sale & supply of goods and services
If you are in the business of selling goods, or leasing out plant and equipment, then you will know how important it is to have a supply chain in place where everyone can be relied on to meet their obligations. You will also be aware of the need to take swift and decisive action where a problem in your supply chain arises, and particularly where it could have seriously damaging knock-on effects.
Where the focus of your business is instead on the provision of services, then you will be aware of the need to ensure that your contracts go according to plan and that purported breaches are addressed quickly to ensure projects are not derailed and that you still get paid.
Our dispute resolution and litigation lawyers specialise in conflicts concerning the sale or supply of goods and services, and has developed a local, national and indeed international reputation as being leaders in their field. In addition, as a firm we are ranked as a top tier legal provider by the respected law directory, Chambers and Partners.
We provide quick, focused and commercially sensible advice which is geared at helping you to tackle a dispute as soon as it arises, and which is designed to get your supply chain or project back on track while also preserving your legal rights to seek appropriate redress.
To find out more, please call us on 01908 692769 and ask to speak to a member of the team.
How we can assist
We can help you to resolve disputes about:
- the quality of goods, or standard of service;
- claims that goods supplied are defective;
- claims that services have been negligently performed;
- the adequacy of substitute goods, or alternative service provision;
- the impact of stock and staff shortages;
- delays in delivery or performance;
- failure to supply or perform;
- attempts to change delivery schedules or pricing structures;
- refusal to pay interim or final accounts;
- claims of force majeure or frustration;
- contract termination rights;
- questions around jurisdiction and choice of law provisions in cross-border cases;
- the enforceability of a contractual dispute resolution mechanism;
- the extent to which steps aimed at mitigating losses should be taken;
- the sums due under liquidated and unliquidated damages clauses; and
- any other type of contractual claim.
We can also help you to obtain an injunction or freezing order where you need urgent support from the court to protect your commercial interests, or to prevent you suffering irreversible harm which cannot adequately be addressed through the payment of compensation.
What if there is no written agreement in place?
While it is usually easier to resolve a dispute where there is a written contract in place which details everyone’s respective rights and obligations, we can still assist where a dispute has arisen out of an oral agreement or a previous course of dealings. However, in this scenario we will need to work closely with you to build up a picture of how your trading relationship operates and to ascertain the applicable terms and conditions, based on what you have agreed in correspondence or which may apply by operation of statutory rules.
Can you help to resolve international disputes?
We act for local, national and international businesses, so whether you are in dispute with someone in the UK or a supplier or customer abroad, we can help you to achieve a resolution.
Trevor Coward in our team is part of Legal Counsel International, a network of lawyers and law firms based in 17 different countries, all of whom have significant experience in dealing with international transactions and cross-border commercial ventures.
Do we have to go to court?
We are highly experienced in the use of alternative dispute resolution processes, including formal negotiation, mediation, conciliation, expert determination, early neutral evaluation, arbitration and adjudication.
We also have a duel-qualified lawyer and mediator in our team, Guy Brooks, who is accredited by CEDR (the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution) and who gives us additional expertise.
Why choose Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors?
Our dispute resolution and litigation team understand how disruptive supply chain and project-based problems can be, and are therefore focused on helping you to find a commercially sensible way forward as quickly and economically as possible.
We are skilled negotiators, who have an impressive record in brokering out-of-court settlements and who regularly use mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution with great success. We are also recognised as extremely capable litigators, who can skilfully fight your corner at court where needed and who will work hard to advance forceful and compelling arguments in support of your position and commercial aims.
To find out more, please call us on 01908 692769 and ask to speak to Ken Stangoe, Richard Millard, Trevor Coward or Guy Brooks
You may also want to sign up to our newsletter to keep abreast of legal developments which may affect your business, or visit our resource hub. And to see what existing clients think of our service, why not take a look at some of our most recent client testimonials.
What our clients say:
‘’Trevor Coward of Geoffrey Leaver acted for us in a particularly challenging litigation. His tenacity, sound practical advice and tactical approach to the case secured us a very satisfactory outcome.
‘’He is someone you will be glad to have on board when the going gets tough.”
Alan Mills, Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance
For more information about how we can help, you can read testimonials from our dispute resolution clients
Accreditations
Chambers & Partners 2021 notes the team is well-respected and active on a wide range of contractual claims and commercial disputes, including unfair prejudice claims and fraud-related proceedings. Local and international clientele comes from a variety of industry sectors, and also includes private individuals and SMEs. One client commends the “proactive, engaging and considerate” nature of the team.
Chambers & Partners 2020 says ‘Well-respected team active on a wide range of contractual claims and commercial disputes, including unfair prejudice claims and fraud-related proceedings. Local and international clientele comes from a variety of industry sectors, and also includes private individuals and SMEs.’
Legal 500 2020 says ‘Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors LLP’s dispute resolution and litigation practice specialises in commercial property disputes, distribution and agency agreements, debt collection and director, shareholder and partnership disputes. Its work includes dealing with injunctions and freezing orders and work in areas such as insolvency, international trade and IT and e-commerce. Practice head Kenneth Stangoe, Trevor Coward, Guy Brooks and Richard Millard are the key contacts’
The Dispute Resolution & Litigation Team
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Ken Stangoe Partner
Dispute Resolution & Litigation 01908 689307Ken is Head of the Department. He has over 20 years' experience as a commercial litigator, with a heavy focus on property disputes, including forfeiture actions and applications for relief, right of way disputes, rent recovery for commercial landlords, trusts of land, dilapidations claims, boundary disputes, rent and service charge recovery and lease renewal applications. -
Richard Millard Managing Partner
Construction & Development 01908 689382Richard has over 20 years’ experience acting for clients in the construction industry, providing pragmatic advice to developers, contractors, sub-contractors, design and construction professionals, housing associations, smaller builders and homeowners. -
Guy Brooks Partner
Dispute Resolution & Litigation 01908 689304Guy has more than 30 years’ experience in the legal profession and headed up the Commercial Litigation department of local firm Fennemores, before joining Geoffrey Leaver as joint head of the Dispute Resolution department in 2006. The Dispute Resolution department have been recognised by Legal 500 UK. -
Trevor Coward Partner
Dispute Resolution & Litigation 01908 689311Trevor specialises in the closely connected fields of commercial litigation, partner/director disputes, insolvency, property litigation, and professional negligence. His background is one of broad experience across a wide range of commercial litigation. He is a member of Legal Counsel International, an alliance of lawyers in 17 countries.
