United Kingdom - Wales • Dispute resolution
Geldards LLP
Leveraging its traditional public sector strength, as well as handling a substantial volume of work in the private sector, including for manufacturing, financial services and sports clients, Geldards LLP‘s ’knowledgeable’ four-partner disputes team has visibility in many of the country’s highest-profile and high stakes matters. Team head Paul Hopkins embodies the firm’s versatility, being as adept at representing companies across contractual, shareholder and partnership disputes, as he is for the Welsh government and NHS in relation to, inter alia, competition law cases. Although he does handle some mainstream commercial litigation, Jonathan Griffiths‘ primary focus lies on public law disputes, including defending public bodies in procurement disputes and in judicial review proceedings. Other key partners include Michael Lindsey, who has deep experience in contentious IP matters, and the ’personable and extremely practical’ Michael Evans, who continues to gain market visibility as a result of his general commercial litigation smarts and his skill at handling contentious insolvency matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The amazing team is knowledgeable and has great insight into our business and the commercial decisions that are made.'
- 'The firm provides clear guidance, risk assessment and explanation and is to the point and timely in its responses.'
- 'Paul Hopkins was superb in providing clear and concise summaries of the legal complexities and pitched things perfectly to my level of understanding.'
- 'Michael Evans was personable and extremely practical when dealing with very obdurate and difficult lawyers on the other side.'
Key clients
- The Welsh Ministers (i.e. Welsh Government)
- Welsh Air Ambulance
- Natural Resources Wales
- Celsa UK Group
- Resource Limited and related companies (incl Euro Commercials (South Wales) Limited and Isoclad Limited)
- TBD (Owen Holland) Limited
- Mr Richard Hayward and Bolwell & Hayward Limited
- Jardine Norton Limited
- Advanced Systems Understanding Limited
- AC Gill Limited
Work highlights
- Advised the Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General for Wales on an application for injunctive relief against the Official Receiver and Special Managers of Baglan Operations Limited (In Liquidation) in respect of the proposed termination of the electricity supply at Baglan Energy Park.
- Representing Snowdonia National Park in the Supreme Court, successfully preventing the further implementation of a 1967 planning permission for 401 houses at Aberdovey.
- Advising Mr Richard Leighton Hayward and his associated companies (Bolwell & Hayward Limited RHP Merchants and Construction Limited and Guinevere Holdings Limited) on various dispute in particular in a claim against him and his offshore company Guinevere Holdings Limited in respect of a complex £2.4m claim brought against them by another offshore company, Grenda Investments Limited (with whom our clients had business dealings) and its solicitors, Richard Slade and Company Ltd.
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Leading individuals
Geldards LLP
Jonathan is an experienced dispute resolution Partner, advising both public and private sector clients on a range of disputes and litigation issues. He is currently most active advising on public law disputes in the Administrative Court and in procurement-related cases. He also advises on contract, defamation and sports-related issues and has participated in public inquiries. His work has involved acting for commercial organisations, central government (and central government-sponsored bodies), local government and other public bodies. He also acts for sports governing bodies and occasionally individuals. Jonathan’s cases in the Administrative Court have involved judicial review applications in relation to planning and procurement decisions as well as the exercise of powers. He has also conducted numerous statutory challenges and statutory appeals. Since 2020 he has successfully represented contracting authorities on five separate challenges to contract award decisions and managed to avoid legal action in each case. In addition, he is experienced in representing clients on procurement disputes in the Technology and Construction Court where litigation has been issued. He has also been involved in advising on sports disciplinary procedures and where those procedures have been escalated to Court action and before Sports Resolution Arbitration panels. He has resolved disputes via mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution across the entire range of his practice.
Next Generation Partners
Geldards LLP
Michael is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team, advising national and regional businesses, public bodies and third sector clients. He is a responsive and experienced commercial litigation solicitor, providing tailored, practical and effective dispute resolution advice. Michael specialises in commercial disputes, advising on commercial contracts claims, competition law claims and disputes involving director, company shareholders and/or partnerships, as well as professional negligence claims. Michael regularly assists clients to recover debts of various values and complexity. He also advises clients and officeholders in relation to personal and corporate insolvency matters. Michael regularly advises clients on contractual disputes covering a wide variety of breach of contract claims, including for example; general breaches, debt recovery and breach of warranty. In addition, he works with clients to resolve professional negligence claims and disputes between shareholder(s) and/or director(s) and within partnerships. Michael has experience in handling high value, complex multi-party disputes and of working on cross-border disputes with international clients and issues. Michael regularly advises clients, insolvency practitioners, creditors and debtors in relation to personal and corporate insolvency. He has also successfully resolved disputes using alternative dispute resolution methods, including virtual and in-person mediations.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Paul Hopkins