Commercial organisations and individuals can be severely financially affected when poorly advised by the very professionals appointed to protect their interests.  Factors giving rise to claims can range from administrative mistakes such as missing time limits, to fundamental errors or misjudgements in the substantive specialist advice the professional was appointed to provide. Our lawyers help individuals and organisations of all sizes to pursue claims against the professionals in question and obtain appropriate redress.

Our team deals with claims involving:

• Accountants and Auditors
• Financial Advisers
• Insurance Brokers
• Pensions professionals
• Solicitors
• Surveyors
• Other construction professionals
• Expert witnesses

Examples of our work 

• Advising a major multi-national chemicals group on the potential for a £1m claim against the insurance broker which placed their EL/PL policies, given a coverage dispute. 
• Acting for an international construction group in adjudication claims valued at £17m in respect of a major infrastructure project. 
• Acting for a company and trustees of a related pension scheme in a claim worth in excess of £10m against their former advisors arising from errors in the advice and documents relating to the scheme. 
• Acting in two of the leading cases on valuer negligence and fraud, including when a valuer can be found dishonest in valuing properties.
• Acting in a £2.5m claim against former solicitors who provided negligent advice in relation to a loan agreement and related charge.  
• Acting in a £3.7 m claim surrounding the negligent valuation of an office building involving an off-shore purchasing structure and allegations of fraudulent conduct.  
• Acting for Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in a £140m TCC claim against construction companies in relation to a new build hospital with multiple high-value defects.

Testimonials 

"The pre-eminent dispute resolution team in the North West. That is reflected in their strength in depth, quality of their work, in the management and supervision they provide and the high level and value of the cases on which they are instructed." - Legal 500 UK (2024)

"Well-regarded team in the region, with strong presence and knowledge of banking and finance-related professional negligence issues in particular." - Legal 500 UK (2024) 

"Strong service joined up seamlessly with other offices, including London" - Legal 500 UK (2024)

It is an exceptional team. Regardless of whichever level of seniority, the service levels, technical knowledge and aptitude are top notch. They have the strength in depth to deal with the full spectrum of issues that may come across a litigator’s desk." Legal 500 UK (2023)

"A strong team of experienced litigators. They bring to their clients’ litigation thorough legal analysis and commercial common sense." Legal 500 (2023)

"No matter which of the team you speak with, you get a consistent level of quality." Legal 500 (2023)

We act on behalf of financial institutions in relation to a wide range of claims against professional advisors including solicitors, valuers and brokers.

We frequently deal with cases where there is an unexplained significant shortfall in recovery and have experience of dealing with investigations into the original transaction and resulting claims. 

We are regularly instructed where our clients or their staff / representatives are accused of fraud, dishonesty or malpractice. We also have specialist experience of carrying out investigations where funds have not been utilised in the agreed manner or where they have been misappropriated. 

Examples of our work

Banking

• Acting for a bank in defence of a £46m claim brought by a former corporate customer.
• Acting in a complex £1.6m claim for a major high street bank against commercial property surveyors regarding a series of defective valuations, including dealing with limitation and causation issues. 
• Acting for a building society in a £3m claim against a top tier commercial real estate and investment services firm regarding the valuation of student halls of residence.

Valuer

• Acting for a bank in a £3.7m claim against one of the UK's leading commercial property valuers in respect of its valuation of an office building. A complex case that involved allegations of fraudulent conduct by a third party and an off-shore purchasing structure, as well as issues of causation and reliance.
• Acting for a bank in a £1m professional negligence claim against a well-known valuation firm regarding a valuation of collateral security, including complex issues of subsequent facilities, secondary valuations and additional development security.
• Acting for a major high street bank against a valuer in respect of a valuation of a mixed use property offered as security for a loan, including dealing with expert evidence regarding the correct basis on which the valuation should have been undertaken.
• Experience of market-leading cases on valuer negligence and fraud, including where a valuer can be found dishonest in valuing property.

Solicitor

• Acting for a bank in a professional negligence claim against a leading international law firm arising from a multi-jurisdictional banking transaction.
• Extensive experience of claims against solicitors including in cases of mortgage fraud, identity theft and negligence. 

Investigations

• Acting for high street lenders in claims arising from misappropriation of funds by customers, professionals and fraudsters including the prevention of a £50m impersonation fraud and an intervention by the solicitors' regulatory body.

Testimonials 

"[The team brings] substantial litigation experience and technical knowledge from acting on behalf of banks including complex and multi-party frauds and high value claims" – Legal 500 UK 2023

"Such a wide and varied knowledge base… There is always someone on hand to help you." – Legal 500 UK 2023 

"First class thinking about the issues at hand and working with their client to achieve the optimum result" – Legal 500 UK 2022

We are an impressive team including leading practitioners at partner and non-partner level.  We offer a flexible and experienced team to suit clients' needs with insight and size to confidently deliver on larger, business critical litigation.  

We regularly act for blue chip corporates, trustee boards, and pensions professionals in negligence claims relating to errors in the drafting of scheme documents, administration practices or professional advice given to the employer or trustee.

EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK

• Acted for an employer and the trustees of a pension scheme on a sex equalisation negligence claim against a leading pensions advisory practice. Obtained very beneficial settlement avoiding trial. This is just the latest example of numerous similar cases.
• Advising parties in a dispute with Scottish Life about a £1 billion plus defined benefit scheme concerning pensions liberation from it to Scottish Life offshore bonds.
• Advising an employer on a number of matters relating to its defined benefit scheme including its options on dealing with a potential error in its scheme rules and a possible rectification action.  
• Advised a corporate client on its dispute with the scheme administrator over the theft of sensitive personal data relating to the client's pensioners.
• Employers regarding claims where problems were discovered with the establishment of a pension scheme that had been in operation for a number of years. This includes communicating with HMRC and TPR and bringing successful claims against professional advisers.

Testimonials 

"The pensions dispute team are a delight to work with. They are a dynamic and holistic team, feeding expertise from the advisory side where necessary, as well as being great team players. Their pensions expertise stands out in a competitive market." - Legal 500 2022 – Pensions: Dispute Resolution

"Valued blend of expertise, experience, conviction and approachability." - Legal 500 2022 – Pensions: Dispute Resolution

"Strong team, good balance of technical pensions knowledge and litigation experience. Involved in some big cases in recent years." - Legal 500 2022 – Pensions: Dispute Resolution