Litigation
UK Guide 2025 : The South
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(023) 8048 2482About
Provided by Paris Smith LLP
KEY COMMERCIAL DISPUTE SERVICES
We can advise on various types of commercial disputes including:
- commercial contractual disputes including insurance disputes;
- director, shareholder or partnership conflicts;
- debt collection;
- intellectual property infringements;
- construction and property disputes;
- professional negligence;
- insolvency issues; and
- judicial review.
KEEPING YOU OUT OF COURT
Mediation is a very successful alternative to court litigation in resolving disputes. It offers a forum in which an accredited mediator – who is of course also a neutral party – acts as a facilitator in order to help parties resolve their differences.
Arbitration might also be an option for you. Arbitration is where an independent arbitrator is appointed by either the parties involved in the dispute or a third party. Decisions on the merits of the dispute by an arbitrator are usually final and not subject to appeal.
Case studies:
- Making a claim for a director and 50% shareholder against her business partner and ex husband for defrauding the company and HMRC by falsely claiming £hundreds of thousands of expenses.
- Defending a director of a failed business against a Director’s Disqualification claim.
- Pursuing one of four directors of an investment company for wrongly extracting the proceeds of sale of a property for her own personal benefit.
- Seeking the liquidator’s consent via court proceedings to use a “prohibited name” of the previous business in a new copyright and designs.
Chambers Review
Paris Smith has experienced teams in Southampton and Winchester and an established reputation on the South Coast. The firm acts for a range of regional and national clients in sectors as diverse as manufacturing, recruitment and financial services. Regularly called upon for its strength in shareholder and payment disputes, the team has additional expertise in contentious insolvency matters and contractual issues.
Work Highlights
- Paris Smith settled a claim bought by the client's former employer over alleged breach of restrictive covenants, and poaching of staff and clients. The claim value in excess of £500,000 settled for £52,000 each side bearing own costs.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"We have high regard for the team's diligence and consistency of high level responsiveness. A service second to none."
"The team always keeps us informed and communication is always same day, sometimes out of hours."
"Paris Smith are always quick responding to our concerns and enquiries. They provide a good, considered and courteous service."
"We have high regard for the team's diligence and consistency of high level responsiveness. A service second to none."
"The team always keeps us informed and communication is always same day, sometimes out of hours."
"Paris Smith are always quick responding to our concerns and enquiries. They provide a good, considered and courteous service."
Notable Practitioners
Chris Holliss advises clients on shareholder and contractual disputes, as part of his wider litigation practice. Based in Southampton, he is also head of the debt collection and asset recovery team at Paris Smith.
"Chris goes above and beyond for his clients, and is a team player who really delivers."
"Chris Hollissis a real hard-hitter with excellent knowledge of industry, commerce and of course, the law."
"Chris is our first choice for any litigation work. He has a strong reputation within the local market and beyond for his knowledge in recruitment and invoice finance litigation."
Helen Brown handles a range of corporate litigation concerning breaches of warranty and fiduciary duties, as well as issues related to shareholder and partnership agreements. She is based in the firm's Southampton office.
"We are very happy to provide a first-class review for the service we have received and continue to receive from Helen Brown."
"Helen showed immense fortitude in a very complex piece of litigation, rolled up her sleeves and really got into the very complex details of the case."
"An exceptionally competent professional."
Ranked Lawyers at
Paris Smith LLP
The South
Members
Provided by Paris Smith LLP
Christina Spiers
Christopher Parsons
Cliff Morris
David Eminton
Head of Department
Diane Godfrey
Emma Cory-Wright
Helen Brown
Jason Oliver
Lisa White
Lucy Andrews
Lucy Taggart
Mike Pavitt
Nicola Davies
Oliver Brady
Peter Ralls QC
Peter Taylor
Rachel Reynolds
Stephen Stafford
Steve Adams