The long-standing commercial litigation practice at Gibson & Co Solicitors Ltd excels across the full range of contentious mandates, with notable strength in banking and finance litigation. Acting for private equity investors, financial institutions, landowners and developers, and individuals, the team is described by clients as being ‘head and shoulders above the competition‘. Toby Gibson heads the practice and takes point on international banking and corporate disputes, working closely with ‘ferociously bright’ and extensively experienced banking litigator Jane Gibson. Michael Reed has a notable focus on advising trustees, landowners, and asset managers, while Lewis Fairfax's varied caseload encompasses contract disputes, which are also a specialism of solicitor advocate Ashley Shickle, and professional negligence claims.

Muckle LLP fields a sizeable and experienced team of commercial litigators who routinely represent companies and shareholders across the full range of contentious commercial cases. ‘Outstanding‘ litigator Susan Howe leads the team and has notable expertise handling multi-party disputes and cross-border matters. Music and media litigation is a standout feature of the firm; George Festing is the name to note here. Leah Heatley focuses her practice on public procurement disputes, acting for contracting authorities, utilities, and unsuccessful bidders, while Alex Speirs leads on contentious trusts and probate work. Construction, oil and gas, and trademark issues also feature prominently in the ‘adaptable, resourceful and practical‘ group’s workload.

With particular experience acting for clients in the healthcare sector, including ambulance services and NHS trusts, and local authorities, Ward Hadaway LLP’s commercial litigation team attracts praise for its ‘great commercial acumen‘.  Practice head Peter Hornsey handles partnership and shareholder disputes as well as contentious intellectual property mandates, while Robert Glassford is the name to note for complex contractual disputes and administrative court claims. Martin Woodford acts on PFI disputes, Tim Toomey is the key contact for IT litigation, and Russell Ward is recommended for employment and professional negligence claims. Also in the core team are Lucy Cleghorn, who is well versed in cross-border work, partnership dispute expert Kirsty Dye, and Rob Eldon, who assists on contentious corporate matters.

With notable strength across the transport, leisure, manufacturing, and energy sectors, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP routinely acts for large regional companies, local authorities, and national corporations on the full range of contentious mandates. Richard Collins oversees the firm’s national commercial dispute resolution practice from Newcastle, and is routinely instructed by local authorities and governmental bodies on procurement disputes. Jonny Gribben has a broad practice with a focus on acting for clients in the North East region, and significant experience handling injunctive applications. Collins and Gribben are supported by a strong team of associates, including regulatory specialist Francesca Hodgson, the regulatory and compliance-focused Lorena Hoxhaj, and Michael Wharton, who assists on contractual, tortious, and procurement disputes. Paul Stewart is now managing partner.

Known for expertise in intellectual property, contentious probate cases, shareholders’ disputes, and professional negligence issues, Mincoffs Solicitors LLP fields a ‘very impressive’ commercial litigation team. Stewart Irvine heads the group and has a broad practice acting for publicly listed companies and owner-managed businesses. Irvine works closely with the ‘dedicated, professional, and thorough’ Jade Watts and the ‘exceptional’ Corrianne Boston. Watts is proficient in intellectual property and contentious probate cases, while Boston is recommended for general commercial litigation matters as well as property litigation.

The ‘consistently high-performing‘ commercial litigation team at Sintons LLP has a particularly strong track record handling contracts and warranty claims, property litigation, as well as shareholder and regulatory disputes. Hilary Waters oversees the department and takes point on tax litigation. Angus Ashman is an experienced contentious commercial contracts expert, and also recommended for real estate disputes, a core pillar of work for the department.  Experience in the healthcare segment is another particular strength of the team; Kathryn Riddell is a key contact here, specialising in acting for NHS trusts and healthcare professionals in clinical and professional negligence disputes.

Working in close collaboration with the firm’s other offices across the region, the ‘technically excellent‘ commercial litigation offering at Weightmans stands out for vast experience in professional negligence claims, shareholder disputes, and claims relating to the breaching of restrictive covenants and statutory duties. Key contacts in Newcastle include Christopher Graham, who is well regarded for expertise in serious fraud investigations, injunctive relief matters, and director’s duties litigation; Jill Dalkin acts for high-net-worth individuals and publicly listed companies on a broad range of commercial disputes, while ‘star performer‘ Mark Reeves assists on franchise disputes, professional negligence claims, and cases relating to the misuse of confidential information.

Clarke Mairs LLP is noted for advising individuals and regional entities on professional negligence, property litigation, and shareholder disputes. Vivienne Burbridge oversees the team and has significant experience in insolvency-related  matters and director’s disqualification litigation. Fred Banning is a key name for professional negligence and breach of contract matters, and frequently handles commercial property disputes.

Hay & Kilner’s ‘standout‘ commercial litigation team has a solid track record advising on cases before the business, property, and technology courts. Practice head Tom Whitfield attracts praise for his strength across the full range of insurance and professional negligence disputes; under his leadership, the team has also recently seen an uptick in instructions related to shareholder and insurance disputes.  Adam Chaffer offers expertise in construction disputes, while the ‘excellent’ Bethany Herbertson is also recommended for trademark infringement claims. Lucy Gray left the team to go in-house in May 2023.