Commercial litigation

Recognised as a leading Dispute Resolution firm by the UK's top independent legal directories, Chambers and Legal 500, RPC has a large litigation group, capable of handling the most complex cases in any type of commercial dispute both in the UK and overseas. Over 160 of our lawyers are litigators, and this exceptional strength in depth allows us to provide a full spectrum of litigation services. We have the skills to manage a host of disputes, whether in the High Court in London, the appeal courts, arbitration (international and domestic) or in tribunals.

As our client, you'll benefit from the most up-to-date dispute resolution techniques. We use litigation support technology to manage routine tasks in document-heavy cases, releasing our lawyers to perform the more complex aspects of the case and so achieving efficiencies and cost savings for our clients. Where appropriate, we bring together expertise from other areas of the firm to provide a holistic, bespoke service suited to the needs of each case.

While we offer recognised strength in litigation, we understand that commercial relationships are often sensitive and litigation is not always the best solution. We are experienced in mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), so are able to advise if litigation is not the most effective strategy to pursue. Should litigation be the preferred strategy, our experienced specialist litigators have a proven track record in achieving successful outcomes for our clients, whether through the courts or through well-timed negotiations.

• "Clients say the litigation group at RPC offers 'highly pragmatic, constructive and creative solutions" underpinned by "a background of absolutely knowing what's going on legally'" - Chambers UK 2013
• "This impressive team is in growth mode" - Chambers UK 2012
• "Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP rises in the ranking following several impressive hires" - The Legal 500, 2010 edition

Our areas of expertise include:

As well as those areas of specialty listed on our main Dispute Resolution page, we regularly handle disputes for large companies and international corporations, including those focusing on:

• Contractual disputes
• Joint venture and shareholder disputes
• Warranty claims
• Post-acquistion disputes
• Partnership disputes
• Breach of confidentiality
• Enforcement of restrictive covenants
• Asset freezing and tracing
• Recovery and enforcement
• International trade
• Transport

Examples of relevant work

• Acting for the administrators of Ram Media Ltd (BDO Stoy Hayward LLP) in securing a judgment on a contractual claim against the Greek government arising out of the 2006 FIFPro World XI of the Year awards which had been due to take place in Athens but were cancelled shortly before the event. One of the main defences raised by the Ministry was that the award winners (including World Footballer of the Year, Ronaldinho) would not have attended
• Advising a transport company in defending a dispute about delivery of a defective consignment, including advising on Incoterms 2008, which was relevant to resolution of the dispute
• Acting for a distributor in a dispute with a brewery over wrongful termination of the distribution agreement. This was a cross-border dispute involving competition issues, pricing and service levels
• Acting for a professional services firm in defence of a £73m breach of confidentiality claim arising out of the acquisition of a major UK fuel retail network
• Acting for the international security management group in a claim relating to a fire in a compound of armoured vehicles in Baghdad, Iraq, involving jurisdictional issues and the conflict of laws
• Acting for a Michigan based manufacturer of automotive parts in High Court proceedings arising from a dispute over an Automotive Supply Agreement with its UK supplier. The parties are engaged in a classic "battle of the forms" concerning the nature of the contract

To read our Commercial Litigation publications, click here. For more information on our Commercial Litigation practice, contact Geraldine Elliott (geraldine.elliott@rpc.co.uk).