UK Guide 2026 : Midlands
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Shakespeare Martineau
Our dispute resolution team is a national team with a huge reputation for complex and high value litigation. Clients receive an experienced partner led service supported by a team of talented legal directors, associates and solicitors well known for handling the full range of contractual, commercial and corporate disputes across a broad spectrum of industries including banking and finance, manufacturing and distribution, IT, higher education and energy.
We have experience in international arbitration and ADR and are instructed on cases issued in all levels of the courts and in most arbitral forums. The breadth of matters handled is diverse ranging from general commercial claims to insolvency and corporate disputes, disputes concerning fiduciary duties, contractual disputes, agency and shareholder disputes, breach of sale and purchase agreements, and warranty and indemnity claims as well as professional negligence disputes, financial services disputes, and claims relating to fraud and bribery and conspiracy.
In addition to pure litigation, the team has also built a reputation for international arbitration matters.
Provided by Chambers
Shakespeare Martineau has a well-regarded litigation team in Birmingham that frequently represents national and international blue-chip organisations, including clients in the education, healthcare and energy sectors. The firm handles substantial contractual disputes, shareholder litigation and fraud cases. It also offers the benefit of significant experience in mediation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution.
Provided by Chambers
Shakespeare Martineau represented Sanman Property Management in multiparty litigation concerning the enforcement of the terms of profit-sharing and loan arrangements as part of a joint venture with a development company.
Provided by Chambers
The lawyers don't fold under pressure and are instead very resilient and proactive in their approach with the end goal in sight.
The firm has market-leading knowledge of the energy industry. The lawyers are personable, dynamic thinkers who find practical ways of dealing with the many complexities present in matters.
The advice was very good and practical. The team were very clued-up.
Shakespeare Martineau is very much a national firm with a high profile in company and commercial law work. It is extremely well regarded by insolvency lawyers.
Provided by Chambers
Mark Beesley is managing director of the litigation and dispute resolution group at Shakespeare Martineau. He is well equipped to advise on misuse of information disputes as part of his wider litigation practice.
James Woolstenhulme has a thriving commercial litigation practice that sees him advising on fund recovery, contractual and finance disputes, among other things.
He is really good at defending his clients' interests and seeing matters from their perspective.
He is very focused, knowledgeable and supportive; best of all, he gets results for his clients. I am glad to have him on my team!
James Woolstenhulme is a great guy to have on your side. Tactically, he is excellent and very robust.
Timothy Speed is a disputes specialist with a strong track record in litigation arising from breach of warranty, as well as in corporate- and banking-related matters.
He has offered invaluable support and advice to our business.
He is a great communicator and conveys the recommended course of action with sound logic and clarity.
Litigation
Litigation
Litigation
Provided by Shakespeare Martineau
Andrew Adams
Dan Jennings
Jonathan Stork
Nicola Lediard
Alex Ryan
Steven Skiba
Anton Letten
Natalie Thorpe
Timothy Speed
View profile of Timothy SpeedJames Woolstenhulme
View profile of James Woolstenhulme
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