Commercial litigation

Our market-leading commercial litigation department acts on a wide range of disputes for corporates, individuals and other commercial clients. We have a long-established track record of handling the most significant and complex cases. 

Our clients value our ability to handle any commercial dispute and to deliver unparalleled service in terms of quality and efficiency.
 
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

We advise clients in every major industry and sector, ranging from multinational corporations, financial institutions, large and medium sized companies, professionals and trustees to governments, charities, high net worth individuals and their corporate interests.

We offer commercially focused and practical solutions for complex disputes, often assisting clients with interests that cross industries, geographic locations and jurisdictions.

We regularly advise on disputes relating to commercial contracts, trade finance, corporate transactions and governance, joint-ventures, partnerships and shareholder disputes.

We also handle potentially contentious aspects of major corporate and financial transactions, political, cyber threat and sanctions issues as well as disputes involving fraud and injunctions, asset tracing and enforcement strategies.

We have litigation experts in every office who work with each other regularly, so our local lawyers can put together an international team quickly and efficiently.

Our experience means we can anticipate and prevent issues before they arise. We are also trusted to act quickly and effectively whenever urgent action is required.

"Stephenson Harwood has an exceptionally strong commercial litigation team whose lawyers are of the highest quality and totally dedicated to the pursuit of their clients’ interests. Extremely strong on international litigation and investment funds."

The Legal 500 UK 2023

Tchenguiz

In one of the largest disputes of the past decade, the ongoing multi-faceted Tchenguiz litigation, we have achieved a series of victories including securing jurisdiction against Kaupthing Bank Hf and a successful judicial review challenge against the SFO.

Rangers FC restructuring

Acting for the liquidators in relation to all aspects of the liquidation of the most successful domestic football club in the world, including high-profile and high-value litigation in England and Scotland.

Accolade Wines

Acted for Accolade Wines Limited in major dispute in relation to the defective/negligent design and construction of the largest wine production, storage and distribution facility in the UK. 

Big four accountancy firm

Acting for one of the big four accountancy firms in relation to claims of alleged negligent advice made by a commercial client against our client and a major city law firm.

Collapse of Arch-Cru funds

Acted for SPL Guernsey ICC Ltd regarding the collapse of the Arch Cru funds and the related litigation both in the UK and Guernsey including claims against the managers, directors, administrators and auditors.

Mobil v PDVSA

Successfully discharged $12 billion freezing order and brought related damages claims arising out of ICSID and ICC arbitrations between a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil and the Venezuelan state oil company.

Samuel Tak Lee

Acting for a Hong Kong tycoon defending a claim to his Tokyo commercial property portfolio, and winning on appeal in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.  

ETI v Bolivia and Entel

Successfully discharging freezing order before the English Commercial Court and Court of Appeal in telecoms investment treaty dispute under ICSID arbitration rules involving issues of state immunity.

First Media 

Acting for an Indonesian media listco in proceedings to set aside enforcement orders made by the Hong Kong High Court in respect of Singapore arbitration awards obtained by the Malaysian conglomerate Astro.  

Probate litigation 

Acting in a probate action concerning the multi-billion dollar estate of a well-known Hong Kong entrepreneur, including testamentary capacity in the context of dementia and an application to appoint an administrator pendente lite.
Lawyer

Rovine Chandrasekera Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2629
M:  Email Rovine | Vcard Office:  Dubai, London

Lawyer

Kate Cordery Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2397
M:  Email Kate | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Edward Davis Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2327
M:  Email Edward | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Nicolas Demigneux Paris office managing partner

T:  +33 1 44 15 80 00
M:  +33 6 70 08 35 79 Email Nicolas | Vcard Office:  Paris

Lawyer

Richard Garcia Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2346
M:  +44 7811 409 216 Email Richard | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Sue Millar Partner

T:  + 44 20 7809 2329
M:  + 44 7825 625 898 Email Sue | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Ivan Ng Partner

T:  +852 2533 2840
M:  Email Ivan | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong

Lawyer

Daryll Ng Singapore office managing partner

T:  +65 6835 8656
M:  Email Daryll | Vcard Office:  Singapore

Lawyer

Evangeline Quek Office managing partner Greater China

T:  +852 2533 2799 +86 21 2250 6912
M:  +852 9222 4856 +86 136 3217 8216 Email Evangeline | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong, Shanghai

Lawyer

Nicholas Sharratt Partner

T:  +971 4407 3908
M:  +971 52 929 2265 Email Nicholas | Vcard Office:  Dubai

Latest news & insights

01 Jun 2023

From Insights

FRC consults on changes to the remuneration section of the Corporate Governance Code

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published a consultation document putting forward various changes to the Corporate Governance Code (the Code). This article l..

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22 May 2023

From Insights

Resolving dispute resolution disputes: when will ADR provisions be unenforceable?

In Kajima Construction Europe (UK) Ltd & Anor v Children's Ark Partnership Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 292, the Court of Appeal clarified:

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22 May 2023

From Insights

Section 44: fig leaf or shield?

In a short but important judgment (Celestial Aviation Services Limited v Unicredit Bank AG, London Branch [2023] EWHC 1071 (Comm)), the Commercial Court has, for the f..

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17 May 2023

From Insights

Class wars: time to legislate for hurt feelings? (Damages for data breach - Austrian Post)

In Österreichische Post AG Case C-300/21 (the Austrian Post), the CJEU has removed one of the blockers to mass data breach claims in the EU.

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16 May 2023

From Insights

Hong Kong's old letter of no consent regime to return?

Following the High Court's decision dated 30 December 2021 in Tam Sze Leung & Ors v Commissioner of Police [2021] HKCFI 3118 we issued a client alert entitled 'Hong Ko..

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16 May 2023

From Insights

CFA decision: exclusive jurisdiction clauses generally trump insolvency proceedings 香港终审法院裁决:专有司法管辖权条款优先于破产程序

Re: GUY KWOK-HUNG LAM [2023] HKCFA 9 (date of decision: 4 May 2023) 关于GUY KWOK-Hung LAM [2023] HKCFA 9(裁决日期:2023 年5 月4 日)。

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15 May 2023

From Insights

Commercial litigation newsletter - May 2023

This is Stephenson Harwood's bi-monthly commercial litigation newsletter. With these newsletters, we hope to give you updates on interesting cases and news on various ..

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09 May 2023

From News

Ian Childs appointed commercial litigation practice group leader in Hong Kong

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has appointed partner Ian Childs as the practice group leader of the commercial litigation practice in Hong Kong, effective 1 May 2023.

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02 May 2023

From Insights

The FCA's latest Market Watch 73

The FCA's latest edition of Market Watch focusses on their recent market abuse peer review in relation to firms that offer CFDs and spread bets ("CFD providers").

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24 Apr 2023

From Insights

Section 32 of the Limitation Act: multiple lies, multiple limitation periods? (Seedo v El Gamal)

In Seedo v Gamal and others [2023] EWCA Civ 330, the Court of Appeal clarified the way in which s32(1)(a) Limitation Act 1980 applies to claims based on fraud.

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17 Apr 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood promotes eleven to partnership

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has promoted eleven lawyers to its partnership, effective from 1 May 2023.

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11 Apr 2023

From Insights

Time to reap the benefits? The UK's new subsidy control regime comes into effect

On 4 January 2023, the UK's new post-Brexit subsidy control regime officially came into force, in the form of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 ("SCA").

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31 Mar 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood lawyers named in Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers list

12 Stephenson Harwood lawyers have been named Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers in 2023.

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16 Mar 2023

From Insights

Excluding expert evidence - a question for trial? (Fawcett v TUI)

In Fawcett & Ors v TUI UK Ltd, the High Court rejected an application to exclude expert evidence, holding that challenges to the expert's expertise and impartiality we..

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15 Mar 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood retains 82% of March qualifying trainees

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has announced that it is retaining 82% of its trainees who qualify in March 2023. Nine of the 11 qualifying trainees were offered posit..

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15 Mar 2023

From Insights

When conclusive isn't quite conclusive: Sara & Hossein v Blacks

In the recent judgment of Sara & Hossein Asset Holdings Ltd v Blacks Outdoor Retail Ltd [2023] UKSC 2, the majority of the Supreme Court found that the correct contrac..

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.