England - London • Dispute resolution
Teacher Stern LLP
Teacher Stern LLP has extensive expertise in handling high-stakes commercial disputes, including cross-border and multi-jurisdictional cases. The commercial disputes team is co-led by Sarah Emerson, whose practice encompasses commercial claims, insurance, cyber risk, and crisis management; and Clare Toomer, an expert in corporate and shareholder disputes, as well as contentious IP matters. In 2022, commercial litigator and former Isadore Goldman director, Michelle Mollaghan, was recruited as partner, while former partner Rajesh Pabla left to join Hill Dickinson LLP.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Being a relatively small team ensures that internal communication is very good, and this gives them the ability to move cases forward, and deliver excellent client service, at all times.'
- 'They maintain very strong relationships with a number of clients who have been instructing the firm for many years.'
- 'Sarah Emerson is an outstanding tactician, a very good lawyer and is an absolute delight to work with. Clients have total trust and she ensures that all those involved in the litigation work together seamlessly through focused and regular communication.'
- 'Good expertise and knowledge within their field.'
- 'Sarah Emerson has always been approachable and in touch with the nuances of our specific individual circumstances arising from our case. Her entire team are always responsive and treat us with a great deal of respect.'
- 'Michelle Mollaghan is massively experienced and hugely knowledgeable when it comes to disputes in the commercial/civil fraud/insolvency fields. She has a great feel for strategy, what the court will accept and what the client's goals are. She is also great with clients and very easy to work with, always easy company.'
Key clients
- Fidelity Group
- Pozitive Energy
- Various BOS SAM holders
- Designer Group (Designer M&E Services)
- Ebix
- Aviv Holdings
- Carter Backer Winter
- Invescap (Lojj)
- Lineten
- Vape Supplier
- Ape Properties
- Yeoman Preston
- Gravity Global
- BDO
- Jabac Finance
- M J Advisory
Work highlights
- Defended Sandra Ncube against a multi-party and multi-jurisdiction fraud claim that was valued at £59m.
- Instigated a large-value class action of 160 claimants against Bank of Scotland for relief under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 against the Bank of Scotland (challenging the terms of a shared appreciation mortgage product).
- Acted for Alice Goh in respect of a fraud action, arising from an investment that passed through various jurisdictions and entities.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sarah Emerson, Claire Toomer