Contract Dispute Solicitors
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Established in 2014, Witan Solicitors has decades of experience in dealing with commercial litigation cases. Our team of specialist commercial dispute solicitors have a proven track record of successfully supporting our business clients with all types of contractual legal issues, including complex matters and conflicts arising from day-to-day business.
Our commercial litigation experts have a wide range of dispute resolution techniques in their arsenal, including alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation, arbitration, expert determination and negotiation. We understand the negative impact a commercial dispute can have on your company, especially if it takes a long time to reach a resolution, so we always aim to resolve contentious matters swiftly.
Witan Solicitors’s commercial contract dispute team will protect your best interests at every stage of your case, whether it is by securing a mutually beneficial settlement agreement or by representing you in court. Thanks to our commercially focused approach, you can rely on us to provide viable solutions that safeguard the reputation and the financial future of your business.
It’s important to address any commercial contract dispute before it escalates. React quickly for a better chance of success and get legal advice now. Discuss your case with our commercial litigation solicitors in Birmingham, Northampton or London, contact the Witan Solicitors team at info@witansolicitors.co.uk for an initial, no-obligation consultation.
Our Awards
We are immensely proud of the Commercial team, whose outstanding work has been recognised by SME News and APAC Insider.
How Can Our Contract Disputes Lawyers Help?
- Construction and engineering-related disputes
- Service Contracts disputes
- Consultancy Agreements disputes
- Supplier disputes
- Seller Contracts disputes
- Breach of restrictive covenant claims
- Employment contract disputes
- Policies and Procedures (including employment and health and safety)
- Personal guarantee disputes
- Loan agreement disputes
- Warranty disputes
- Retention of title clauses
- Wrongful interference with trade
Commercial contracts should be written to ensure proper redress is available when promises are not delivered, but this is not always the case. At Witan Solicitors, we also have a specialised team of commercial contract solicitors who can prepare watertight legal documents for all your commercial relationships and transactions.
Our Expertise
- Breach of contract – We will advise on the best course of action and assess the validity of your claim to help you recover any loss
- Remedies for breach of contract – We will help you establish the remedies available to you and provide guidance on how to achieve a satisfactory outcome
- Void and unenforceable contracts – We will help to minimise disruption to your business
- Termination and discharge of contracts – We will advise on whether you have the authority to terminate a contract or whether you can make a claim for wrongful termination
- Restitution and unjust enrichment – We will help you restore any gains that the other party has obtained from you
- Sale of goods and supply of services – We will advise on which remedies are available based on the validity of your claim
- Frustration and force majeure – We will assess how the events in question have altered the contractual obligations of parties
- Delivery disputes – We will assess the contract terms and advise on what provisions can be invoked
- Retention of title and shortage of third-party goods – We will help you recover the maximum amount
- Quantum meruit claims for part-delivered contracts – We will help you bring an action in ‘quantum meruit’ for a reasonable sum
- Customers in administration and lifting the moratorium – We will assist you in maximising the recovery
What Classes as a Contract Dispute?
In simple terms, a contract dispute is a disagreement between two or more parties that arises due to a breach of contract. A commercial contract can be breached in a number of ways:
- Actual Breach – This is where the breach has already occurred due to one party failing to meet their obligations
- Anticipatory Breach – This is where a breach is yet to have occurred but it is evident that one party will not meet their obligations
- Material Breach – This occurs when one party receives less benefit than set in the terms of the contract
- Minor Breach – This occurs when a party receives the benefit set out in the contract but the other party has failed to fully meet their obligations in some way, causing losses
- Repudiatory Breach – This is a serious breach that deprives the innocent party of their benefit and gives them the right to end the contract
Qarrar Somji
Solicitor-Advocate
Qarrar qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in 2014 having previously had experience in a varying range of litigation roles.
What our customers say
Part Performance in Contract Law
If you are a party to a contract that is breached, you may want to take action to enforce your rights. However, if some of the contractual…
What Causes Contract Disputes
Contract disputes can arise due to a number of reasons, including:
- Fraud
- Parties not honouring their commitments
- Poor quality or faulty goods and services
- Late delivery of purchased goods
- Warranty disputes
- Rejection of insurance claims
- Mistakes and errors
- Employee disputes
- Concerns over offers made in the contract
- Disagreements about what technical terms mean
- Contractual reviews
How Can You Avoid a Contract Dispute?
To reduce the risk of disputes occurring, it is crucial to instruct an experienced commercial lawyer to draft and review your contracts. That way, clear obligations are set out for each party, reducing the risk of misunderstandings and legal challenges later down the line.
Contracts may include:
- A breakdown of the services to be provided
- The specification of goods
- A clause to allow for inspections to be carried out before the final payment is made
- A termination clause or notice period
- Default provisions for non-compliance
- Indemnity clauses or limitations
On top of this, it is advisable to keep records of all correspondence between you and the other party. After all, these records can be used as evidence if a dispute arises.
Do You Need to Go to Court For a Contract Dispute?
Our specialist contract dispute lawyers always treat litigation as a last resort. We excel at helping our clients resolve disputes through pre-action protocols and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This allows our clients to resolve their disputes and achieve a satisfactory outcome without having to go through lengthy and expensive court proceedings.
How We Can Help With ADR
Our solicitors are well-versed in contract law and will provide you with the legal advice you need to feel fully prepared for mediation or arbitration. We can even attend sessions to ensure that your case is heard, helping you get the resolution you deserve.
Who Do We Help?
At Witan Solicitors, we have helped a wide range of clients coming from different sectors. From sole traders to large organisations, we tailor our approach to each individual client and we have been successful in reaching favourable outcomes in resolving any type of contractual dispute.
Our commercial dispute solicitors regularly work with clients across the following industries:
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Legal
- Professional Services (Accountants, Surveyors, Architects etc.)
With a solid background in commercial and corporate law, employment law and debt management, our team can provide you with comprehensive advice and support, regardless of your sector of expertise.
Our Approach
Our approach focuses on assessing your case in order to find the most cost-efficient solution. Whether it is negotiation or another alternative dispute resolution or if you need to be represented in court, our commercial dispute solicitors have the expertise needed to reach a quick and efficient resolution.
Pre-Action Protocols
It is often in both parties’ best interest to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute before proceeding to the next step. Often, disagreements over contracts can be dealt with using a ‘letter before action’. This includes both parties’ legal positions as well as the outcome they want to achieve and the actions they are willing to take in case a mutual agreement cannot be reached.
Our experienced business dispute solicitors can draft the letter for you and handle the rest of the correspondence on your behalf. We ensure that all pre-action protocols are followed to increase your chances of success if your case goes to Court.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
You can count on our expertise to resolve your commercial contract disputes in an amicable way. In some cases, alternative dispute resolutions are better suited for solving legal issues before deciding on litigation. At Witan Solicitors, we have successfully helped numerous clients with various methods of mediation and conciliation.
By creating the right conditions to resolve the conflict peacefully, we can secure a desirable outcome that’s fair to both sides without having to go to court so your business doesn’t have to suffer the consequences of lengthy litigation.
Commercial Litigation
If an amicable resolution cannot be reached, our commercial litigation solicitors have a proven track of representing clients in courts with an excellent success rate. Our team will advise you on the likelihood of success, the legal costs and the possible solutions at every step of the way, so you are always in control of your case. We will build a legal strategy, secure the necessary evidence to support your case and, if appropriate, we will seek to negotiate a settlement agreement at a later stage.
Why Choose Witan Solicitors?
Commercial disputes often entail complex issues which can sometimes lead to business disputes. You can trust the Witan Solicitors commercial litigation teams in London, Birmingham and Northampton to get the situation under control early on and improve your chances of reaching a positive outcome. Choosing to work with us guarantees you:
- More than 100 years of experience on your side
- Commercial litigation experts recognised by the Legal 500
- Comprehensive, jargon-free legal advice
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Commercially focused commercial dispute resolution strategy
- Accurate cost-saving analysis
- Initial no-obligation consultation
- Contract dispute solicitors in Birmingham, London and Northampton
Funding
Our contract dispute solicitors will be more than happy to discuss your case in a free, no-obligation consultation. We also offer a variety of funding options to suit your needs, including:
- No win, no fee
- No win, low fee
- Legal expenses insurance
- Fixed fees
- Litigation funding