Litigation

DWF has a highly reputable litigation team in Birmingham with proven practical experience of high-end cases involving international clients and multiple jurisdictions. The firm frequently advises clients on complex contractual issues. It is active across a variety of sectors including technology, telecommunications and financial services.

"The team are really good - they're really sensible and have some features you might not expect."

"DWF are a really solid experienced commercial team covering a whole range of disputes."

"All our requirements were met and turned around in the short timescales we were working within. At no point did I feel like we were waiting for responses."

DWF acted for BT against HMRC, relating to historical overpayment of VAT.BT claimed £65.2 million in VAT it paid to HMRC in the 1970s and 1980s but never recovered from customers who did not pay their phone bills.

Andrew Leach regularly represents clients, including national utility companies, in complex commercial disputes and regarding supply chain issues. "Andrew was exemplary in all aspects of the engagement. He was able to quickly comprehend complex technical elements that he was not previously familiar with." "I highly rate Andrew as an inventive lawyer who will always take a step back and will question the established way of doing things - he's not afraid to try something novel." "Andrew is a very clever lawyer, very strategic in the manner he handles cross-border cases. He stands out in the pack."

Darren Kenny earns praise for his cross-border litigation practice, which sees him frequently handling high-value cases concerning breach of contract and fraud. "Darren Kenny was very good at engaging with the detail of the arguments we were putting forward and shaping the strategy." "Darren is a very good technical lawyer who is also very pragmatic. He's able to understand and see the bigger picture from the client's perspective and keeps his eyes on the ball." "He has remarkable strategic insight that he combines with very effective legal knowledge."

Climbing into the numerical rankings, Ben Griffin has a strong reputation for his commercial litigation practice, which includes frequently acting for foreign nationals and high net worth individuals. "Ben is one of the best solicitors I have worked with: his knowledge of the law is very good and his analysis is similarly very good. As counsel, clients really like him." "Ben is intelligent and thoughtful, his drafting is concise and incisive, and he has the full command of everything he is dealing with."