Litigation solicitors in West Hampstead, London

Our litigation work is for businesses and individuals facing a dispute, whether or not proceedings have started.

• UK-based and internationally-owned businesses, including owner-managed companies, in a commercial or contractual dispute
• Property investors, developers and portfolio landlords in property or landlord and tenant disputes
• Shareholders and partners in disagreement over a company or partnership
• Individuals in a dispute over a contract or property
• Businesses pursuing unpaid debts from other businesses

• Commercial litigation

  Disputes arising from business dealings that cannot be resolved by negotiation. We advise on strategy and prospects from the outset and, where needed, act for you in court proceedings.

• Property disputes

  Contested matters concerning land and buildings, for example over rights affecting a property or a transaction that has not completed as agreed.

• Shareholder and partnership disputes

  Disagreements between the owners of a company or partnership, for example over management, the value of an interest or the terms of an exit. The articles, any shareholders' or partnership agreement and the relevant legislation usually shape the options.

• Debt recovery

  Recovering sums owed to a business, with fixed fees for undisputed business-to-business claims. Our debt recovery page explains the process.

• Contractual claims

  Claims for breach of contract, whether for payment, for failure to perform or for the losses that follow. The starting point is the contract itself, the correspondence and what can be proved.

• Landlord and tenant disputes

  Disputes between landlords and tenants, for example over rent, repairs or the terms of a lease.

• Mediation and ADR

  Negotiation, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, before or during proceedings. Mediation is usually confidential, and a settlement can include terms a court could not order.

• Debt recovery

  Recovering money owed to your business, with fixed fees for undisputed business-to-business claims.

1. Initial review

   We review the documents and the facts, identify the issues and give you our view of the merits, the options and the likely costs.

2. Pre-action steps

   Before a claim is issued, the parties are expected to set out their positions in correspondence and exchange key documents, following any pre-action protocol that applies or, if none does, the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols. Failing to do so can lead to costs penalties.

3. Settlement and ADR

   The courts expect parties to consider negotiation and ADR, and can order them to take part in it. An unreasonable refusal may be taken into account when the court decides who pays the costs.

4. Issuing the claim

   If the dispute does not settle, a claim form is issued at court and served. The defendant may admit the claim, or file a defence and any counterclaim.

5. Case management and evidence

   If the claim is defended, the court allocates it to a track and usually sets a timetable for disclosure of documents, witness statements and any expert evidence.

6. Trial and costs

   If the case has not settled, it is usually decided by a judge at trial. The general rule is that the unsuccessful party pays the successful party's costs, but the court has a discretion and the amount recovered is usually less than the costs incurred. On lower-value claims, the costs that can be recovered are usually limited or fixed by the court rules.

Fixed-fee debt recovery and hourly rates for contested litigation. Where work is charged by time, we will always give you an estimate upfront and keep you informed of costs as your matter progresses. We do not operate conditional fee agreements (CFA / “no win no fee”) or damages based agreements (DBA).

• Renters' Rights Act 2025: key implications for landlords, tenants and property investors7 May 2026