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Commercial & Contractual Disputes

Our award-winning commercial litigation lawyers provide the solutions you need to prevent contractual disputes from damaging your business.

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With a large, dedicated team of award-winning commercial litigators, we offer the commercially focused solutions you need to prevent disputes from damaging your business.

Since commercial disputes can occur at any time, you need true experts who understand exactly what matters to you. 

We advise on a wide range of disputes concerning financial services, sportmanufacturing and supply chain, sales, IT law, transportation, e-commerce and outsourcing for a variety of clients, including prominent personalities from the worlds of sport and entertainment, as well as businesses, brands and multinational corporates.

We act in a range of high-profile disputes including cases that involve sums in excess of £40m and attract worldwide press coverage.

Wherever possible, we aim to avoid claims by employing proactive risk management strategies. Yet when necessary, we use litigation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), mediation and arbitration to defend claims.

Our team is made up of highly experienced lawyers who’ll evaluate the merits of your case at the outset and provide straightforward advice to find the best solution that fits your needs and objectives.

We’re recognised in The Times Best Law Firms 2025 for commercial dispute resolution as well as the top tier of The Legal 500 2025 for commercial litigation in Liverpool and Manchester.

Experienced commercial disputes lawyers

Our team is led by highly experienced commercial litigator Jeff Lewis, who has practised since 1989, and is very highly regarded for his tenacity and dedication in fighting on behalf of his clients. Jeff has been consistently recognised in the top tiers of both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners throughout his career and is a member of The Legal 500’s Hall of Fame. One of the top 250 most influential people in Greater Manchester, Jeff is a former President of Manchester Law Society who currently sits as a Council member of The Law Society and is a member of its Civil Justice Committee as well as the Property Litigation Association. He also sits as a Deputy District Judge and holds Higher Rights of Audience in civil cases.

Multi-award-winning commercial litigator Paul Lunt is a fellow Hall of Famer in The Legal 500 who handles a variety of contentious commercial matters in the corporate field with a focus on company and shareholder disputes, as well as contractual and tortious disputes, professional negligence claims and insolvency-related matters.

The “fast and dynamic” Helen Otty brings a wealth of experience in commercial and company disputes including shareholder and partnership disputes, procurement law and breach of warranty claims, with 25 years’ of litigation and arbitration experience. She’s recognised as both a Recommended Lawyer and Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500, which describes her as “outstanding” and “a seasoned commercial litigator” who “advises on high-value international arbitrations, commercial and company disputes”.

Phil Weldon offers another 15 years’ worth of commercial litigation experience. He advises in a range of commercial disputes including breach of contract and warranty claims, shareholder and partnership disputes and corporate transactional disputes (including dental corporate).

Meet the team

Jeff Lewis

Jeff Lewis

Partner

Paul Lunt

Paul Lunt

Partner, Head of Litigation

Helen Otty

Helen Otty

Partner

Among recent successful cases its litigation team won a landmark defamation and malicious falsehood case in the Supreme Court overturning an early Court of Appeal ruling. It acted for the recruitment agency LCA Jobs and its owner, Lynda Cannell, who had been sued for libel, slander and malicious falsehood by a former employee, Fiona George, who the Supreme Court ruled was only entitled to £5 in nominal damages for her claim in malicious falsehood.

The Times Best Law Firms 2025

Brabners' [commercial litigation] team earns praise for its involvement in high-profile matters, including the 'Wagatha Christie' trial. The team is headed up by the ’bright, proactive and commercially savvy’ Paul Lunt, who is noted for his focus on media and sports disputes, shareholder disputes, contractual and professional negligence claims.

The Legal 500 2025

Nick McAleenan has significant knowledge of media and communications claims, with experience in handling cases concerning phone-hacking, data protection, smear campaigns and submissions to the Leveson Inquiry.

The Legal 500 2025

Property litigation specialist Helena Davies routinely advises on title and boundary disputes, trespasser injunctions and adverse possession claims, as well as commercial landlord and tenant work.

The Legal 500 2025

Jeff Lewis has broad experience in litigating a wide range of disputes, with specific expertise in the recruitment and sports sectors.

The Legal 500 2025

Helen Otty advises on high-value international arbitrations, commercial and company disputes.

The Legal 500 2025

Recognised as a top-tier firm in The Legal 500 2025

UK Top tier firm 2025
UK Hall of fame 2025
UK Next generation partner 2025
UK Leading associate 2025
UK Recommended lawyer 2025

Commercial & contractual disputes FAQs

Commercial disputes and litigation insights

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