Commercial litigation and disputes

Unless handled correctly, business disputes can be a serious drain on management time and resources; so it’s vital that you hire a commercial litigation lawyer with a high level of skill and experience. At Gaby Hardwicke we aim to resolve your commercial dispute as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, and will follow a course of action that provides the best possible outcome for your business.

Our commercial litigation solicitors will always explore alternatives to litigation, such as finding a resolution through negotiation, mediation or arbitration to save you time and money. However, when litigation is necessary, our specialists will represent you with tenacity and vigour, providing you with strategic advice every step of the way.

The areas of litigation and commercial dispute resolution our experts cover include:

Contract disputes	Director disputes
Property disputes	Landlord and tenant and possession proceedings
Shareholder disputes	Business partnership disputes
Intellectual property litigation	Professional negligence claims
Debt recovery	Disputes with customers
Warranty claims	Company and employee fraud
Health and safety prosecutions

Call us now on 01323 435 900 or email specialist Commercial Litigation Lawyer Jeremy Laws to discuss how we can help you.

What our clients say

I am extremely grateful to you for all the work you have put in [Jeremy Laws] and am delighted with the service you and Gaby Hardwicke have given us... If anything has come from this we have found a great legal resource that has an understanding of our business, [which] is hard to come by. Should we have any other legal issues in the future I feel very reassured that we have someone to call on.

Alexandra Dessauvages, ARA Productions Limited

You have been an absolute star through this [Cathy Allen] and I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.

Tim Swain

After I retired from my legal practice a good number of cases had to be completed by other firms of solicitors. So since I retired I have seen and compared how different firms have handled different cases.

Two of those cases were difficult and the outcome achieved in each was first class, as was Gaby Hardwicke's handling of their client relationship with me. Daniela Catuara, under the overview of Jeremy Laws, handled a commercial litigation claim very well indeed while Antony Caulfield has a safe and extremely competent pair of hands. I shall use him for my own work when the need arises. I recommend the firm most highly.

[Name withheld for reasons of commercial sensitivity]

Many, many, many thanks for your help [Daniela Catuara]! Please pass my thanks on to Jeremy [Laws, Commercial Litigation Partner] as well and thank you both for dealing with it [my matter] at speed. Thank you!

Paul Stace

Recent cases

Shareholders’ and investment agreement claim

Our commercial litigation and dispute resolution team, led by Jeremy Laws, advised an investor on a claim arising out of the breach of a shareholders’ and investment agreement. The first part of the claim was about obtaining access to relevant company records and financial information. The subsequent claim was based on breaches of the contracts and the unfair prejudice of a minority shareholder. Jeremy’s conduct of the claim on behalf of the investor has led to a satisfactory settlement, with the investor now realising a return on his original investment.

Supreme Court success in Hastings Pier litigation

Our commercial litigation team has been acting for the successful claimant, Manolete Partners plc, in its claim against Hastings Borough Council for compensation relating to the closure of Hastings Pier back in 2006. The claim succeeded in the High Court in 2013, and in 2014 the team helped Manolete successfully oppose the local authority’s challenge in the Court of Appeal. Hastings Borough Council then appealed to the Supreme Court and again we secured victory for our client. The case relates to previously untested public safety legislation in the Building Act 1984.

Multi-million pound apartment dispute

Daniela Catuara acted for a client in respect of a dispute concerning a tenancy deposit. The client owned and let out a multi-million pound apartment in central London. Sometime after the tenancy had ended the client found that a judgment in default had been entered against her when she did not receive the claim from the court. Daniela acted for her in negotiating a settlement with the tenant the terms of which included the judgment being set side i.e. removed and the tenant’s claim settled.

Court order for service charge arrears

Our property litigation team, led by Cathy Allen, acted for a freeholder in successfully obtaining a court order for payment of substantial historic service charge arrears. Cathy also secured an order for the payment of the landlord’s costs.