Commercial Litigation

Not just a department but a firm that specialises in advising a range of clients on all aspects of large-scale commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on multi-party, multi-jurisdictional and multi-claim disputes.

We are set up to provide the dedicated and innovative support needed by our clients who include multinational corporations, financial institutions, high net worth individuals and groups of stockholders

"Dedicated litigation experts with experience in handling every element of large-scale and highly complex commercial disputes, frequently involving multiple parties and jurisdictions."
Chambers Europe and Chambers Global
Our work has been recognised by the leading directories across our offices in England, France and Gibraltar.

Our conflict-free, dispute-focussed and client-orientated structure enables us to provide the most effective advice and support needed by clients addressing substantive actions and remedies in the English, French and Gibraltar Court systems, extending to deep experience and expertise in the enforcement of foreign judgments in those jurisdictions.

We also use our flexibility to deliver prompt and innovative pricing proposals and solutions. Through a demonstrable track record of confining the costs of litigation to realistic budgetary constraints, we provide holistically pragmatic and commercially focussed advice at all stages of litigation, including through settlement strategies, alternative dispute resolution and other mechanisms where appropriate.

Our track record supports our description in the leading directories as “an excellent boutique litigation firm” which “can really go toe-to-toe with magic circle firms”.

We achieve that through a unique culture and structure. This is reflected in our ranking in The Legal 500 for commercial litigation which describes the firm as “a first-class firm with a positive, collaborative culture of integrity”.

Our partners in all our jurisdictions are very highly ranked. In London, Graham Huntley is top ranked by The Legal 500 and Chambers for commercial litigation, banking litigation and civil fraud. He is described by The Legal 500 as “an extraordinary legal mind” and a “force of nature”, possessing “a deeply commercial intelligence and a willingness to go more than the extra mile for his clients”, alongside Chambers which ranks him in Band 1 for banking litigation as someone who is an “exceptionally strong strategist”. Beyond that, The Legal 500 recognises that all “the key individuals are supremely professional and very informed”.

The Legal 500 UK ranks Abdulali Jiwaji as a ‘Leading Individual’ and he is descibed as “absolutely unflappable”. The Guide also notes he “has excellent interpersonal skills, is very good with clients and a pleasure to work with”. Chambers Global has described him as being a “technically sound, sensible and robust litigator who always finds practical solutions”.

The Legal 500 highly commends Daniel Spendlove and describes him as an “outstanding litigator with particular experience of high-value and complex funded litigation”, “very smart, client focused and details-oriented” and “excellent, with great attention to detail, wide experience and excellent client care”. He has also been praised as “highly professional”, and “a strategic thinker” who “brings real energy to cases”.

Kate Gee has over ten years’ experience acting in complex, high value, cross border disputes, including  general commercial litigation, civil fraud and asset tracing claims and banking litigation. Kate is ranked in The Legal 500 UK 2023 and Chambers UK 2022 guides and is described as having “notable experience in civil fraud work” and commended for having “a real commercial handle on things and is completely unflappable”.

In Paris, Thomas Rouhette has earned plaudits from all the directories who recognise him as “a strong litigator” with 30 years’ experience in commercial litigation, which has led to him being consistently recognised by The Legal 500, Chambers, Best Lawyers and Who’s Who (Thought Leaders) as a commercial litigation expert, with sources noting “He is one of the best litigators” they have worked with – “just excellent” (WWL, 2018) who Is “highly esteemed for his expertise in handling product liability cases” and in the enforcement of foreign judgments before the French Court. The Legal 500 also ranks Thomas in their ‘Hall of Fame’ for his disputes expertise in relation to aviation and he is “highly regarded for his work on cross-border contentious matters“.

Also in Paris, Sylvie Gallage-Alwis handles high value commercial litigation specifically for manufacturers and distributors operating in France, within the scope of product-related litigation. She is listed as the only Next Generation Lawyer by The Legal 500 EMEA Guide in this respect. Her specific expertise is also recognised by Who’s Who Legal and Best Lawyers. Sylvie is praised for her “rigorous analysis, strategic guidance and seasoned litigation” and recognised as a “a star in the international world” and “well-connected expert”.

In Gibraltar, practice leader Elliott Phillips is recognised in Chambers Europe and Chambers Global as “an impressive individual who is extremely capable”, with a particular client following in telecommunications, financial and gaming sector disputes. Elliott is also highly regarded by The Legal 500 EMEA Guide for his commercial litigation expertise. The practice is highlighted as being “the only pure litigation specialist in Gibraltar, setting the firm apart from others in Gibraltar“.

Commercial Litigation Team

“‘Strong from top to bottom’, litigation boutique Signature Litigation LLP’s commercial litigation team is ‘exceptionally good at building up the dispute strategy’. “

The Legal 500 UK 2022

Sylvie Gallage-Alwis

Sylvie is described by Who’s Who Legal as a “dynamic and determined litigator“, who is “a firm favourite among clients” as “she always goes the extra mile to support her clients, and is proactive in seeking commercial solutions to disputes” and is “analytical, intelligent and responsive“. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Sylvie as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Product Liability Litigation in France and she is recognised for her work on “high-profile toxic tort and product liability cases, handing a number of asbestos claims.”

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Kate Gee

Kate Gee is Counsel at Signature Litigation and has over ten years’ experience acting in complex, high value, cross border disputes, including civil fraud and asset tracing claims, general commercial litigation and banking litigation. Kate is ranked in the Chambers UK 2022 guide for Civil Fraud and is described as having “notable experience in civil fraud work” and commended for having “a real commercial handle on things and is completely unflappable”.

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Graham Huntley

Graham is consistently recognised by The Legal 500 and Chambers as one of the UK’s highest ranked commercial and banking litigators and has been involved in some of the most significant cases of recent years. Chambers UK describes him as “an intense and effective solicitor with an incredibly client-focused approach” and he has previously been described as “very bright, very hard-working, a good tactician” and “very committed and driven”. The Legal 500 UK 2023 recognises Graham as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for both banking litigation and commercial litigation, and a ‘Leading Individual’ for his civil fraud expertise. He is described as “a doyen of London banking litigation” and a “master tactician“.

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Abdulali Jiwaji

Abdul is regarded as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for Commercial Litigation and a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail. The Guide notes he is “absolutely unflappable” and that he “inspires confidence“. A commentator notes that: “One of the best litigators I have had the privilege of working with is Abdulali Jiwaji.” Abdul is further described as having “a grip of the big picture and the detail; very deft in client handling; tenacious and determined; swift, responsive and clear-thinking“. Previous Guides have noted Abdul “is always on the ball and has a good tactical brain” and recognises he “has always provided sound and very considered advice”. He is also praised for being “a steady hand during turbulent times”. Chambers Global has described him as a “technically sound, sensible and robust litigator who always finds practical solutions”.

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Thomas Rouhette

Thomas is ranked as a leading expert by both Chambers Global and Europe for his litigation and aviation law expertise, with sources praising him for his “invaluable” advice, experience and knowledge. The Legal 500 EMEA Guide consistently recognises Thomas as a ‘Hall of Fame’ lawyer for his aviation and commercial litigation practices. Who’s Who Legal regards Thomas as the “finest product liability lawyer in the country and one of the very best on the continent.”

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Tom Snelling

Highly ranked in the Chambers UK Guide for his commercial litigation expertise, Tom Snelling is described in the 2020 Guide as “extraordinarily good” and an “utter pleasure to work with and enormously talented, with a sixth sense for where a case is going and very sound judgement”. The Guides have also noted that Tom is “amazingly dedicated with strong credentials in international litigation” and that he is both “practical and commercial”. Tom is recognised as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail and Commercial Litigation.

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Daniel Spendlove

The Legal 500 UK Guide describes Daniel as “hugely talented“, “with a really creative eye for litigation strategy“, “an exceptionally committed, exceptionally hard working lawyer, with a careful and thorough approach to issues” and “a really effective litigator“. He has also been described as “very smart, client focused and details-oriented” and “excellent, with great attention to detail, wide experience and excellent client care’“. He has also been praised as “highly professional”, and “a strategic thinker” who “brings real energy to cases”. He is highly ranked across the Commercial Litigation, Banking Litigation and International Arbitration categories. He was recently described, by Commercial Dispute Resolution magazine, as “one of a new breed of independent and forceful commercial litigation partners”.

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Commercial Litigation Experience

Assisting a corporate in addressing complex and innovative issues around the enforcement in France of a judgment involving the tracing and attachment of properties in France and the Caribbean.

Representing one of the leading online marketplaces in its disputes with luxury brands on the grounds of an alleged breach of their selective distribution network.

Representing in litigation and mediation a leading US electronic products manufacturer in the scope of a litigation against one of its competitors on the grounds of breach of contract.

Representing a leading car equipment manufacturer in its disputes with former, or successive, owners of manufacturing sites located in France concerning transferred liabilities. This matter involves both litigation and arbitration.

Representing the leading US fertiliser manufacturer following alleged unfair competition practices in France, based on the hiring of a team from a competing entity. The claim is valued at over €10 million.

Representing a Japanese conglomerate before the French Courts in proceedings deriving from the alleged sudden termination of a supply agreement the client entered into with one of its distributors in France.

Representing a US manufacturer of protective equipment in the scope of proceedings filed by the purchaser of one of its sites on the grounds of misrepresentation on the technical feasibility of the conversion of the machinery on the site. The claim is valued at over €55 million.

Acting on behalf of institutional clients and over 35,000 individual shareholders bringing claims in excess of £1 billion against RBS over its 2008 rights issue following the acquisition of ABN Amro.

Advising a major corporate on claims in excess of $300 million in relation to hundreds of foreign exchange derivative transactions entered into with international banks on the grounds of non-compliance with Shari’a law.

Representing an investment fund in High Court professional negligence proceedings against a major international law firm arising out of French restructuring advice given in respect of a €20 million distressed loan.

Advising a CIS investment bank in a £100 million dispute with an AIM-listed mining and mineral company with operations in Sierra Leone regarding a number of M&A, equity and debt transactions over a period of 4 years.

Acting for two BVI incorporated companies in relation to Georgian law tort/delict claims for damages of approximately $40 million stemming from the misappropriation of Georgian assets.

Advising the family and estate of the late Badri Patarkatsishvili concerning ownership of interests of various assets, in particular an approximately $2 billion shareholding in a metallurgy company.

Acting for a Gibraltar investment vehicle in an ongoing dispute before the British Virgin Island (BVI) Commercial Court, Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, and Privy Council relating to a disputed managerial entitlement of approximately $200 million in relation to a $1 billion investment fund.

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