The litigation team fielded by BDB Pitmans is well versed in handling a full range of disputes for both foreign and domestic clients, with noted expertise in IT disputes and cases concerning confidential information. Phil Smith leads the team and specialises in TMT disputes, representing some of the firm’s biggest clients in this space. Tim Clark is known for his work in commercial claims and claims for breach of contract, with particular emphasis on those arising out of the IT sector. Sophie Squire is a key name at associate level, possessing experience in court of appeal cases as well as in international arbitration in the LCIA. Jacob Gatley is another key contact.

The commercial litigation practice at Blake Morgan LLP acts both domestically and cross-border for a client base that encompasses corporations, SMEs, financial institutions and public bodies, among others. The group’s deal flow includes construction, insolvency, breach of contract and property litigation matters. Chris Potts heads the department with over 25 years experience in the space, focusing his practice on fraud and insolvency issues, alongside shareholder and company disputes. Nicola Diggle - who now works as a consultant - is well-known for shareholder and contractual disputes, with particular expertise in the IT sector. The team was bolstered by the arrival of partner Thomas Middlehurst from Moore Barlow after Stephanie Walls  retired in July 2022.

Praised for its ‘focused and commercial approach to litigation’, Clarkslegal LLP is frequently instructed by high-end automotive clients on significant and high-profile cross-border disputes. The team is based in Reading and led by ‘great litigator’ Antony Morris. Christopher Tayton, hailed as ‘thoughtful, thorough and balanced’, sports a broad dispute resolution practice which emphasises commercial injunctions and fraud claims. Stephen James is a fellow key contact, notable for his work on contentious construction, employment and insolvency matters. The ‘excellent’ Emma Butcher maintains her strong practice across commercial and property disputes, alongside public procurement and product liability matters.

Osborne Clarke LLP remains a go-to firm for the full suite of commercial and corporate disputes, particularly those arising out of the technology and life sciences sectors, on behalf of an extensive client list that includes fast-growth private equity and venture-capital-backed businesses, alongside major international corporations. Esteemed Thames Valley practitioner Peter Sheppard heads up the department and focuses his practice on complex cross-border work, including litigation, arbitration and ADR. Dawn Troman is known for complex High Court claims as well as arbitral proceedings and has demonstrable expertise in technology-sector disputes. At associate level, Scott Butler is an important point of contact.

Boyes Turner has a strong reputation in the Thames Valley, praised as a ‘professional and well-respected firm capable of handling high value and complex disputes’. The team handles the full suite of commercial disputes, frequently acting on behalf of both domestic and trans-national corporations. Experienced practitioner Rowan Turrall is noted for her robust practice which emphasises disputes arising out of the technology and construction sectors. Ally Tow is another key name for contentious trusts and probate work. August 2022 saw the departure of Stephen Baker to Herrington Carmichael LLP.

Field Seymour Parkes LLP's dispute resolution and litigation team acts on high-value mandates from large corporate clients, particularly those from within the automative sector. Practice head Tom Maple continues to lead on much of the firm’s premium work in the space. Seasoned litigator Bill Dixon is notable for his robust track record in commercial litigation, and is praised as ‘an asset to the profession’.

Freeths LLP‘s Thames Valley-based contingent primarily acts on behalf of corporate clients, but also represents landed estates as well as educational and charitable institutions on a broad variety of disputes. Core pillars of the team’s commercial litigation offering include contractual disputes, fraud allegations, M&A-associated litigation, shareholder conflicts, and IT and cyber issues – to name a few. Caroline Watson leads the team out of the Oxford office, excelling on complicated technology-sector disputes. Director Will Richmond-Coggan is a seasoned litigator, well-known for his work on data protection issues. Managing associate Paul Brown is another key point of contact.

Corporate and commercial disputes, civil fraud and international arbitration are the premium currencies for Gardner Leader LLP's dispute resolution team, which is described as possessing ‘expertise and a client base which is much more stereotypical of a large London practice’. Chris Felton heads up the team, specialising in multi-jurisdictional litigation that regularly sees him act before international courts and in complex arbitration. Health and safety expert and ‘great strategist’ Michelle Di Gioia is another key contact within the group.

Contentious public procurement, judicial review, as well as both high-end commercial and corporate litigation are among the core work streams for the Thames Valley-based contingent of Shoosmiths LLP, which receives frequent instructions from high-profile clients across the retail, leisure and FMCG sectors. ‘First-class litigator’ Fleur Turrington chairs the Reading team and advises on the full suite of commercial litigation matters. Aimee Cook is a fellow core member of the group, focusing her practice on high-value disputes.

White & Black Limited‘s cross-border caseload includes a series of mandates from high-end multi-national corporations. Core pillars of the practice include a focus on contentious technology sector work and intellectual property-related disputes. Praised as ’eminently sensible and highly commercial’, practice head Victoria Wright is particularly strong for IP and major contractual claims. Fellow co-head Tom Carver specialises in intellectual property litigation and is an expert in both patent and design-right litigation.

Blandy & Blandy LLP's Thames Valley-based offering handles general corporate and contract-based commercial disputes, including those with international elements, alongside an emphasis on proactive advice such as risk identification, avoidance and management. David Murray leads the team, and is supported by Debbie Brett on commercial disputes.

Herrington Carmichael LLP sees frequent instructions on high-level commercial dispute resolution mandates, especially those with complex and cross-border issues. Professional negligence and real estate litigation are particular strengths of the team, which was bolstered by the arrival of Stephen Baker from Boyes Turner. Baker now heads the practice group and is praised as an ‘experienced and commercially astute litigator’. He is supported by Frankie Tierney, who excels on complex High Court and multi-party commercial cases. Former practice head Adrian Taylor  departed in June 2022.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is known for its work in general commercial litigation, with specialist advice also including international litigation and arbitration, group action litigation, and banking and finance disputes, among others. The team is led by Clare Arthurs who splits her time between Cambridge and London. Charlie Shillito specialises in financial services and professional negligence claims. Former practice head Emma Davies Day left the firm in February 2023.

Two senior litigators head the practice group at Aston Bond: James Dyche has significant experience in the space on a wide range of commercial dispute matters and leads alongside firm CEO and co-founder Stephen Puri. Commercial and contract litigation, shareholder and boardroom disputes, and IP infringement are among the team’s core focuses.

General commercial work and IP disputes are specialist areas for Howes Percival LLP, which utilises the strength of the former Maier Blackburn practice, which merged with the firm in early 2024. Steven Maier handles the commercial litigation caseload, advising publishing houses and writer’s estates in copyright and trade mark disputes.

SE-Solicitors handles a wide range of commercial disputes but places particular emphasis on restricted governance, injunctions, banking and financial services, insolvency, as well as property disputes. Carol Shaw leads the practice group, whilst Anis Waiz and Petra Van Dijk are important points of contact for finance and banking disputes, and IP litigation respectively.