Specialist team:
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Experience:
Ian specialises in commercial litigation, primarily dealing with High Court work. He has particular expertise in the area of professional negligence, prosecuting and defending claims against accountants, surveyors and solicitors. He also has a significant track record in acting on shareholder disputes (S.459 actions), acting for directors in Disqualification Proceedings and in white collar crime matters.
Ian has extended his experience of motor related disputes (eg Autokraft v Ford Motor Co 1991) into a wider motor sport specialism and has built a reputation for providing commercial legal advice to motorsport clients.
Although a commercial litigator by training Ian also deals with non-contentious matters such as the preparation and negotiation of driver management agreements, driver contracts, circuit agreements and the protection and enhancement of intellectual property for motorsport clients. He also advises celebrities and other sports personalities on licensing, sponsorship and other contractual agreements.
He also has particular expertise in advising in respect of the development of sports resorts and the branding endorsement and sponsorship of them.
Ian is a CEDR accredited mediator. He joined Speechly Bircham as a partner in January 2006 from Maxwell Batley where he had been a partner for over 10 years. He trained at Bischoff & Co, and was admitted as a solicitor in 1991. Ian obtained his law degree from the University of Reading in 1988. He is a member of the Motorsport Industry Association.