Dispute Resolution
We are experts at resolving disputes whether by negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. We empower you to control the dispute rather than let it control you: results come faster, better, cheaper.
Specialist in dispute resolution
We empower you to control the dispute rather than let it control you: results come faster, better, cheaper.
We are experts at resolving disputes whether by negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation. Working with us, and with our early case evaluation, you will know how likely you are to succeed, the anticipated costs and timescale, as well as the best and worst case scenarios.
We achieve success by having a 3-fold approach to the management of any dispute which involves Feasibility, Risk Specific Investigation and Delivery Stages. Our focus on earliest realistic closure is achieved and managed by financial modelling. This enables any client (claimant or respondent) to ask and answer 3 Key Questions at reasonable intervals during any dispute, namely “How Much”, “When” & “How”.
You will benefit from our insightful and commercial recommendations as regards strategy. Together we will agree our game plan, running alongside you every step of the way to manage your dispute – ensuring you always retain control.
"A first-class and extremely competent firm that came to the aid of a major victims' group when all else had failed to expose the truth and when justice had eluded the group for many years. Having failed to find legal support for so long, Freeths took the victims on board and helped to deliver outstanding success with judgments that have changed so many lives."
Sir Alan Bates
Dispute resolution expertise
- Early case evaluation – an immediate view on prospects, costs and strategy
- Insight at an early stage – deploying dispute strategy, you will benefit from our commercially relevant advice on options, enabling you to make fully informed investment decisions on your case
- We achieve winning outcomes – working with you to map out the “win” scenarios for your business, and agreeing with you an action plan to achieve your objectives
- We focus on efficiency, closure and cost effective solutions, rather than allowing process to accumulate unnecessary cost. We achieve this by deploying sophisticated project management techniques
- As your trusted legal advisors, we will be with you every step of the way, managing your dispute and reporting to you in a way that works for your business
- Our clients consistently return to us for support on their most complex and “high stakes” disputes
- Technology dispute resolution expertise >
- Group actions & complex litigation (Post Office Horizon scandal – lessons learned) >
- Insurance disputes expertise >
Key contact
James Hartley
Partner & National Head of Dispute Resolution
Get in touch
Are you eligible for the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme?
Are you, or do you know someone, affected by a Post Office Horizon-related conviction?
In May 2024, the government passed legislation quashing convictions for up to 950 individuals affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal, most of whom have not yet received compensation for this miscarriage of justice.
We are here to support victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal and help them secure the compensation they are entitled to.
Our Dispute Resolution specialisms
- Assets of Community Value
- Actions Against Directors
- Arbitration Law
- Business Debt Recovery
- Charity Disputes
- Commercial Contract Disputes
- Commercial Mediation
- Corporate & M&A Disputes
- Data Theft & Protection
- Employment Restrictive Covenant Disputes
- Insurance Claims & Disputes
- Injunctions, Emergency Court Relief & Search Orders
- International Litigation, Mediation & ADR
- Partnership Disputes
- Post Office Scandal – Averting Group Actions
- Shareholder Disputes
- Technology Dispute Resolution
- Property Disputes
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of accreditations and rankings.
How we can help you
With key account clients with whom we have built trust-based relationships, we manage our cases through exception reporting – focussing on reporting in figures not words.
We use financial cost plans, and financial predicted outcomes so that client decisions are made at all times on the expected ROI, underpinned by CBA information. These factors, coupled with our natural price arbitrage when compared to other “National & International” law firms, means that we consistently deliver the results our clients deserve cheaper than others in the market.
Should you want your case funded, we have long and trusted relationships with litigation funders. However, we put our money where our mouth is and where appropriate we will share some or all of your costs risk.
- Successfully defended Eurobet UK Ltd in a claim in the High Court for £650k, made by an on-line Italian gambler. The large win by this gambler was the result of a software ‘bug’. The case, which was widely reported in both the national and international media, made The Telegraph’s Top 10 biggest computer failure cases that year.
- Acting for Philips Electronics and Philips Pension Trustees in bringing £300 million claims against Aon Hewitt and AllianceBernstein, for the negligent design and implementation of the pension fund’s investment strategy in 2007. The claim follows on from an earlier claim for £100 million, which Louise acted on against Hewitt in relation to actuarial negligence, which settled successfully following a second mediation.
- Defending a substantial claim issued in the High Court in London relating to the supply of defective fabric by a Turkish company. The case involved a complex paper trail and issues such as security for costs. We had to adopt a robust defence and pursue security for costs, because the claim was spurious and because of its impact on a family run business with many High Street retailers.
- Acting for multiple claimants in a shareholders’ dispute involving a detailed analysis of director’s fiduciary duties in relation to 40% of the equity (with an estimated value of £80 million) in a maritime engineering and naval architecture company in the High Court’s Chancery Division. The case settled on very favourable terms to our clients.
- Currently advising several hundred Sub-postmasters in a High Court Group Action against Post Office Ltd in relation to the Horizon accounting software.
- Acted for Developer threatened with suspension and termination by Design & Build Contractor in works relating to the refurbishment of office premises to residential use. Contractor in delay, fire safety issues to be resolved. Contractor claimed over £2 million. Developer client could not afford to terminate Contractor, however strong the case, because of the longstop date exposure to funders. Dispute resolved by contract variation on “nuisance” terms within 26 days of instruction.
- Mediated in a dispute concerning breach of fiduciary duty against the First Defendant; a debt claim against the Second Defendant and a Petition for relief under s.994 of the Companies Act 2006. The issues in the matter were complex but we were able to achieve a settlement on the day of the mediation.
- Acted for two clients who were due to inherit the deceased’s residuary estate; worth £1.5 million. This was in connection with defending a challenge to the validity of the deceased’s last will on the grounds of lack of capacity and want of knowledge and approval. We secured a very favourable settlement for them, where the disputed will was admitted to probate.
- Successfully resisted a £2 million+ unusual mutual wills case, where it was alleged that because of that mutual will, our client held his late wife’s estate on trust for the claimant (a non-family member). Complex company and estate issues arose, given (i) our client’s 100% shareholding in estate companies and the claimant’s position as director in them; and (ii) the fact that our client and the claimant were joint executors of the late wife’s will. A settlement was reached prior to trial whereby a small % of the £2 million was paid, including costs.
- Acting for a Nigerian oil corporation in ICC proceedings involving complex jurisdictional and res judicata issues. This involved successfully convincing the Tribunal to find that no jurisdiction existed for the Claimant to bring the claim, bringing the international and domestic arbitration actions issued against her client to an early conclusion.
Who we work with
Our clients that we are proud to work with
Testimonials
Thank you for your efforts this week. In a world where law firms experience bad press and excellent customer service is rare, it is refreshing to s...
Client testimonial, Managing Director/Owner
Winston Joinery Group
"Their commitment to innovation shines through their use of cutting-edge legal technology, providing clients with transparent services."
The Legal 500, 2025
"Freeths provide first class legal advice alongside a deep understanding of our needs and objectives as business. Freeths always go that "extra mil...
The Legal 500, 2025
"The team have a pragmatic and common sense approach to litigation, as the Client I feel that they are acting in my best interests and that earning...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Their ability to listen to, and simplify, complex commercial issues has proved invaluable in progressing matters to a reasonable conclusion. They...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Freeths is an extremely strong presence in the market: it is large enough to have all the expertise and resources which a dispute of this nature m...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Freeths always go that "extra mile" and look for ways in which they can add value for the client. They do this by putting in the effort to underst...
The Legal 500, 2025
"They were great, showing quick understanding of the matter and gave very good proposals to solutions. The team was also professional and responsive."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"Freeths consistently provides prompt, sound, commercial advice and has a strong grasp on the complexities of the matters at hand. Its lawyers have...
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"They very quickly get to grips with the background and the issues, understanding the technical side in order to give advice that is tailored to th...
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"Their commerciality, pragmatism, responsiveness, proactivity and communication are all superb."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
Meet the team
Philippa Dempster
Senior Partner & London Office Managing Partner
Richard Beverley
Birmingham Office Managing Partner
Sarah Foster
Oxford Office Managing Partner & Joint Head of Private Client Services
Richard Coates
Partner & Head of Automotive
James Hartley
Partner & National Head of Dispute Resolution
Mark Keeley
Partner & Joint Head of Private Client Services
Will Richmond-Coggan
Partner
Paul Tomkins
Partner & Head of Real Estate Litigation
Richard Fitzmaurice
Director
Andrew Dashwood-Begg
Managing Associate
Emma Fitzmaurice
Managing Associate
Victoria Jones
Managing Associate, Knowledge Management Lawyer
Rosalyn Shephard
Managing Associate
Zalena Vandrewala
Managing Associate
Samantha Fleming
Senior Associate
Sadiea Mustafa-Awan
Senior Associate
Tristan Sharples
Senior Associate
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