Helmed by the ‘exceptional’ Ben Lowans, the ‘experienced knowledgeable and enthusiastic’ team at Addleshaw Goddard‘s Leeds office is instructed by a broad array of financial institutions, ranging from high street banks to asset finance lenders and asset-based lenders. Core areas of activity include secret commission claims in motor finance, misselling of mortgage product cases and the tracing and recovery of assets. Lowans’ broad practice runs to fraud-based litigation for financial services clients. Jennifer Hedley is well-placed to assist with reputational issues in high-profile disputes involving financial institutions. Sandip Singh and Matthew Dibb are further names to note. Sally Emerton retired in August 2023.
Banking litigation in Yorkshire And The Humber
Addleshaw Goddard
Practice head(s):
Ben Lowans
Other key lawyers:
Jennifer Hedley; Sandip Singh; Matthew Dibb; Matthew Dibb; Rachel Elgar; Georgina Skuse
Testimonials
‘Good personal service provided to advise on banking and asset finance matters. People you can get on with and enjoy working with. ’
‘AG are our most trusted business partner. We work with them on a variety of matters and find that all of the partners approach matters with the same frank, business-orientated mindset. Ben Lowan’s team in particular are a standout for the firm.’
‘Ben Lowans is exceptional. He understands our business and how we approach matters in a way that none of our other solicitor partners do, which makes him indispensable for our company. He’s ably supported by a very strong team, with Rachel Elgar in particular being incredibly tenacious and meticulous in her advice.’
‘Georgina Skuse has stood out. She is tenacious but relatable.’
‘Great to work with. Very knowledgeable. Make commercial decisions.’
‘Very experienced team under the control of Ben Lowans. He has been in the team for many years and is somebody that we know well and trust.’
‘The banking litigation team at Addleshaw Goddard have consistently delivered for major high street banks, building societies and lenders for decades and are rightly recognised as a leader in providing legal services in this area.’
‘Georgina Skuse is a very experienced banking litigator with a specialism in matters relating to asset finance.’
Key clients
Castle Water Limited
Aldermore Bank
Close Brothers
Societe Generale Equipment Finance
Arbuthnot
Mitsubishi HC Capital PLC t/a Novuna
Work highlights
- Advising a multitude of lenders and brokers in relation to the ever-increasing, industry issue of “secret commission claims” in motor finance.
- Succeeding for a commercial lender at trial on the enforcement of a personal guarantee involving findings as to truthfulness and ineffective termination.
- Acting for a lender on the enforcement of a multi-million pound mortgage following its customer being sanctioned by HM Government.
DLA Piper
Picked out for its ability to act in ‘sensitive banking matters which are high profile or potentially have wider ramifications for the banking industry’, DLA Piper‘s sizeable financial services litigation division is geared to handle complex cross-border disputes, test cases with the potential to set precedent, and contemporary issues such as crypto disputes. Practice head Adam Ibrahim is frequently tasked with handling cases relating to fraud, conspiracy and negligence by clients including challenger banks and building societies. Seasoned practitioner Hugh Evans‘ broad practice spans high-value mortgage disputes and APP fraud cases. Sohail Ali and Chris Harvey are praised as ‘exceptionally detail-oriented and level-headed, strategic thinkers’. Paul McNamee leads the Sheffield office’s banking and finance litigation team.
Practice head(s):
Adam Ibrahim
Other key lawyers:
Hugh Evans; Chris Harvey; Sohail Ali; Claire Clayton-Stead; Paul McNamee; Barney Connell; Shabaz Ahmed; Sofia Wyzykiewicz; Victor Sampson
Testimonials
‘Really strong team across all areas of banking litigation – particularly good for acting in sensitive banking matters which are high profile or potentially have wider ramifications for the banking industry.’
‘Sohail Ali and Chris Harvey are are both exceptionally detail-oriented and level-headed, strategic thinkers. Shabaz Ahmed is an extremely bright, up-and-coming associate who works hard and produces consistently good drafting.’
‘One of the best banking litigation teams, nationwide not just in Yorkshire. A superb team from the partners down to the junior associates. ’
‘Sohail Ali is a rising star in the partnership. Great with clients, strategic and savvy.’
‘Victor Sampson is a very strong associate. Very hard working and consistently great output – one to watch.’
‘Sohail Ali is a first-rate partner.’
‘A strong and effective team who are capable at all levels of experience and who have good experience in leading litigation at all levels of complexity.’
‘Chris Harvey is an experienced partner who is easy to deal with and marries clear focus and strong judgment with a straightforward and approachable manner.’
Key clients
Astra Asset Management UK Ltd
ANZ Bank
Bank of Ireland
Binance
British Business Bank
Deutsche Bank
Goldman Sachs
Leeds Building Society
Lloyds Banking Group
NatWest
NewDay
Syndicate Bank and Canara Bank
Virgin Money (including Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks)
Work highlights
- Prepresenitng Virgin Money/Clydesdale Bank in a case against a highly vexatious litigant alleging fraud, conspiracy and misrepresentation.
- Successfully obtained summary judgment for Astra Asset Management UK Limited in a dispute with a German borrower in relation to a liquidated damages provision in a mandate document in respect of a £20 million loan facility.
Gateley Legal
The banking litigation team at Gateley Legal sits within the firm’s wider commercial litigation team and works particularly closely with the asset finances disputes team, the restructuring team and financial services regulatory practice. Team head Roger McCourt, described as an ‘excellent and highly pragmatic lawyer’, is well-placed to assist lenders with issues such as breach of contract and professional negligence claims.
Practice head(s):
Roger McCourt
Testimonials
‘Really good team, responsive and commercial. Roger and Co run a really good legal function and are always on hand to assist clients with a full spectrum of banking litigation queries.’
‘Roger McCourt is an excellent and highly pragmatic lawyer. He is responsive to the needs of his clients, diligent in his approach to matters and keeps a constant dialogue. A superb lawyer.’
‘The team provide a service that we value greatly. They are knowledgeable, personable and capable of making practical judgments that reflect their understanding of our business.’
Shoosmiths LLP
The ‘exceptionally proactive’ team at Shoosmiths LLP has a strong track record in asset finance cases including business-to-business recoveries and disputes. Civil fraud and advice about specialist asset finance contracts are further areas of strength. Jonathan Mills leads the practice, and is an authority on quality disputes and return of goods cases. David Farnell departed to Keystone Law in October 2024.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Mills
Testimonials
‘Very knowledgeable and keen to develop relationships.’
‘They took time to understand our initial ask, outlined what information they would require to fulfil the order and then directed us towards the best legal counsel.’
‘The Shoosmiths team have been a great fit with me and my businesses. The differentiator for me is their ability to read the room (from a legal perspective), cut to the chase and apply pragmatism to the situation.’
‘I truly feel comfortably with the Leeds team liaising with staff at all levels within my organisation. They have an ability to advise that is collaborative, clear and result-focused. I am extremely pleased with how our relationship has developed over the last several years.’
‘The team are exceptionally proactive in their handling of cases and are superb at devising the optimum recovery strategy to achieve the best outcome for the client.’
‘They are very quick to respond to both initial instructions and follow up case queries. I have complete confidence in their abilities to get on with cases with the minimum of fuss.’
Key clients
Bibby Factors Limited
Bibby Financial Services Limited
Bibby Leasing Limited
Bibby Trade Factors Limited
Walker Morris LLP
The finance dispute resolution team at Walker Morris LLP acts for a range of clients including challenger banks, fintechs and payment services providers. It is also described as the ‘go-to team for many high street and commercial lenders’. Practice co-chair Rob Payne - praised for his ‘ very commercial and pragmatic legal advice’ - is equipped to handle a range of work including exit advice, fraud and asset-tracing. Fellow co-practice chair Richard Sandford is praised for his ‘great eye for detail’. Ellen McLean is acquainted with the intricacies of complex mortgage fraud.
Practice head(s):
Rob Payne; Richard Sandford
Other key lawyers:
Ellen McLean; Ashley Neville
Testimonials
‘The Walker Morris team has unparalleled industry knowledge and is deservedly the go-to team for many high street and commercial lenders. It has real pedigree and is deservedly considered a force to be reckoned with. ’
‘Ellen McLean stands out for her wealth of experience and her legal and commercial aptitude. There is nothing that Ellen does not know about residential mortgage claims and she is deservedly considered to be a leading individual in the area.’
‘It’s a small and highly specialised team that we previously utilised for very specific work – particularly receiverships and over-riding property interests.
Rob Payne provides very commercial and pragmatic legal advice which is always on point, digestible and user-friendly.’
‘Ellen McLean is a great litigator – highly knowledgeable, easy going and calm under pressure but forthright and determined when she needs to be.’
‘Walker Morris has a long history of offering specialist legal services to lenders which means the firm has significant experience and strength in depth in this area. The firm provides a personalised service often lacking in larger firms.’
‘Richard Sanford has long experience of handling lender disputes. He has a great eye for detail and is always able to get to the heart of the issues to develop excellent case strategies.’
‘Walker Morris’ banking litigation team are the best kept secret in the litigation field. Those that do work with them value greatly the quality of their work, their value for money and their ability to understand what is important to clients.’
Key clients
Lloyds Banking Group
Handelsbanken Plc
Bank of Ireland
Mortgage Express & NRAM Limited
Topaz Finance Limited
Together Commercial Finance
Octopus Real Estate
Pepper UK Limited
OneSavings Bank
Imagine Mortgages Limited t/a Generation Home Loans
Shawbrook Bank Limited
CREO 12 Sarl
ECS Capital Limited
Quidie Limited
FRP Advisory
Opus Restructuring Advisory
Belmont Green Finance Limited
The Mortgage Lender Limited
Loughborough Building Society
Skipton Building Society
Leeds Building Society
Yorkshire Building Society
Schneider Financial Solutions Limited
Foundation Home Loans
Furness Building Society
Leek Building Society
Family Finance Limited
Nationwide Structures Limited
SDKA Limited
Walker Singleton
Watling Real Estate
Oakwood Home Loans
Swift Advances PLC