Dispute Resolution

Business disputes can be disruptive, stressful and expensive.  Teacher Stern’s Dispute Resolution team will act swiftly to identify your key commercial objectives and the essence of the dispute, driving swiftly and decisively to a solution with the minimum of fuss.

Armed with a thorough understanding of your business, we will employ a tough yet strategic approach to secure the results your business needs, using the whole range of dispute resolution techniques including face-to-face negotiation, mediation and arbitration as well as the Courts.

Our service is “partner involved” not just “partner led”, delivering a first-class service and successful commercial outcomes at costs that compare very favourably with City and other international network firms.

You will find more information about the breadth of our experience in specialist areas by following the links below.

What We Do

The areas covered by our Dispute Resolution practice include:

Representative Dispute Resolution Work

Examples of our team’s dispute resolution experience include:

  • Advised a Canadian metals billionaire in connection with a successful USD $50m action against London Metal Exchange brokers.
  • Advised a Fortune 100 company in connection with LCIA arbitration proceedings arising out of a telecommunications satellite construction contract.
  • Advised a notable Russian commodity house in respect of a £20m fraud predicated against it.
  • Advised a Fortune 1000 company in connection with Linked ICC arbitrations proceedings concerning the development of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Middle East.
  • Advised several secured lenders and receivers in more than 700 commercial/buy-to-let/residential investment portfolio enforcement cases.
  • Advised a client involved in a LME Arbitration relating to the USD $30m loss arising from manipulation of the LME tin market in 2009 by U.K. and U.S. parties. Ancillary proceedings were issued in the High Court and a related FINRA claim was issued in the U.S.
  • Advised the plaintiff in a USD $45m multifaceted, cross border conspiracy and loss of opportunity case involving the distribution of oil additives to Iraq. The case went to trial in the Commercial Court and involved the electronic disclosure of more than 1 million documents.

Testimonials

Legal 500 testimonials 

The team are very personable communicative and provide the facts and their advice.  They have also been excellent in looking at the issues from both a strategic and tactical level in terms of next stages within the service provision and anticipating of future activities.

Close attention to detail and calm advice to clients in a highly emotive situation

You feel like you are their only client. Always approachable and happy to have sensible discussions around fees.

Professional and straightforward approach.  A practical approach to a complex issue. I have worked predominantly alongside Clare Toomer and have found her to be personable, approachable and highly knowledgeable.  She will defer to wise council / colleagues where issues are beyond her subject matter expertise and will be direct in her approach where needed and professional at all times.

‘The team are efficient and get things done. They won’t leave a stone unturned to get to the right answer with a firm eye on the commercials.’

‘The dispute resolution team at Teacher Stern have an array of high quality work and individuals. A particular recent trend is group claims against financial institutions and professionals. The team is especially good at coordinating and managing complex, high value group claims, which often involve steering committees of clients, insurers and difficult opponents.’

‘The individuals are professional, thorough and a delight to work with’

Legal 500 2024 

‘Being a relatively small team ensures that internal communication is very good, and this gives them the ability to move cases forward, and deliver excellent client service, at all times.’

‘They maintain very strong relationships with a number of clients who have been instructing the firm for many years.’

‘Sarah Emerson is an outstanding tactician, a very good lawyer and is an absolute delight to work with. Clients have total trust and she ensures that all those involved in the litigation work together seamlessly through focused and regular communication.’

‘Good expertise and knowledge within their field.’

‘Sarah Emerson has always been approachable and in touch with the nuances of our specific individual circumstances arising from our case. Her entire team are always responsive and treat us with a great deal of respect.’

‘Michelle Mollaghan is massively experienced and hugely knowledgeable when it comes to disputes in the commercial/civil fraud/insolvency fields. She has a great feel for strategy, what the court will accept and what the client’s goals are. She is also great with clients and very easy to work with, always easy company.’

Contact our team:

Photo of Colin Richman

Colin Richman

Partner Dispute Resolution
Work 37-41 Bedford Row London WC1R 4JH United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7611 4898

Biography

Colin’s in-depth legal knowledge spanning 40 years encompasses commercial and property litigation. Colin has now stepped into the role of Teacher Stern’s compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) to focus on ensuring the firm’s professional conduct and risk management compliance. Colin is also the Firm’s Client Care Partner, committed to resolving any issues that may arise in relation to a compliant.

Year qualified

Solicitor, 1982

Education

Carmel College

St Catherine’s College Oxford