Housing a ‘strong commercial litigation team’, Ashfords LLP handles director and shareholder disputes, corporate investigations, contractual claims, defamation and reputation management mandates, insurance litigation and professional negligence proceedings, among others. Key clients include start-ups, national and multinational corporations, in addition to private equity investors and other entrepreneurs. Practice leader Andrew Perkins has ‘a wealth of experience’ in shareholder litigation and disputes relating to commercial contracts, while Anusheh Burcher is noted for her expertise in energy cases and insurance litigation, in addition to judicial reviews and procurement challenges. Liam Tolen, who handles reputation management and harassment mandates, is another key contact in the group.

Praised as ‘personable, efficient and excellent with clients’, Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP showcases demonstrable experience in contract disputes, professional negligence claims, property litigation, banking and financial services disputes, insolvency mandates and defamation proceedings. ‘Extremely knowledgeable, client-friendly and experienced in commercial litigation’, Lauren Day jointly leads the team alongside ‘heavyweight litigator and excellent strategist’ William Fox Bregman, who specialises in banking and financial services litigation. Paul Kanolik is commended as a ‘preeminent lawyer in betting and gaming disputes in Dorset’, while Victoria Riddleston handles contentious trust and probate mandates. With an ‘exceptional reputation for advocacy in the county courts’, Conor Maher is another key contact in the group.

Lester Aldridge LLP provides ‘excellent advice’ to clients across the healthcare, IT, telecoms, marine and financial services sectors, with demonstrable experience before the High Court and in arbitral proceedings. The team also acts in high-value claims brought on behalf of companies in formal insolvency procedures. Chris Evans leads the team and handles contract disputes, financial services litigation, professional negligence claims and insolvency proceedings. Both Kate Stewart and Rachel Gimson are noted for their expertise in property litigation, while Ben Kerley acts for and against insolvency practitioners in a broad range of claims.

With demonstrable experience across the financial services, consumer, private wealth and technology sectors, Michelmores LLP handles a broad range of corporate and commercial disputes, often involving cross-border, regulatory, reputation management, insurance and intellectual property issues. Praised for his ‘methodical and pragmatic approach’, practice leader Jonathan Kitchin handles contractual disputes, director or shareholder litigation, insurance cases and professional negligence claims, amongst others. Sara Chisholm-Batten is always ‘equipped to deal with any unexpected potholes along the road of litigation’, and Jayne Clemens is noted for her expertise in reputation management disputes. Other key contacts in the group include Alice Daniels, who handles contentious trusts and fraud mandates, Charles Courtenay and Andrew Oldland KC. Hannah Venn-Munns joined the practice from Wollens in August 2024.

Housing a ‘strong team of dedicated individuals’, Steele Raymond LLP has demonstrable experience across a range of disputes, from construction cases, contractual claims and shareholder litigation to professional negligence proceedings, debt recovery and fraud mandates, amongst others. ‘Exceptional’ practice leader Amelia Williams handles a broad scope of commercial disputes, with notable expertise in professional negligence claims and experience across the real estate and construction, retail, IT, telecommunications and employment sectors. Peter Rolph continues to showcase a ‘depth of experience and broad knowledge’ in construction disputes and contentious employment mandates.

Praised as ‘one of the strongest, all-round commercial litigation teams in the South West’, Stephens Scown LLP handles a broad range of corporate and commercial disputes, with demonstrable experience across the leisure and tourism, charity and manufacturing sectors. Based in Exeter, Catherine Mathews focuses on contractual disputes, while continuing to build her caseload of cyber fraud mandates, and Richard Slater handles shareholder, director, and partners disputes. Toby Claridge spearheads the practice in Truro, and has experience in shareholder and partners litigation, as well as civil fraud cases, while ‘astute litigator’ Stephen Wray leads the team from Taunton.

The team at Foot Anstey has experience in banking and financial services litigation, breach of confidentiality claims, contractual disputes, professional negligence claims and shareholder litigation, in addition to contentious fraud and data protection mandates. Peter Singfield acts for national and international media and retail clients, boasting demonstrable experience in intellectual property and brand protection disputes, while Steven Richards focuses on fraud matters, corporate disputes and contentious insolvency cases. Bristol-based Mark Rhys-Jones leads the team.

Well-placed to leverage the firm’s international footprint to represent clients in cross-border corporate and commercial disputes, Trowers & Hamlins LLP handles energy-related cases, IT litigation, shareholder disputes, fraud claims and contractual issues. Alexander Sharples handles multi-party and cross-border disputes, with demonstrable experience across the energy, IT and technology sectors, while Katie Farmer specialises in contentious insolvency mandates. Charisse Crawford leads the team and Maria Dunn, who acts for clients in the health and social care sectors, is another key contact in the group.

With ‘considerable experience in heavyweight litigation’, the Plymouth-based team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP handles energy disputes, financial services litigation, construction cases and insolvency proceedings, often in collaboration with the firm’s other offices in the UK. Bristol-based Stephen Dilley jointly leads the practice alongside Luke Holmes, who was promoted to partner in July 2023. Holmes showcases ‘impressive experience’ in the energy and financial services sectors, advising on breach of contract and tort claims.

Commended as ‘efficient and transparent, with a great depth of knowledge’, the Blandford-based team at Blanchards Bailey LLP stands out for its expertise in the agriculture sector, with demonstrable experience in handling property litigation and private client disputes. ‘Outstanding’ managing partner Paul Dunlop is noted for his expertise in agricultural cases and probate claims, while ‘second to none’ Ben Jones specialises in real estate litigation and company commercial disputes. Dunlop and Jones jointly lead the team.

Housing a ‘strong commercial litigation team’, Frettens LLP handles a range of cases, from landlord and tenant claims, construction disputes and leasehold issues to negligence mandates, shareholder litigation and breach of contract matters. Practice leader Michelle Hayter’s ‘knowledge is fantastic’ in contractual disputes, property litigation and professional negligence claims, while Anna Curtis is praised as ‘client focused and driven to get the best for all of her clients’ in property and leasehold disputes, in addition to landlord and tenant issues.

‘Outstanding firm’ Laceys is noted for its expertise in commercial claims, landlord and tenant disputes, and contentious probate matters. The Bournemouth-based team is also well-placed to collaborate with the firm’s wider property and corporate departments in cases. Commended for his ‘knowledge, professionalism and calmness’, Brendan Herbert handles corporate and intellectual property disputes, and jointly leads the practice alongside Mark Timberlake, whose ‘extensive knowledge is invaluable’, particularly in landlord and tenant cases.

Paddle & Cocks LLP handles a broad range of cases, from shareholder litigation, contractual disputes, professional negligence claims and contentious insolvency mandates to landlord and tenant issues, and possession claims. Praised as a ‘star of commercial litigation in the South West’, Verona Cocks leads the team in Truro and has ‘unrivalled experience’ in contractual claims, partnership disputes, banking and financial services litigation, and fraud cases.

The team at Wollens showcases a ‘wealth of knowledge’ in shareholder and partnership disputes, property litigation, contentious probate mandates and contractual disputes, in addition to breach of restrictive covenant and confidence claims. Simon Bean leads the practice and handles a range of commercial disputes, from shareholder litigation and negligence proceedings to contractual claims and insolvency cases, among others. Craig Smith spearheads the firm’s inheritance and wills disputes department.

‘With an established reputation for going the extra mile’, Bright Solicitors handles shareholder disputes, contractual claims and injunctions relating to insolvency cases, in addition to contentious estates mandates and property litigation. Praised as ‘reliable for sensible, pragmatic advice, balanced with a commercial viewpoint’, Alex Jeffery leads the practice and is noted for his expertise in breach of director’s duties claims, as well as defending clients facing unfounded insolvency actions.

With demonstrable experience in the rural, food and drink, hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors, the ‘empathetic and responsive’ team at Coodes Solicitors acts for its roster of clients in contractual litigation, shareholder proceedings, rural business disputes and secret commissions relating to financial mis-selling. ‘Professional and hardworking’ Abi Lutey leads the Truro-based practice and handles partnership disputes, shareholder and director cases, and contractual disputes, with considerable experience in the rural sector.

Based in Plymouth, the ‘excellent’ team GA Solicitors handles contractual disputes, breach of a shareholder agreement claims and franchise cases, in addition to contentious trusts and probate mandates. ‘Experienced and knowledgeable litigator’ Ieuan Jones leads the practice and represents clients in shareholders and directors cases, professional negligence claims, in addition to disputes relating to franchise agreements and enforcement of restrictive covenants. Matthew Ellis is another key contact in the group.