Litigation & dispute resolution solicitors
Matthew Brandis »
Partner and Practice Group Leader
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279039
Email: matthew.brandis@bpcollins.co.uk
Matthew graduated with LLB (Hons) from Exeter University in 1994, and went on to receive a commendation on the LPC, York. After completing his training at Lee Bolton & Lee Solicitors, Westminster he joined the firm's litigation team in 1997 and became a partner in 2002.
Matthew specialises in resolving commercial contractual disputes, defamation actions, professional negligence claims and private client matters, including personal injury claims, contentious probate and Magistrates Court cases. Matthew was recently victorious for his client in the groundbreaking and widely reported Westcott v Westcott defamation case. He is also the Solicitor to the Gerrards Cross Community Association. Matthew's clients describe him as being "very personable", an "excellent ambassador for [us]" and "exceeding expectations".
Matthew enjoys skiing, hill walking, travelling (especially Africa) and raising money each year for the St Lawrence Home of Hope Orphanage in Zambia and for Children in Need. Matthew is married and has a young son.
Nick Hallchurch »
Partner
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: nick.hallchurch@bpcollins.co.uk
Nick graduated from Hull University in 1979 and qualified as a solicitor in 1983. He worked for Pinsent Curtis and a well-known firm in Berkeley Street, London W1. Nick joined B P Collins in 1987 and became a partner in 1991. Nick has 25 years litigation experience and handles heavyweight commercial litigation, principally commercial property, contract and civil, construction and professional negligence claims, in the Courts and by arbitration, adjudication and mediation. He is also involved with construction, trade finance agreements, fraud, insolvency and health and safety matters. Nick has been identified as a "leading litigator" for the past three years in Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the Legal Profession.
Nick is a CEDR-accredited mediator and a mediation advocate. He is also co-founder (with James Torr of Elrond Consulting) and Chairman of the Middlesex and Thames Valley Mediators, an association which provides mediation services throughout London and the Thames Valley.
A keen squash player, Nick is married with 2 children.
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David Pritchard »
Partner
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279050
Email: david.pritchard@bpcollins.co.uk
David graduated from Cambridge University in 1982. After military service with the 9th/12th Lancers and a spell as a credit and political risks insurance broker at Lloyd's of London, he qualified in 1990 as a solicitor with Simmons & Simmons in the City. In 1995, he moved to B P Collins and now specialises in intellectual property and in the Chancery and commercial courts, as well as acting in arbitrations, adjudications and appeals, often with an overseas dimension.
Throughout his work, David places emphasis on carefully integrating specialist counsel, expert witnesses and clients, promoting teamwork and concurrency of action. David has led his team in a number of reported cases, including the Appeal Court ruling in Fairfax Gerrard v Capital Bank and High Court decisions on Oxford Legal Group Ltd v Sibbasbridge Services plc, Battlebridge Group Ltd v Hoyer Miller and Singh v Anand.
David is a CEDR-trained mediator, a strong advocate of alternative dispute resolution and takes pride in the many successful mediations he has guided clients through. David is also independently recommended for his dispute resolution services in the Thames Valley region by The Legal 500.
David is a non-executive director of a manufacturing company that is the holder of a Queen's Award for Innovation.
Craig Williams »
Partner
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: craig.williams@bpcollins.co.uk
Craig graduated from Warwick University in 2000 with LLB (Hons) and completed his LPC in Bristol. Having joined B P Collins in October 2001 as a trainee solicitor, he qualified into the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group in October 2003.
Craig specialises in commercial litigation, resolving disputes arising out of commercial contracts, IT, factoring and trade finance agreements, professional negligence, environmental and other regulatory matters. He also deals with private client litigation with a particular emphasis on contentious inheritance disputes.
Craig's reported cases include Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Ltd v Yazdi & Talab [2004] EWHC 2079 Q.B.D. (where the High Court rejected the Defendant's case as dishonest and based upon fraudulent evidence) and Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Ltd v Zargaran & Zargaran & Zargaran London Ltd [2003] EWHC 3017 Q.B.D. (where an interpleader claim was debarred for failure to comply with certain conditions). Craig was also involved in the case of Shah & another v Joshi [2008] EWHC 1766 (Ch), (a contested inheritance case where the claimant successfully challenged the validity of a will on the basis that it was a forgery).
Craig is also experienced in the use of mediation as a means of resolving commercial disputes, having successfully achieved a settlement of a variety of cases including a substantial High Court action involving four parties and a number of related High Court claims.
Craig's interests outside of work include rock climbing and mountaineering.
Sarah Jackson »
Senior Associate
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279040
Email: sarah.jackson@bpcollins.co.uk
Sarah graduated from the London School of Economics with a LLB (Hons) degree in 1999. Sarah completing her LPC at the College of Law, London in 2001 graduating with a distinction. She trained at Fox Williams in the City and qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Sarah joined B P Collins on qualification.
Sarah principally specialises in chancery litigation, predominantly involving the Companies Act and high value professional negligence actions primarily involving solicitors, accountants and financial advisors. She also undertakes high value commercial litigation.
Sarah's reported cases included the widely reported Court of Appeal decision in Oxford Legal Group Ltd v Sibbasbridge Services Plc and another [2008] 2 BCLC 381 (a claim pursued under s222 of the Companies Act 1985) and the appeal before Mr Justice Norris in Battlebridge Group Limited v Hoyer Millar [2008] EWHC 265 (Ch) (whether a without prejudice offer is capable of acceptance). Sarah was also involved in: Hoyer Millar v Battlebridge Group Ltd & Others [2006] and Re Sibbasbridge Services Plc [2006].
When necessary, Sarah is adept at obtaining emergency injunctions but is a strong supporter of mediation and is a skilled mediation advocate with an excellent settlement rate.
Outside of work, Sarah is involved with Footsteps Foundation, a charity which supplies physiotherapy to children with neuro-motor disorders.
Robert Clark »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Robert has specialised in property litigation since qualification in 2005. He deals with a wide range of commercial and residential property disputes and particularly specialises in issues of insolvency, dilapidations and both residential and commercial possession proceedings. He also has specialist knowledge on the consequences of failing to complete on property transactions for both vendors and purchasers and appeared in the LNTV video produced by the College of Law on the subject.
In addition, Robert has considerable technical experience in adverse possession, rights of way and boundary disputes and deals with a wide range of commercial and residential lease disputes and issues of tenant default. He also advises a number of private individuals and commercial clients on business and residential lease renewals and has experience in collective enfranchisement applications and applications for the right to manage.
Robert acts for a number of private individuals as well as nationally and internationally recognised companies and organisations.
Alex Jones »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Alex graduated from Cardiff University with a LLB (Hons) in Law and Politics, and completed his LPC at Cardiff Law School.
He trained at B P Collins and qualified into the Litigation & Dispute Resolution team in January 2010, having spent some valuable time on secondment, working in-house at Unisys Limited.
Alex specialises in commercial litigation, dealing with a range of matters, including software and intellectual property disputes.
Outside of work, Alex's main interests include hockey, rugby and cricket. He is a keen supporter of Bristol Rugby Club.
Suzanne Smith »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation & dispute resolution
Suzanne graduated from the University of Warwick in 2001 with a BA in Law and Sociology and completed her LPC at Inns of Court in London. Suzanne joined B P Collins as a trainee solicitor in 2004 and qualified into the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice in 2006.
Suzanne specialises in commercial litigation and resolving disputes by means of the Court and mediation. She is a member of the firm's Technology & IP group and undertakes complex IT software disputes. She also deals with libel and defamation cases.
Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys travelling, running and reading.
