Litigation Solicitors, Court Solicitors & Dispute Solicitors

Litigation Solicitors

How we can help you with a dispute?

Our litigation solicitors are experienced in all areas of litigation and dispute resolution and will initially assess the merits of any potential claim or defence. We will then provide an honest, robust and pragmatic assessment and opinion on the likelihood of successfully bringing or defending a claim We will not allow you to waste your money where the chances of succeeding in a claim are low. We shall also evaluate alternative dispute resolution options such as mediation and without prejudice negotiations to resolve your dispute quickly and effectively, thereby reducing your costs.  

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0800 567 7595

After 7 hours in Court the Judge dismissed the Claimants case and we were awarded full costs... one of the key factors that the judge took into consideration was the point you picked up... Well done you. Our thanks to you [Chris] and Lisa for your efforts.

Neil Caldwell (Defendant) - Transformed Driveways Ltd (Dissolved)

Our Dispute Resolution Solicitors provide the following litigation legal advice:

Court Solicitors

Contract Litigation and Dispute Resolution

If you have a contract dispute, including breach of contract or you are owed money for services rendered pursuant to the contract  then our Litigation Solicitors can provide expert guidance on how best to deal with your situation, and resolve any potential conflict. You may also wish to terminate a contract which may be challenged by the other party and require advice on the options available to you.  Whatever issues arise from a contract dispute, we an offer advice and assistance from dealing with pre-action issues through to court proceedings if necessary.

Commercial and Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Our Dispute Resolution Solicitors provide advice on all aspects of commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Our approach from the outset is to consider the merits of your claim or defence and any counterclaim and determine the most appropriate solution for resolving the matter in the quickest and most cost effective way. 

Dispute Solicitors

Property Litigation and Dispute Resolution

If you are involved in either a commercial or residential property dispute  our Dispute Resolution team can assist you. We have extensive experience of advising on landlord and tenant issues, forfeiture claims, breach of the terms of a lease, rent arrears and lease renewals. We also advise on property ownership issues.  Our Property Litigation Solicitors also deal with neighbour disputes to include boundary disputes and noise and nuisance claims

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Shareholder Litigation and Disputes

If you are a shareholder, who believes that actions taken by other shareholders and/ or directors have been unfairly prejudicial to you, then our Litigation team can assist you. Our Dispute Resolution lawyers have extensive experience of advising on section 994 Companies Act 2006 remedies.

Director Litigation and Disputes

Our Dispute Resolution solicitors have a wealth of expertise advising on breach of director’s duties, breach of common law duty of care, wrongful trading and director disqualification. We will try to resolve any dispute with minimal disruption to you and your business.

Employment Litigation and Disputes

We advise on all areas of employment litigation including unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, constructive dismissal, discrimination and breach of contract.  We offer advice and assistance in the preparation of and/or advising on settlement agreements in the event your employment has come to an end.

Tort and Negligence Litigation and Disputes

Our Dispute Resolution Solicitors advise on all types of tortious claims including negligence.  This may include a claim against an individual or a professional who has failed to carry out their duty of care in a proper manner causing loss and damage to you.

What to do if you are involved in any type of dispute

It is important when involved in a dispute that you keep detailed records of all contractual documentation and correspondence with those involved.  You should ensure that where variations to a contract are agreed these are documented in writing.   Documentary evidence will assist you in setting out your position clearly and will support any claims to be made.  It is also beneficial to seek advice at an early stage to ensure that your actions and/or correspondence do not prejudice your position should a claim become necessary.

Helpful Tips to resolve a Dispute.

  • Each party should set out details of their respective positions (whether it is a claim, defence or counterclaim), with supporting evidence, as soon as possible, thereby enabling the other party to evaluate each party’s respective position.
  • In our experience dispute resolution will be more effective in circumstances where each party has objectively considered and evaluated the merits and risks of their case. In certain instances, it might be appropriate to obtain an independent opinion and assessment of your case, so you can determine how to approach settlement discussions.
  • Once you are ready to commence settlement negotiations, then you could adopt, where applicable, the following procedures and mechanisms to resolve your dispute:
    • Without Prejudice Offers – you could make a written without prejudice offer to your opponent, which includes full details of your settlement offer.
    • You might consider imposing a time-period, within which the offer must be accepted.
    • You should also determine whether the offer should be subject to contract.
  • Mediation – you could appoint a third-party mediator to mediate the dispute. This can be an effective way of resolving cases, but it is dependent on the parties being realistic about their position and the prospect of success. We have trained mediators who can assist with dispute resolution.
  • Other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms – there are other ways to settle disputes and we would be very happy to advise you on this, should you require further assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a solicitor cost for court?

How much a solicitor costs to go to court, depends on the nature of your claim, its value and the complexity of your case. It also depends on the type of hearing at court. The solicitor’s cost will generally be based on either an hourly charge out rate, or an agreed fixed fee to attend court, which should be pre-agreed with your representative. If it is based on an hourly rate, it would be advisable to get a fee estimate, which will generally be based on the length of time to prepare for the hearing and to attend court. If you have recently instructed your solicitor, it would be a good idea to include details of the fee structure in the engagement letter. It is also a good idea to question the likelihood of your opponent being liable for your costs.

Do I need a solicitor to go to court?

The first point to make in answering whether you need a solicitor to go to court, is that it is generally not a legal requirement, therefore unless you are notified otherwise, you can attend in person. Whether this is prudent and advisable in the circumstances, depends on the complexity of your case and whether you feel confident that you have the necessary knowledge and expertise. There are clearly advantages in appointing a solicitor to attend court, based on their legal expertise and experience. There are also down sides, one of which is that it will incur a fee. However, if you are unsuccessful in court, you maybe be ordered to pay some, or all of your opponent legal fees. You should also note that there is an alternative option of appointing a barrister to attend court on your behalf.

How much does it cost to take people to court?

The court fees payable to issue a court claim for sums between £0.00 - £10,000 range from £35 to £455 dependent on the value of your claim. Fees for larger claims up to £200,00 are 5% of the value of your claim to a maximum of £10,000

Who pays your court costs in the UK?

In small claims matters being claims up to £10,000 there is a no costs rule meaning no costs are recoverable in the event you are successful with your claim. Claims between £10,000 - £100,000 fall within the Fixed Costs regime which limits the costs you can recover dependent on the stage in the proceedings you have reached.

Testimonial

After 7 hours in Court the Judge dismissed the Claimants case and we were awarded full costs... one of the key factors that the judge took into consideration was the point you picked up... Well done you. Our thanks to you [Chris] and Lisa for your efforts.

Neil Caldwell (Defendant) - Transformed Driveways Ltd (Dissolved)

Offices & geographic areas

We have offices in London, Birmingham, Cambridge, Oxford (all by appointment only), Leicester and our administrative office is in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

All correspondence and post should be sent to our Administrative office in Market Harborough and we shall not be liable in the event that correspondence is sent elsewhere.

We provide legal services for

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0800 567 7595

Get in touch with us today!

Contact us on 0800 567 7595 or alternatively on the various office telephone numbers as follows: All correspondence and post should be sent to our Administrative office in Market Harborough and we shall not be liable in the event that correspondence is sent elsewhere.

Our Clients Include

Call our expert team

0800 567 7595

Summerfield Browne Solicitors

Harborough Innovation Centre,
Leicester Road, Market Harborough,
Leicestershire, LE16 7WB
Please note that our telephone calls may be recorded for record, monitoring and staff training and development purposes.
Summerfield Browne Solicitors is the trading name of Summerfield Browne Limited a private limited company registered in England and Wales under number 07937576 with registered address at Harborough Innovation Centre, Airfield Business Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7WB. Summerfield Browne Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority - SRA number: 598802. A list of directors is open to inspection at the registered address.
© Summerfield Browne Limited. All Rights Reserved. All trademarks Acknowledged.
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