Litigation and dispute resolution solicitors
Matthew Brandis »
Partner and Practice Group Leader
Practice Group: Litigation and 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, advising on parking law 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 and daughter.
 |
 |
Nick Hallchurch »
Partner
Practice Group: Litigation and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: nick.hallchurch@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Nick
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.
back to top
Craig Williams »
Partner
Practice Group: Litigation and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: craig.williams@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Craig
Craig graduated from Warwick University in 2000 and completed the Legal Practice Course in Bristol. He joined B P Collins as a trainee solicitor in 2001, qualified into the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group in October 2003 and became a Partner in 2010.
Craig is a commercial litigator with particular experience in resolving disputes in the factoring and trade finance, IT, waste management and environmental sectors. He has experience in dealing with regulatory matters and also deals with private client litigation with a particular emphasis on contentious trusts and inheritance disputes.
Craig has a successful track record at Court, with a number of reported decisions including;
- Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Limited v Zargaran [2003] EWHC 3017 QBD (where an interpleader claim was debarred for failure to comply with certain conditions - now one of the leading cases on interpleader proceedings);
- Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Limited v Yazdi & Talab [2004] EWHC 2079 QBD (where the Court rejected the Defendant's case as dishonest and based on fraudulent evidence) and, in the contentious inheritance arena;
- Shah v Joshi [2008] EWHC 1766 Ch (where a will was successfully contested on the basis that it was a forgery).
Craig is also an experienced dispute resolution advocate and has successfully settled a variety of commercial and private client disputes at mediation and as part of a broader range of ADR mechanisms.
Craig's interests outside of work include rock climbing and mountain walking.
Simon Carroll »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: simon.carroll@bpcollins.co.uk
After a brief period working in Australia and Canada, Simon studied at the University of Reading, graduating with LLB (Hons) in Law, before completing his LPC at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice.
Prior to joining B P Collins in January 2012, Simon worked as a junior litigator in-house at a major FTSE 100 company after qualifying in November 2010 with City and regional firm, Thomas Eggar LLP.
Simon has gained significant experience dealing with a variety of general commercial, corporate and professional negligence disputes as well as more complex indemnity litigation for a range of clients.
Outside work, Simon enjoys skiing, running, and learning foreign languages.
Robert Clark »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: robert.clark@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Robert
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 and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: alex.jones@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Alex
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.
Sarah McLoughlin »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279037
Email: sarah.mcloughlin@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Sarah
Sarah qualified as a solicitor in 1999, having previously worked as a Legal Executive. Sarah has an impressive work CV having been employed by a number of large city law firms before joining B P Collins in February 2011 to assist the property litigation team. She has nearly 20 years experience and deals with all aspects of property litigation.
Sarah is married with 2 children.
Suzanne Smith »
Associate
Practice Group: Litigation and dispute resolution
Call: 01753 279039
Email: suzanne.smith@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Suzanne
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.
