Business Contract Dispute Resolution & Commercial Agreements Litigation.

We work diligently and tirelessly on behalf of our commercial clients to resolve contract disputes in as positive a way as possible. Wherever there is an opportunity to salvage your relationship with the opposing party, we will seek to do so.

Our commercial dispute lawyers will consider methods of alternative dispute resolution in order to reduce time spent in court, and will attempt to negotiate a settlement where we believe it is in your best interests.

If litigation is unavoidable, our experienced legal team will represent you in court and mount a robust case to achieve a positive outcome.

In all instances, we will provide you with honest, professional legal advice to the very highest standards. Our clients are our priority and whatever the circumstances of your dispute, we will put you first as we pursue an acceptable resolution.

Wherever we work in England or Wales, we bring to bear the best knowledge and understanding of the local area, including the commercial sector in each town, city or region.

Combined with exceptional levels of customer service and unparalleled legal expertise, we deliver outstanding advice on contract disputes and other areas of commercial dispute resolution.

Our firm is tight-knit, but are also renowned nationwide as talented lawyers and litigators on an individual basis. We always aim to provide legal advice in a professional yet approachable way, so that you know us by name and by face – our people as part of your own team.

We are proud of our reputation and the many different ways in which we are recognised, from our Legal 500 rankings to our tireless work across multiple cases for high-profile repeat clients.

We understand that as a commercial entity, you need legal advice that puts your business interests first and foremost. Lanyon Bowdler delivers on this necessity in several ways.

Our clear fee structure and transparent costs mean you can always have sound expectations of the potential expense associated with pursuing a case. Where possible we will recover costs from the opposing party to minimise the financial impact of a dispute.

We are driven by your commercial interests. That means where appropriate, we will make good use of alternative means of dispute resolution, avoiding costly litigation and aiming to achieve an out-of-court settlement when this is the best possible outcome.

Our team are not only talented litigators, but also exceptionally skilled negotiators across all methods of dispute resolution. This allows us to provide full-service contract dispute resolution no matter which method we decide to use.

At all times, we keep you engaged and informed so that you know when we make significant progress and when we resolve the case in your favour – allowing you to take any necessary business decisions as your claim proceeds.

A key first step in contract disputes is to establish the legal position of both parties. To do this, we consider the following:

• Does a legally binding contract exist?
• What are the terms of that contract?
• Are there grounds for a contract dispute?

Once these basics are established, we can advise on the appropriate course of action to pursue or defend a claim.

Commercial contracts are typically set out in writing and may be drawn up by lawyers, but this is not always the case. In principle if you make an offer and another party accepts it, and if they agree some form of payment in return, then a contract has been formed.

Examples of ways this can happen include:

• Commercial contracts written by lawyers
• Offers in any form of writing (including digital e.g. email)
• Oral contracts (e.g. telephone calls and other verbal agreements)

The format of the contract can make it easier to establish the legal position of both parties. For instance, if you made a verbal contract in a conversation that was not recorded, it can be more difficult to demonstrate exactly what was agreed or the intent of the other party.

However, that does not always mean that you do not have a claim in the eyes of the law. That is why it is important to understand the contract itself, before we decide how best to pursue your case.

In some cases, especially where you have worked with the other party on previous contracts, there may also be implied terms that give you extra rights beyond those specified in the immediate contract. Where possible, we will use these to strengthen your position further.

If you decide to proceed with a case that cannot be settled out of court, we will litigate professionally and diligently to maximise your chances of success. We have a strong track record and our lawyers are renowned as individuals and as a team for their expertise and advocacy.

Winning your case is crucial, but is only one part of a positive outcome. We will also mount the strongest possible claim for costs and damages, to ensure that your business receives the full amount of compensation it is entitled to.

We are skilled in all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including commercial mediation and out-of-court settlement negotiation. In most instances, the faster a case can be resolved, the better the outcome for all involved parties.

If you have received a letter before action, we can advise on the best way to proceed. That might mean rejecting the claim completely, making an immediate offer, or agreeing to go to court.

In cases where you are the claimant, we can draft a robust letter before action. This will set out your legal position, any actions you intend to take (e.g. litigation) and any remedies you are seeking from the defendant.

Sending a well-written letter before action can often resolve a case in a very short space of time. Where necessary we can follow up with further correspondence in an attempt to reach a fast but positive outcome.

Where this is not possible, we will consider methods of ADR such as mediation and conciliation. This not only improves the likelihood of resolving the dispute quickly, but also shows the courts that you attempted to reach an agreement amicably, even if the case progresses to litigation.