Resolving Disputes Effectively
A dispute (whether over an unpaid invoice, a broken contract or a boundary line) can drain time, money and energy. Our litigation team's first question is always commercial: what outcome do you actually need, and what is the most cost-effective route to it? Sometimes that is a firm letter before action; sometimes it is mediation; and sometimes it is decisive court proceedings.
We act for individuals, landlords, SMEs and investors across London, handling disputes from fast-track claims to complex multi-track litigation. At every stage you will know where your case stands, what the next step costs, and what the realistic range of outcomes looks like.
Contract & Commercial Disputes
Contractual disagreements are the most common source of litigation. We advise on breach of contract, misrepresentation, defective goods and services, professional negligence, partnership and shareholder disputes, and claims arising from commercial agreements of every kind.
Before proceedings are issued, the Pre-Action Protocols require both sides to exchange information and consider settlement. Handled well, this stage resolves a large proportion of disputes, we use it strategically to test the other side's case and position yours for the best result.
Property & Landlord-Tenant Disputes
Our property litigation practice draws on the firm's deep conveyancing and commercial property expertise. We handle:
- Possession proceedings and rent arrears recovery for landlords
- Deposit and disrepair claims for tenants
- Boundary, easement and rights-of-way disputes
- Breach of covenant and service charge disputes
- TOLATA claims where co-owners disagree over sale or shares in a property
Property disputes are often as much about relationships as rights, with neighbours, tenants or family members. We aim for resolutions you can live with, not just judgments on paper.
Debt Recovery
Unpaid debts damage cash flow. We run a structured recovery process: a letter before action with a clear deadline, county court proceedings where necessary, and enforcement, from bailiffs and charging orders to statutory demands and insolvency proceedings for the most serious cases. For businesses with recurring debtors, we can agree fixed fees per stage so recovery costs stay predictable.
Mediation & Alternatives to Court
Courts now expect parties to consider alternative dispute resolution, and unreasonably refusing to mediate can carry costs penalties. Mediation, arbitration and expert determination are frequently faster, cheaper and more private than trial. We prepare mediation strategy with the same rigour as a hearing, because a well-prepared party settles on better terms.
Funding & Costs
Litigation costs should never be a mystery. At the outset we give you a realistic costs estimate for each phase, together with an assessment of what you may recover from the other side if you win, and what you may owe if you lose. We review this at every milestone so you can make informed commercial decisions throughout your case.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the value and complexity of the claim. Court issue fees alone range from £35 to £10,000 depending on claim value. We provide a phase-by-phase costs estimate at the outset and explore fixed fees where the work is predictable, such as debt recovery.
A formal letter setting out your claim, the amount sought and a deadline to respond, required by the Pre-Action Protocols before issuing most court proceedings. A well-drafted letter resolves many disputes without a claim ever being issued.
Small claims are typically listed within 6-9 months; fast-track and multi-track cases often take 12-18 months or more to reach trial. Most cases settle before trial, often at or shortly after mediation.
You are generally expected to consider it. Courts can penalise a party in costs for unreasonably refusing ADR, and recent case law confirms courts may even order parties to mediate. It is usually in your commercial interest anyway.
In fast-track and multi-track cases the loser normally pays a substantial portion of the winner's costs, though rarely all of them. In small claims (under £10,000) only limited fixed costs are recoverable, which is why proportionality matters from day one.
Yes. Most contract and tort claims must be brought within 6 years; some claims have much shorter limits. If you think you have a claim, take advice early, waiting can extinguish your rights entirely.