The Finance Litigation Group understand that an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the finance transactions unpinning the disputes we deal with is essential to the sensible resolution of those disputes.

We offer a wide variety of legal services to all types of financial institutions and in relation to all types of banking transactions. We provide pragmatic and cost effective solutions commensurate to the dispute involved.

Our reputation in the market means we have a client base which is virtually unparalleled. Often working very closely with our non-contentious colleagues, our in-depth knowledge and understanding of the way our clients operate gives us a significant advantage over our opponents in finance litigation.

We have a real expertise in the issues which are important including complex recovery action by way of injunctive relief and otherwise, world wide asset tracing, the effective resolution of all types of actions against banks and financial institutions (particularly where an important point of principal is involved), professional negligence actions and all aspects of asset finance related disputes and recoveries.


Clients and Experience
The Finance Litigation client portfolio includes:

• National Australia Group Europe (including Clydesdale Bank plc and Yorkshire Bank plc)
  
• The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (including National Westminster Bank plc and Lombard North Central plc)
  
• HBOS plc
  
• Hitachi Credit (UK) plc
  
• HSBC Bank plc
  
• Northern Rock plc
  
• Scottish Equitable plc
  
• Skipton Building Society

Examples of recent cases include:

• Acting for a bank in the successful defence of a claim in relation to the bank's duty of care following the theft of a blank bankers draft
  
• Acting on behalf of Scottish Equitable plc in the Court of Appeal case of Scottish Equitable plc v Derby which clarified the scope of the defence of estoppel by representation
  
• Expedited bankruptcy petition on behalf of a major bank for exposure in excess of £1 million to prevent debtor absconding
  
• Acting on behalf of Mortgage Agency Services Number Two Limited in successfully defeating Mrs Chater’s appeal to the Court of Appeal in which the court developed and extended the law set out in Royal Bank of Scotland v Etridge
  
• Acting for a major lender in a series of "managed" litigation claims against solicitors
  
• Advising the claimant in the leading case of National Westminster Bank plc v Jones relating to the dilution of security by the granting of agricultural tenancies

Advising a number of major asset finance providers on:

• Challenging the recovery of fines and retention of vehicles by the Home Office under the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
  
• The resolution of satisfactory quality disputes by litigation, (including in a recent six party high court trial) and by informal mediations/settlement meetings
  
• Title disputes including S .24 and S .25 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979
  
• Landlords' distraint
  
• Acting for a major lender in enforcing a marine mortgage over a trawler in dock at Hull