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

Latest news & insights

05 Dec 2023

From Insights

London Metal Exchange wins High Court ruling over cancelled nickel trades

On 29 November 2023, the Administrative Court handed down its judgment in the case of Elliott Associates L.P. and other and Jane Street Global Trading v The London Met..

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01 Dec 2023

From Insights

Big data - the Financial Conduct Authority proposes individual borrower disclosures in relation to consumer credit firms

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15 Nov 2023

From Insights

The Financial Conduct Authority tells payment services firms to strengthen their anti-fraud systems and improve their treatment of victims of fraud

In this article, we look at some of the takeaways from the FCA's recent review of payment services firms' anti-fraud systems and controls, in particular around authori..

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07 Nov 2023

From Insights

Pinewood Technologies Asia Pacific Ltd v Pinewood Technologies Plc: Exclusion clause prevents claim for loss of profits

In Pinewood Technologies Asia Pacific Ltd v Pinewood Technologies Plc [2023] EWHC 2506 (TCC), the English High Court held that an exclusion clause in a contract effect..

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31 Oct 2023

From Insights

Clearview AI Inc v The Information Commissioner: Clearview AI successfully overturns ICO fine

In Clearview AI Inc v The Information Commissioner [2023] UKFTT 819 (GRC), the First-tier Tribunal overturned a large fine issued by the Information Commissioner's Off..

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10 Oct 2023

From Insights

Whistleblowing in the financial services sector – A global perspective

Whistleblowing is a global issue whether in the financial services sector or more broadly. It is deployed by those with a genuine issue to raise as well as by those wi..

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09 Oct 2023

From News

Trudy Feaster-Gee joins Stephenson Harwood as partner

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has strengthened its commercial litigation practice with the arrival of partner Trudy Feaster-Gee, who joins the firm in London.

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05 Oct 2023

From Insights

The new Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides for the revocation of swathes of EU-retained law relating to financial services and markets

In this article, we highlight the proposed approach of the FCA in relation to this monumental task of replacing those EU rules with new, UK-focussed domestic requireme..

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11 Sep 2023

From Insights

Getting through the new contract gateways in CPR 6.33(2B): Pantheon International Advisors v Co-Diagnostics

In a rare judgment on this complex topic, the court has clarified the operation of the post-Brexit gateways for service out of the jurisdiction without permission unde..

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05 Sep 2023

From Insights

Ready for lift-off? House of Commons committee publishes review of UK's launch licensing regime

This article looks at the most pressing issues identified in the report, relevant evidence provided by some key players in the UK industry, and the recommendations sug..

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31 Aug 2023

From Insights

Privilege in the spotlight: Al Sadeq v Dechert LLP

The recent judgment in Al Sadeq v Dechert LLP [2023] EWHC 795 (KB) provides insight into a number of interesting issues relating to legal professional privilege

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24 Aug 2023

From Insights

Ofgem fines Morgan Stanley for failure to record and retain electronic trading communications following traders' use of Whatsapp on personal phones

We look at the first UK fine for failure to record and retain electronic communications relating to trading wholesale energy products, and ask whether this might heral..

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16 Aug 2023

From Insights

When may an individual be liable to make restitution for regulatory breaches by their firm? The meaning of "knowingly concerned" revisited

The Financial Conduct Authority has the power to seek court-ordered restitution orders against firms, and individual "knowingly concerned" defendants in respect of reg..

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11 Aug 2023

From News

New FCA "Dear CEO letter" sets out wide-ranging expectations and requirements in relation to Principal Trading Firms

On 4 August 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") sent a "Dear CEO letter" setting out their supervisory strategy for "Principal Trading Firms" ("PTFs"). The ..

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04 Aug 2023

From Insights

Asymmetric jurisdiction clauses: A European conundrum - France's referral to the CJEU

Asymmetric jurisdiction clauses generally give one party - usually a bank - the liberty to choose where it brings proceedings.

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31 Jul 2023

From Insights

We are never ever getting back together: getting termination notices right

In Topalsson GmbH v Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd [2023] EWHC 1765 (TCC) the court held that the defendant ("Rolls-Royce") had validly terminated a software agreement wit..

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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.