obtained from Africa contrary to the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between Nigeria and the UK. This hearing also involved the Home Secretary.

Multi-party case with complex issues of contract, partnership and IP law
Acting for a company in what was originally its claim against a former customer for unpaid invoices. The former customer had defended the claim on the basis that it entered into a partnership/joint venture with our client via one of its directors entitling it to a share of a brand they were developing together. Issues arose in relation to ownership of certain IP rights and a domain name.