Litigation

It’s great to win. But nothing beats breaking the news to our clients.

We'll always aim to steer you away from expensive, time consuming litigation if it can be avoided but when you need us by your side we have what it takes to deliver the best result possible.


"Over many years I have worked with some of the biggest law firms in the country and would rank Gosschalks as being amongst the very best.”

— Bob Williams, Arnold White Estates

  • Commercial Litigation

    We know that every commercial dispute is different. We’ll tailor our approach to find the right solution for your individual needs, and make sure your business is protected throughout.

    We understand how much of a strain it can be when you’re involved in a dispute. We’re here to advise you on the best plan of action, support you through the entire process and fight for the best possible outcome for you and your company.

    Our team is highly regarded for our wide-ranging expertise and understanding approach. We act on behalf of local, national and international clients in relation to a broad scope of commercial disputes.

    We’re recommended by Chambers & Partners and the UK Legal 500 for our depth of advice and experience. Read on to find out what they both have to say about our department.

    Key Contacts: Matthew Fletcher and Steve Dillon

  • Electricity Wayleaves

    If you wish to bring a claim against a power company it is vital that you use a law firm with the necessary in-depth knowledge in this specialist field.

    We have an outstanding track record of achieving successful outcomes for landowners in electricity line compensation claims including acting for Arnold White Estates in their successful £5.8m landmark case.

    Find out more by clicking here.

    Key contacts: Matthew Fletcher and Phil Osborne

  • Intellectual Property (IP)

    We’ll fight for your rights and help you protect your ideas, your brand and everything that makes your business competitive and successful.

    Our Litigation and IP teams work together to make sure you get well-rounded commercial advice on any contested litigation relating to:

    • Copyrights
    • Trademarks
    • Patents
    • Trade secrets
    • Unregistered and/or registered design rights
    • Confidential information

    Key Contacts: Phil Osborne and James Phinn

  • Mediation

    If you’d rather not go through long and costly court proceedings, our trained mediators can help you.

    Mediation gives all parties the chance to review the dispute from all angles, and talk through the process with experienced specialists.

    Mediators can empathise with all parties and make clear assessments of the situation to help you all come to a fair and practical outcome.

    Mediation is useful for maintaining commercial relationships after the settlement, because it avoids the cost and stress of going to court.

    It’s also a great way of avoiding disputes before they happen and stopping small issues worsening.

    Call now for a no-obligation chat to establish the best options for you.

    Key Contacts: Matthew Fletcher

  • Partnerships, Shareholders, Directors & Employees

    Trust us, these types of disagreements are best dealt with as early as possible. We’ve learned this by experience.

    Our Corporate, Employment and Litigation teams have many years’ experience in handling disputes between partners, shareholders and colleagues for local and national businesses.

    We can help you safeguard your rights, resolve your dispute as quickly and painlessly as possible, and help you avoid disagreements in the future.

    • Partner disputes
    • Unfair prejudice claims under Section 994 of the Companies Act 2006
    • Directors’ and employees’ duties
    • Enforceability and enforcement of restrictive covenants
    • Derivative actions
    • The protection of business opportunities from exploitation by others
    • The protection of trade secrets and intellectual property rights

    Key Contacts: Matthew Fletcher, Phil Osborne

  • Professional Negligence (Litigation)

    Have you or your company recently been let down by a professional?

    We understand how costly it can be if you’ve been let down by someone you trusted. We’ll be there to fight your corner and to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.

    There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach when dealing with professional negligence claims. We tailor our service to ensure your individual needs are met. Above all, we’ll make sure you’re protected throughout the process and we’ll fight to recover your financial losses.

    We’ll typically run your case on a no win, no fee basis, so you won’t pay any legal fees whether you win or lose. To find out how we can help you, call us today for a free consultation.

    As these types of claims are defended by large insurance companies who use dedicated law firms, it’s vital that you choose an experienced specialist to fight your corner.

    We’re members of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association, and we have many years’ experience defending individuals and companies who’ve been let down by professionals.

    We can bring a claim against any professional, whether they’re a solicitor, barrister, surveyor, architect, accountant or insurance broker. We handle claims that range from a minimum of £15,000 up to over £1,000,000.

    Key Contact: Matthew Fletcher

  • Property Litigation

    We’re here to defend your rights, protect your business and resolve your disagreement.

    We’ve one of the largest property and real estate litigation teams in the North of England. We advise both local and national companies, including the biggest names in the pub and betting industries, on a range of property disputes including:

    • Landlord and tenant
    • Building and rights of way
    • Planning
    • Restrictive covenants
    • Squatters’ rights

    We’re praised by independent guides for being “very experienced and reliable”, with a fast, dependable approach to our work.

    Speak to our key contacts today to see how we can help you resolve your dispute.

    Key Contacts: Victoria Quinn and Matthew Fletcher

  • Rent Reviews

    We can handle all the legal aspects of your rent review from working with surveyors to advising you on the rental value of your property, term and even negotiating the rent on your behalf. It's what we do every day on behalf of well-known national clients with large estates as well as an array of smaller operators too - you can rely on us to provide the best advice and achieve the best possible result.

    Should a dispute arise during the review process, our hugely experienced property litigation team will be on-hand to quickly avoid unnecessary expense, protect your interest and get you the right result.

    Key Contacts: Matthew Fletcher, Mark Teal, Victoria Quinn

  • Pricing transparency

    Gosschalks is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and as such is required to provide transparency around pricing for a range of legal services offered by the firm.

    Please find such details related to this service area together with details of our complaints procedure by clicking or tapping here.

  • Independent Reviews - Litigation

    Read about what the leading independent guides to the legal profession have to say about our litigation team:

    Chambers & Partners (2020 edition)

    What the team is known for: Leading Hull firm that has notable experience advising clients on commercial disputes, as well as property litigation. Also regularly assists with cases related to professional negligence. Popular choice for clients from the licensed and other retail trade, as well as those with activity in the insurance and construction sectors. Additional experience defending other law firms and chartered surveyors.

    Strengths: Interviewees appreciate the lawyers' provision of "realistic, sound advice." Other sources commend the "friendly and personable" nature of the team.

    Notable practitioners: Matthew Fletcher assists with a wide range of mandates spanning professional negligence, contractual disagreements and electricity infrastructure disputes. One client enthuses: "He always works extremely hard for his clients’ best interests but is also extremely pragmatic when it comes to settlement."

    Steve Dillon regularly advises on breach of contract claims and shareholder disputes. Commentators praise his "tactically astute" approach and highlight his "excellent communication skills."

    Legal 500 (2019 edition)

    Gosschalks' commercial litigation group is noted for its retail and gambling sector expertise and also has experience across construction, insolvency, professional negligence, compulsory purchase, pylons wayleave compensation and shareholder disputes. 

    Property Litigation: With a niche focus on the pub industry, Gosschalks also has notable expertise in the high street retail sector and fields a separate residential team. Victoria Quinn specialises in landlord and tenant issues for high street shops and betting offices, Julia Williams handles possession claims, injunctions and opposed lease renewals for pubs, and Rachel Garton focuses on service charge disputes, long leaseholds and residential possession claims.

We'll help you fight for the best outcome…

Call or email us now for a no-obligation chat.

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What our clients are saying