PARTNERKit is personally ranked as a Leader in the Field in both Commercial Litigation and Professional Negligence in Chambers & Partners. He is also recognised in Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’ as a Leading Individual in both Commercial Litigation and Professional Negligence. He is the only lawyer in the entire North West to be ranked by Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’ in the field of Professional Negligence and in Commercial Litigation (elsewhere in the North West). With over 30 years’ experience, Kit Sorrell is a highly renowned litigation specialist. He acts in complex high value commercial matters such as contract disputes, minority shareholder claims, property disputes and also acts for both high net worth individuals and corporate entities in complex and high value professional negligence claims against, by way of example, tax advisers, solicitors, property professionals and independent financial advisers. Kit is nationally recognised as a Leader in the Field and is recommended in both Chambers UK Guide and Legal 500 where he is described as a ‘great tactician and inspires real confidence in his clients’ and a ‘great tactician who knows how to plot the outcome of a case from the very outset’. Kit has developed a particular specialism in commercial construction disputes of all types in his many years of acting for well-known national property developers and is a founding member of the firm’s specialist Construction Disputes Team. Kit is also widely known for leading the way in Professional Negligence claims against financial and tax advisers in particular claims involving tax avoidance and mitigation schemes. Kit was amongst the very first lawyers to be instructed on the high profile Film Scheme Tax Partnership cases and to issue the first High Court proceedings against advisers who recommended such schemes. Kit has become known as the ‘go-to’ lawyer for well-known sports and media personalities in this field. Kit has been interviewed by the Financial Times on a number of occasions and quoted in numerous articles in the FT, The Mail on Sunday, FT Adviser, Money Marketing and IFA Online. Notable cases Halsall v Champion Consulting Ltd [2017] EWHC 1079 (QB)Represented the claimants in a £6M claim arising out of tax avoidance schemes. This widely reported case is believed to be one of the first claims of this type to reach the courts. Acting for a group of high net worth individuals in a £5M claim against an international law practice arising out of negligent conduct of litigation initially brought against their accountants and tax advisers. Acting for a client in a seven-figure professional negligence claim against Gibraltar based IFA company arising out of the clients’ investment into a £50M failed investment scheme. Acting for minority shareholder in a shareholder dispute in relation to his holding in a highly successful engineering company. Action resolved with an order for the purchase of his shares on very satisfactory terms. Acting for a national property/property development company in Judicial Review proceedings challenging enforcement orders made by the Authority which threatened a regeneration scheme the value of which ran to many hundreds of millions of pounds. Acting for a sports management company in a dispute over the ‘ownership’ of a very high profile premier league professional footballer. Acting for Morris Homes Group, the country’s largest privately owned house builder, in a number of complex seven-figure claims against various property professionals. Career history FS Legal – Partner, 2014 to date Pannone LLP – Partner, 2006 – 2014 Wacks Caller – Partner, 2000 – 2006 DWF- Partner, 1983 – 2000
England - North West • Dispute resolution
FS Legal
FS Legal is known for its ability to deal with high-value, complex litigation for international corporates, local businesses and high net-worth individuals. Kit Sorrell covers the full spectrum of commercial litigation issues such as shareholder disputes, warranty claims, contractual disputes and expert determinations. He co-heads the team with Julia Norris who is well-versed in professional negligence disputes. Christine Newton is experienced in the manufacturing and construction sectors while Nicola Stanley has a specialism in property litigation matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The wide range of skills and varied experience across the team ensure that the full spectrum of options are explored.’
‘Kit Sorrell's experience and knowledge of the law is second to none and his ability to being original and creative thinking to the case opens new avenues for resolution.'
- 'Christine Newton's case management skills, tenacity and attention to detail keeps the case on track and minds focused.’
‘Very commercially focused. Good strong team able to communicate and is straightforward.’
‘They have provided me with all legal guidance from the first letter of response, right through to the upcoming ADR process.'
‘A team of strong lawyers carrying out serious cases against London firms, and as good as any firm in the regions. It is a disputes only practice so every decision and recruitment is aimed at furthering that goal; essentially a boutique but from before the time firms started using that expression.’
‘Kit Sorrell - one of the most experienced litigators in the NW, brilliant tactical nous and can still get stuck into excellent drafting when needed. Christine Newton is an excellent lawyer who always goes the extra mile to advance the client's case.'
‘Communications were swift and very accurate. I was kept informed at every stage and could not have been happier with the outcome.’
Work highlights
- Instructed by clients to defend proceedings brought by the FCA.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Rising stars
SOLICITORSunny has a wide range of litigation experience involving high value and high profile disputes with considerable complexity. She has been involved in a number of multi-million-pound claims which have been widely reported in the press and heard in the specialist courts. Her experience includes: Professional negligence claims; Construction disputes; Shareholder disputes; Breach of contract claims; Breach of fiduciary duty claims; and Fraud Notable cases Halsall v Champion Consulting Ltd [2017] EWHC 1079 (QB) A £6M claim arising out of tax avoidance schemes. This widely reported case is believed to be one of the first claims of this type to reach the courts. Anthony Barness and Others v Formation Group Pls & Others Representing one of the 150 defendants in this multi-million pound claim brought by over 260 separate claimants. The claims concern tax avoidance schemes, football agent disputes and allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation. Hillsborough Inquest As a result of the events in the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989 where 96 football fans lost their lives, an application was made by the Attorney-General. The High Court quashed the verdicts in the original inquests and ordered fresh inquests to be held. The fresh inquests took place in 2014. More than 500 witnesses were called and 4,000 pages of documents and hours of videos were shown during the inquest. After 2 years of evidence, the jury found that 96 football fans were unlawfully killed and that the then match Commander Chief Superintendent Duckinfield was responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence. The inquests are considered to be the longest in English legal history. Barclay Pharmaceuticals Limited and others v Waypharm LP and others 2012[2012] EWHC 306 (Comm) 2012 A claim concerning breach of contract, causing loss by unlawful means, director’s liabilities, fraudulent misrepresentation, letters of credit and procuring the breach of contract.
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Kit Sorrell, Julia Norris