Professional Negligence Litigation
Signature operates on a conflict free platform.
It can act against professional firms without the same restrictions as most other firms. Its lawyers have both defended professional firms and acted against them. We understand both sides of the disputes that arise.
The Legal 500
Our lawyers have both defended professional firms and acted against them. We understand both sides of the disputes that arise.
Our teams in London and Paris advise on all forms of disputes arising out of and linked to professional negligence including breaches of professional duty, breaches of contract and fraud by professionals. Our work is typically high profile. Our technical expertise in the area has been applied in relation to a wide variety of professionals, including lawyers, accountants, and valuers.
London-based partner Daniel Spendlove is a highly recognised practitioner in the legal directories for his professional negligence litigation expertise. He has also been praised as “highly professional”, and “a strategic thinker” who “brings real energy to cases”. Daniel was recently described, by Commercial Dispute Resolution magazine, as “one of a new breed of independent and forceful commercial litigation partners”.
In Paris, partner Thomas Rouhette has almost 30 years’ experience in commercial and international litigation. He is described by the leading legal directories as a “tough but excellent” litigator and a “strong litigator who has driven many claims and defences to a successful conclusion.” As a result of his market leading expertise, The Legal 500 has ranked Thomas in its ‘Hall of Fame’ of leading international practitioners.
Partner Emmanuèle Lutfalla, head of the Paris office’s insurance and reinsurance litigation practice, often advises clients in relation to insurance coverage issues which arise from professional negligence claims. She is ranked in The Legal 500 EMEA Guide as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for her insurance expertise. The Guide notes she is “very renowned in the insurance sector” and the department is described as “one of France’s finest dispute resolution practices”.
Professional Negligence Litigation Team
“Heavy hitting litigation shop.”
The Legal 500 UK 2023
Emmanuèle Lutfalla
Emmanuèle is recognised as a ‘Thought Leader’ in Who’s Who Legal’s France 2020 Guide. She is also ranked as both a ‘National’ (in France) and ‘Global’ Leader for Product Liability Defence in Who’s Who Legal. The Guide notes Emmanuèle “excels in handling disputes at the intersection of product liability and insurance matters, representing clients from the life sciences sector in litigation and product risk management.” The Legal 500 EMEA Guide ranks Emmanuèle as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ for insurance and notes she is “very renowned in the insurance sector“. The Legal 500 also ranks the insurance and reinsurance litigation practice very highly in Paris, and also notes the department “unites an impressive bench of stellar litigators“. The Chambers Europe 2022 Guide notes that Emmanuèle noted as “the key point of contact” for insurance at the firm. Chambers ranks Signature Paris’ insurance practice as a leading firm in its Europe Guide and highlights the team’s “knowledge and ability to handle complex and difficult matters“.
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.”
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”.
Professional Negligence Litigation Experience
Representing a Central Asia and Eastern Europe bank in a high profile case against the bank’s former owner in the scope of enforcement proceedings involving piercing the corporate veil and attachment of assets located on the French Riviera and in the French West Indies.
Representing company directors in personal liability cases in various disputes pending before the French Commercial Courts in the scope of insolvency proceedings.
Assisting high net worth individuals against their former business partner in French enforcement proceedings following an English High Court decision.
Acting for a claimant bank against its former legal advisers in relation to their handling of a LCIA arbitration.
Assisting a high-ranking employee in relation to a multi-jurisdictional investigation into a fraudulent scheme for a misappropriation of corporate assets.
Advising a major French bank regarding a coverage dispute relating to the cost of the legal representation of two of the bank’s executives who are facing criminal proceedings in the US.
Advising a claimant in connection with potential professional negligence claims arising out of a tax planning and avoidance scheme.
Acting for a large international firm of lawyers in connection with disputes between investors in a complex securitisation of collateral debt obligations.
Acting for investment banks in two large sets of complex multi-party proceedings involving claims against, inter alia, firms of accountants, banks, public and private companies and directors thereof and firms of solicitors, involving various claims for misstatement, misrepresentation, breach of contract and fraud.
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 partners in a collapsed law firm on claims available against other professional advisers.
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