Sobashni is a director in the litigation department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. She litigates across a broad range of areas including professional negligence, banking disputes, builders’ disputes, defamation, contractual disputes, civil fraud, misrepresentation claims, and international cross-border litigation. Sobashni has over ten years’ experience dealing with high-net-worth clients that include individuals, PLCs, SMEs, pharmaceutical companies, homecare companies and unincorporated associations. Her areas of expertise encompass contract and tort actions and a wide range of disputes including: corporate and company disputes; shareholder disputes; partnership disputes; debt recovery claims; and cross-border litigation. Sobashni handles commercial matters as well as professional negligence, defamation and selected employment disputes. She has obtained formidable success through strategy and technical awareness with considerable experience in settling claims using alternative dispute resolution through negotiations, mediation and conciliation. Sobashni has extensive experience in the High Court and the County Courts litigating numerous matters. She recently advised a client on a complex £300m High Court litigation involving international law.She encourages ADR throughout proceedings and regularly settles claims through extensive negotiations, mediation, and conciliation.
England - London • Dispute resolution
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Duncan Lewis Solicitors' team is praised by clients for being 'hard-working and really interested in getting the right result.' The department acts for both claimants and defendants, and is jointly led by Sobashni De Silva, a specialist in commercial debt recovery who is sought after by Middle Eastern clients in cross-border matters, and Anthony Okumah, a ‘highly effective and commercially and tactically savvy litigator.’ Associates Karolina Natkaniec and Thomas Clark are also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The team has a diverse client base, and is adept at getting to the nub of their clients' disputes.'
- 'Sobashni De Silva is a star.'
- 'Hard-working and really interested in getting the right result for their clients.'
- 'Sobashni de Silva. She has a real understanding of her clients' needs.'
- 'Anthony Okumah is a highly effective and commercially and tactically savvy litigator. Karolina Natkaniec is very much a rising star in Duncan Lewis in this field.'
- 'Duncan Lewis has been a life-saver. They were there for me when I felt truly helpless. They provided me with someone to talk to, which relieved a lot of emotional strain. I will be forever grateful.'
- 'Thomas Clark is simply a star. He has gone above and beyond and provided excellent duty of care. Sobashni de Silva is a fantastic lawyer and partner.'
Key clients
- SES Ltd
- Byron Height Limited
- Babel Green Limited
- Rajan and Dev Developments Limited
- New Health Supplies Limited
- Salisbury Support 4 Autism Limited
Work highlights
- Engaged by a Libyan national to enforce a Libyan court judgment in the UK. The case involved a $2.2m debt from a breached partnership agreement with a foreign national living in the UK.
- Obtained $6.5 million judgement after being approached by SES Ltd to obtain a Worldwide Freezing Order against a former business associate, Mr. V. The dispute involved an outstanding debt in excess of £5m.
- Advised a Nigerian property investment company with UK properties, which had been induced into a short-term loan agreement with a UK lender for £1.6 million at extortionate interest and penalties. The lender pursued recovery when the company couldn't redeem the loan.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sobashni de Silva, Anthony Okumah