About
Witan
Solicitors
Why does Witan Exist
Witan Solicitors exists to wisely advise and counsel our clients in their legal affairs. During Anglo-Saxon times, when the King required counsel and advise on the difficult matters of the day, he convened the Witan (Anglo-Saxon origins - UK Parliament). Witan was a council of wise and educated individuals who were called to advise the King on matters affecting the country. These were usually significant and serious matters that concerned the country.
Solicitors across the country advise their clients daily on matters large and small. At Witan Solicitors, we strive to be unique like our name by ensuring we always keep a laser focus on our client's objectives.
One of the first questions we ask our clients is, what do they want to achieve by instructing Witan Solicitors?
Using our combined legal knowledge and experience spanning decades, we ensure that we utilise this and the latest in legal tech to provide an excellent legal service to ensure we achieve our client’s objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Our Vision
To redefine dispute resolution advice by empowering businesses and individuals with commercially astute insights and unwavering determination, guiding them through complexities of litigation with integrity.
We envision a future where every client feels confident and supported through the court process, transforming legal challenges into opportunities for growth and success.
What makes Witan Solicitors different
We don’t just advise and counsel our clients, we persuade our opponents and the court to our solution. Our track record speaks for itself in providing commercially focused legal advice and in the pursuit of strategic litigation to ensure our clients success.
Our History
Witan Solicitors until the autumn of 2022 was known as Cato Solicitors. John Cato and the founder of the current company trained as a Solicitor in Lincolns Inn starting his career in law in 1986. Over the years he worked in several regional firms and ultimately started Cato Solicitors in Northamptonshire as a sole trader in 2003. The practice provided services to individuals and companies until 2009.
In 2013, John restarted Cato Solicitors under the current legal identity until his retirement as a Director in 2022. Cato Solicitors was built around his strong reputation as a Commercial Litigator in London and the East Midlands. During his time, John worked with clients across the board from AIM listed Companies to SMEs and high net individuals.
Qarrar Somji the current Director and owner of Witan Solicitors trained under John in 2011-2012. Between 2012 and 2018, Qarrar held various commercial litigation roles in Northamptonshire and Birmingham.
In 2018, Qarrar joined Cato Solicitors as an Associate Solicitor becoming a Director in 2020. Qarrar was a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 (2019) where he was described as ‘an impressive and industrious litigator’. During Qarrar’s Directorship Witan Solicitors has more than doubled in gross revenue and also when measured in headcount.
“Good litigators are like good doctors: they should give you an accurate diagnosis, prescribe the right course of treatment and also be able to give you an accurate prognosis”.
-John Cato, encapsulating his approach to litigation.
Our Values
Commercially Astute | Determined | Integrity | Your Guide | Empowering
Commercially Astute
We recognise that disputes have a significant impact on our clients. It is our role to ensure that your commercial interests are always protected.
Determined
We are determined to achieve our client's legal objectives and continually strive towards achieving them.
Integrity
We act in accordance with our values and are always candid and straightforward in our advice.
Your Guide
We ensure we explain your options clearly so you can make an informed choice.
Empowering
Putting you in the driving seat. No one knows more about your case than you.
You can also learn more about our commitment to making a positive impact through our corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Our Future
Qarrar’s vision for Witan Solicitors is for the practice to be recognised as a leading litigation practice in the Midlands and to ensure that we continue to have our clients best commercial interests always in mind with a laser focus on achieving our client's objectives.
Qarrar recognises that like his own journey into law, the future of Witan Solicitors lies in recruiting fresh talent and Qarrar is a strong believer in growing organically and ensuring that all of the staff and consultants of Witan Solicitors share its values and ethos.
Witan Solicitors offered its first training contract in 2020 with a second Trainee starting their contract in 2023. The vision is for the practice to offer annual Training Contracts going forward.
The Witan Way (FIRAB)
FACTS
– what facts are relevant to deciding your case?
ISSUE
– what are the precise legal issue(s) in your case?
RULE OF LAW
– what is the applicable law, what does it require, how does it affect your case?
ANALYSIS
– We will apply the relevant facts to the applicable Rule of Law and tell you how they work together in your (company’s) situation. The evidence required to win your case – is always a good starting point! We may advise you to continue with any negotiation and/or litigation, or to extricate yourself from the litigation.
BUDGET
– if required, a guaranteed budget for your dispute based on Witan Solicitors project analysis system. This approach will uncover the facts and give you real and relevant advice and options. We charge for our services at a standard hourly rate or a negotiated consultancy contract.
To learn more about how best to handle a Commercial litigation dispute, read our article here.
To understand how to use decision analysis to value the multiple financial outcomes possible in litigation, read our article here.
What you can expect from Witan Solicitors
- The relevant law and facts laid out for you.
- Development of strategies and tactics for cases of any complexity
- All your advice and associated work completed by a lawyer solicitor with dispute resolution experience.
- A keen attention to detail with a flexible and responsible approach – it’s often the attention to detail, the ability to find a ‘chink in the armour’, that achieves the positive result.
- Honest, considered and completely objective advice only influenced by your commercial interests.
- Positive and clear advice – not just a list of options.
- Strong communication skills, accuracy and efficiency in dealing with your instructions.
- Management of your instructions in an assertive, timely and cost-effective manner.
When you bring your dispute to Witan Solicitors you can expect something different.