Commercial Legal Services
If you’re in business you just want to get on with running it. The last thing you want is a dispute holding you up. But if you do find yourself in that situation, we can help.
At Balfour + Manson we know that you need your problems resolved quickly and cost-effectively. Examples of recent work undertaken by our commercial lawyers include:
Property — Balfour + Manson acted for the successful Claimants in the recently reported case of Dominion Corporate Trustees v Debenhams Properties [2010] EWHC 193(Ch). The action involved a claim for substantial damages arising out of the termination of an agreement for a 15 year lease in respect of a shopping centre in Hampshire. It involved complex issues of contractual interpretation and repudiatory breach.
Oil & Gas — Balfour + Manson are currently acting for the Liquidator of a Norwegian oil company in connection with Court of Session proceedings arising out of a lease of an oil rig based in the Gulf of Mexico. The total claim is in excess of USD 20 million. The proceedings involve interim interdicts and arrestments over bank accounts in Scotland pending the outcome of proceedings in Norway.
Financial Services — Balfour + Manson acted in Court of Session proceedings on behalf of an English based financial services company. The claim was based upon Section 39 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. b+m secured a dismissal of the action on behalf of the client.
We have experience across a wide range of commercial dispute resolution areas, including:-
- Commercial contract disputes, including sale of goods/supply of services
- Intellectual Property disputes, including infringement of trade marks, copyright and passing off
- Professional negligence claims, including claims against solicitors, surveyors and accountants
- Shareholder and partnership disputes
- Disputes arising from corporate transactions, including breach of warranty claims
- Insolvency-related claims
- Family business disputes
- Real estate disputes
We have formidable commercial litigation skills – we are accomplished litigators and appear regularly in court. Elaine Motion, Fiona Muirs and Robert Holland are Solicitor Advocates. This means that we can give our clients the choice of using expert counsel or our own Solicitor Advocates – which could result in some saving of time and cost.
While experience in the court system is vital, we are finding more and more that commercial disputes are being resolved through mediation. At Balfour + Manson we are trained to help our clients reach an amicable resolution rather than resorting to the courts. Mediation can often bring a swift conclusion to a dispute – and quite often a business relationship can remain intact.
If you have a commercial claim or need advice from one of our commercial solicitors, contact Elaine Motion or Gordon Deane.
