Commercial Disputes Solicitors

Contract Disputes (Breach Of Contract)

Client failing to pay on time? Let down by a supplier? Or perhaps you are facing legal action due to circumstances beyond your control.

View the Contract Disputes page to find out more about:

how to prove a breach
suing for breach of contract
examples of breaches and the types of damages you can claim
what to do if you are in breach of contract.

Debt Recovery

Never delay when it comes to debt. Take immediate action – because the longer a debt drags on, the less likely you are to be paid.

Our debt recovery lawyers’ service includes:

recovering unpaid debts and rent arrears
defending claims and preparing counterclaims
letters before action, issuing court proceedings, serving statutory demands
tracing debtors and enforcing judgments
advising on bankruptcy, winding up proceedings, repossessions
credit control
charging orders
third party debt orders, attachment of earnings orders
warrants of control
applications to obtain financial information.

Get expert help to recover debts

Director Disputes

Our experienced commercial litigators can advise you on how to deal with directors who have:

failed to act appropriately in the course of their duties
failed to account properly for the assets of the company (malfeasance claims).

This work can include:

director disqualification proceedings
claims by shareholders against directors (including derivative actions that permit minority shareholders to institute proceedings on behalf of the company)
disputes between shareholders – including winding up proceedings under the Companies Act 2006
disputes over the acquisition or sale of a business or shares in it.

Intellectual Property Disputes

In today’s knowledge economy your intellectual property (IP) has never been more valuable. Discover:

what counts as intellectual property – what you can and should safeguard
how to protect your IP
copyright, trademarks, design right, registered designs, patents, automatic protection
types of intellectual property infringement
how to resolve intellectual property disputes
buying, selling or licensing intellectual property.

Partnership Disputes

Worried about the losses you risk incurring because your business partnership is in danger of breaking down?

Expert legal advice is essential because business partnerships do not enjoy the same level of legal protection as companies.

Our litigation lawyers can advise you on:

the underlying reasons for partnership disputes and how to solve them
partnership agreements – every partnership should have one
what the Partnership Act 1890 means for you
liability, departure, misconduct
what to do if your partners are not doing their fair share
how to deal with a breakdown in your professional relationship, loss of trust.

Professional Negligence Claims

Failed by your accountant, architect, surveyor, builder, IFA or any other professional adviser?

View the Professional Negligence Claims page to find out more about:

what you must prove to succeed in your compensation claim
what you can claim for (including loss of earnings, medical and travel expenses, loss of quality of life)
the time limits for making a claim
how to fund your claim – including No Win, No Fee agreements
how the pre-action protocol can save you time and legal costs
how alternative dispute resolution can save you time, money and stress.

Shareholder Disputes

Many shareholders fall out because they did not sign a legally binding agreement. Typical disagreements include:

shareholders not contributing enough
rejection of minority shareholders’ wishes
conflict of interest.

View this page to find out more about your rights as a majority or minority shareholder; your basic rights and 50/50 shareholder disputes.

For Neil Andrews

“In 2015 we instructed Neil Andrews of Coles Miller to facilitate the execution of a pre-negotiated legal document so that we would be paid for our stock. This seemingly simple transaction became complicated when the organisation’s initial response was to utilise their lawyers rather than pay us. Neil was tenacious in fighting our cause. His eye for detail saved our money and we eventually received all money owed to us, without compromise. Tellingly, our original investors who also were extracting their money through their own alternative solicitors told me that they wish they had used Coles Miller. I would recommend Coles Miller without hesitation.”

Neil Andrews

Partner, Head of Commercial Department and Business Property Law

Graham McLean

Senior Associate Solicitor

Patrick Herklots

Associate Solicitor

Business Disputes

Commercial Litigation Solicitors