Litigation & Dispute Resolution Factsheet
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
We are a leading UK litigation practice, providing clients with a sure-footed approach in relation to all types of disputes.
We understand that most clients, whether commercial or private, would prefer to resolve a dispute without resorting to litigation, and at minimum expense. With this in mind, and with an in-depth knowledge of litigation practice and the increasingly complex area of alternative dispute resolution, we are able to put clients in the best position to make informed decisions to bring about resolution of even the most complex situations.
Our litigation practice is built on a framework of specialists who combine solid general contentious skills with expertise in specific areas such as:
- Arbitration
- Class action litigation
- Competition law
- Debt recovery
- Employment disputes and claims
- Fraud
- Insolvency and restructuring
- Insurance litigation
- Intellectual property (copyright, trademarks, patents etc.)
- Professional negligence
- Property and construction litigation
Edwin Coe is at the forefront of the growing field of ‘group actions’, and in particular, securities fraud disputes. We are one of a handful of UK firms specialising in this type of work, bringing cases against entities whose actions have caused damage to small or large groups of people, also referred to as ‘class action’ litigation. We advise on the stages involved in pursuing a group action and the various options for funding.
Class Action Litigation
In appropriate cases we are also able to assist with media relations, helping to generate publicity to achieve maximum exposure for the case or grievance. We are experienced in advising clients on the complexities of managing this type of action, such as pulling together the group to assist with costs and liability, as well as providing practical guidance on all aspects of administration.
Examples of our work
Class Actions and Securities Fraud
- Successfully taking proceedings in the Competition Appeal Tribunal on behalf of 32,000 members of the Association of Convenience Stores to win a review of the groceries sector by the Competition Commission.
- Acting for shareholders of Railtrack in the UK’s leading class action against the Secretary of State for Transport, alleging misfeasance in public office.
- Acting for publicans pursuing damages claims against breweries to whom they were improperly tied.
- Acting for the main action group representing depositors of the collapsed Icelandic bank, Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander (Isle of Man) Limited, (KSFIOM).
- Representing 150,000 Northern Rock private shareholders, in their attempt to secure improved compensation following nationalisation of the bank.
- Acting for wealthy British investors who lost money in the Bernard Madoff “Ponzi” fraud, and preparing a lawsuit against European asset management firms that acted as intermediaries.
- Acting for a group of private investors in a claim against an AIM listed company and its founders who circulated fraudulent claims to shareholders and then subsequently sold their shares in a rising market before the company collapsed.
Other Commercial Litigation
- Acting for a number of Yukos related companies in relation to multi-jurisdictional disputes including claims for promissory notes worth $billions and resisting Government requests for disclosure of information and extradition.
- Acting for members of the farming community in relation to a number of complaints against their former solicitors, Bristol firm Burges Salmon.
- Acting for members of the Arkaga Group, being sued for €43 million by the Nelson family – owners of Nolan Transport. This complex matter involved obtaining a freezing injunction over the assets of the defendants.
- Acting in a multinational fraud in Barbados, involving co-ordinating work across a number of jurisdictions, with proceedings in Barbados, England, Gibraltar and the Channel Islands.
Insurance Litigation
Edwin Coe has carved out a particular niche in handling claimant insurance litigation, having built a strong track record in this field over the past 30 years with a stream of high-profile instructions involving liability and coverage disputes, claims for business interruption, and negligence claims against brokers.
