Dispute Resolution

We advise on all forms of commercial litigation for both claimants and defendants and are valued for helping our clients achieve their aims in the most pragmatic and cost-effective manner.

Our clients range from individuals and companies (in varied sectors, including technology to manufacturing and retail), to professional partnerships, charities, governments, investors, business owners and international businesses operating in the UK.

We guide clients through every stage of their dispute – from assessing the initial risks, to pursuing or defending the claims in the courts, to resolving matters through mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution.  Several members of our team are accredited mediators.

Our specialist Media and Communications Disputes team is ranked in the top tier of the UK’s leading legal directories for advising clients in this area.

We advise some of the UK and global leading publishers on their content and in defending and responding to claims. We also act for individual and corporate claimants in protecting their reputations and privacy. We have acted and are noted in some of the UK’s leading cases in these areas.

Our team  advises on a diverse range of Property Disputes, work closely with our Real Estate team who have proven expertise in advising on substantial and complex property matters.

Our clients include developers, family offices, private investors, institutions, leisure operators and retailers. Ideally, we help resolve disputes using negotiation and mediation in order to achieve the best commercial outcome for our clients.

If litigation becomes unavoidable, we support our clients to manage and deliver a satisfactory and commercial conclusion.

We advise on property related claims, principally between property owners and developers and their contractors, which can range from disputes to recover unpaid sums to claims for professional negligence.

We also assist with negotiating disputes relating to property backed lending and in enforcing the rights of second charge holders.

We work closely with our Real Estate team who have proven expertise in advising on property disputes.

We have specialist experience in protecting our clients’ intellectual property in all aspects of their operations in the UK and internationally.

We are recognised as leaders in our field and act for retail brands, artists and rights owners, photographers and content owners, publishers, broadcasters, fashion labels, manufacturers and tech companies. Our team is actively involved in brand protection, taking enforcement action against IP infringement where needed, including injunctions, seeking damages and removal. We are acknowledged for our practical and commercial approach, based on our strong understanding of the industry.

We have specialist expertise in advising clients in the music industry on dealing with disputes, enforcing their rights in the courts and recovering sums due to them.

These range from pursuing those who infringe an artist’s or a songwriter’s rights, or refuse to pay royalties, to taking action against counterfeiters or handling disputes between band members (or ex-band members).

We have industry knowledge and a strong international network of lawyers in other jurisdictions with whom we work closely on international claims.

We have specialist experience in advising clients on claims for negligence against professional partnerships and other advisers, which can be pursued against them and their insurers.

We also advise professionals on defending these claims in a wide range of industries.

Members of our team are qualified mediators and can provide guidance on mediation where this might be a better means of achieving clients’ objectives.

“The firm has a lively collaborative ethos and has been strengthened by a number of lateral hires in recent years which have helped it to reach out beyond its traditional media-related commercial disputes into property-based litigation and financial services disputes.”
Legal 500, 2021

“The unique attributes of Simons Muirhead Burton are their availability and willingness to assist on the full range of commercial issues. Their advice is clear, concise and commercially focussed. They look for the best solutions not always via legal actions.”
Legal 500, 2021

“A dynamic and collaborative ethos and has strength in media- related disputes.”
Legal 500, 2020