In the face of disputes, having a skilled dispute resolution lawyer by your side is essential. Our team excels in assessing merits and providing strategic advice to achieve a commercial resolution promptly. In the modern era, resolving contentious matters within an appropriate costs budget is crucial, and our proactive, commercially-minded, and realistic dispute resolution lawyers are up to the task. 

We recommend strategies for early dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation, and early neutral evaluation. If a satisfactory agreement is not attainable, our lawyers efficiently pursue proceedings before the courts, tribunals, or arbitration panels. Our experience extends to litigation in national courts across various jurisdictions and international disputes involving multiple jurisdictions. 

With a growing international capability, our formidable team of international arbitration practitioners specializes in major arbitral forums, handling diverse disputes such as those related to international trade and construction projects. 

Our expertise includes the enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, successfully obtaining interim remedies like freezing orders. Spencer West boasts specialist teams in areas including construction, engineering, projects, employment law, family and divorce, insurance, intellectual property, international arbitration, property disputes, trusts, probates, and estate disputes, as well as a team of mediators and international arbitrators. 

What we advise on
  • Early resolution strategies through negotiation, mediation and early neutral evaluation  
  • Proceedings managements before courts, tribunals and arbitration panels  
  • international litigation   
  • Enforcement of judgements, arbitral awards, and interim remedies  
  • Pre-contractual negotiations and advisory work  
  • Employment-related disputes  
  • Construction claims  
  • Professional negligence  
  • Insurance claims  
  • General commercial contract claims  
  • International trade disputes  
  • Shareholder disputes  
  • Landlord and tenant disputes  
  • Real estate disputes  
  • Major international arbitration forums including ICC, LCIA, DIFC, SCC, ICSID and ad hoc tribunals  
  • International enforcement of arbitral awards  
  • Family inheritance claims and trust disputes
Who we work with
  • Businesses of all sizes  
  • Construction companies  
  • Engineering firms  
  • Employers and employees  
  • Individuals   
  • Trustees and beneficiaries  
  • Cross-border businesses  
  • Energy companies  
  • Aviation and maritime companies  
  • Real estate clients  
  • Conveyors 
Specialist Expertise

Our dispute resolution lawyers bring extensive experience in their practice areas and sectors, collaborating to provide relevant specialist expertise, resources, and sector knowledge for each matter. Specialised fields include: 

– CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING & PROJECTS 

Addressing contractual disputes, project delays, and construction defects, our Construction, Engineering & Projects team focuses on strategic resolution. Proficient in negotiation and litigation, we efficiently manage disputes, minimising the impact on project timelines and costs. We leverage our experience before national courts and international arbitration panels to provide tailored solutions, fostering successful project outcomes for all stakeholders involved. 

– EMPLOYMENT LAW 

Handling wrongful terminations, discrimination claims, and breach of contract, our Employment Law team offers strategic counsel to employers and employees. Our proactive approach involves exploring resolution through negotiations, mediations, and, when necessary, litigation. Whether before national courts or through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, our goal is to achieve optimal outcomes while preserving workplace relationships.   

– FAMILY & DIVORCE 

Providing compassionate and strategic guidance in divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, and spousal support matters, our Family law specialists prioritise amicable solutions through mediation and negotiation, with experienced litigators for complex cases. Our goal is to facilitate resolutions that prioritise the wellbeing of all parties involved, particularly in matters involving children, and to guide our clients through the legal processes with empathy and expertise.   

– INSURANCE 

Efficiently addressing coverage disputes, claim denials, and liability concerns, our team combines industry expertise with strategic resolution techniques. 

– INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

Offering strategic counsel to safeguard clients’ IP rights, handling patent, trademark, and copyright disputes through negotiation, mediation, and litigation. Our Intellectual Property law specialists tailor their approach to protect our clients’ valuable intellectual assets, with expertise in national and international IP laws.   

– INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION 

Specialising in major forums such as ICC, LCIA, DIFC, SCC, ICSID, and Ad Hoc tribunals, we navigate complex cross-border disputes across all sectors with a focus on enforceable outcomes. We guide clients through the intricacies of international arbitration, offering strategic advice, meticulous preparation, and effective representation. 

– PROPERTY DISPUTES 

Providing strategic guidance for commercial and residential real estate conflicts, including landlord and tenant issues, contractual disagreements, and title disputes as well as more complex matters such as leasehold enfranchisement, lease extensions, and development disputes. We offer tailored solutions for early resolution as we recognise it is often in parties’ interests to resolve matters without going to Court, avoiding delays and extra costs. 

– TRUSTS, PROBATE AND ESTATE DISPUTES 

Guiding clients through family wealth-related challenges following the passing of a family member, addressing inheritance claims, family trust disputes, and tax complications, our Private Wealth experts navigate a diverse range of disputes with an emphasis on resolution. 

– MEDIATORS AND INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATORS 

Our accomplished team of mediators and international arbitrators provides a wealth of experience in facilitating and resolving disputes through alternative dispute mechanisms, serving as impartial third parties with expertise in various industries and forums including ICC, LCIA, DIFC, SCC, ICSID. We bring a nuanced understanding to complex cross-border disputes and are experienced in the international enforcement of arbitral awards. 

Meet our team

Antoine West
Managing Partner - Co-Founder
Ibukun Alabi
Partner - Commercial Dispute Resolution
Patrick Angénieux
Partner - International Dispute Resolution
Sophie Angus
Solicitor – Commercial Dispute Resolution
Nick Benson
Partner - Business Law
Jeremy Berg
Partner - Dispute Resolution
Tim Berg
Partner - Dispute Resolution and Insolvency
Gurvir Birang
Senior Consultant - Commercial & Insolvency Dispute Resolution
James Brenan
Partner – Real Estate
Suzanne Brooker
Partner - Restructuring & Insolvency, Construction
Tobey Butcher
Partner - Dispute Resolution / Dispute Finance
Paolo Caldato
Partner – Commercial Dispute Resolution
Emma Claremont
Partner – Construction, Engineering and Projects, Dispute Resolution
Nigel Croxford
Consultant - Construction, Engineering & Projects
Richard Wyn Davies
Partner – Family, Dispute Resolution, Private Client
Cyril Dennemont
Partner - International Employment and Business Law
Dhana Doobay
Partner – Telecoms, Media & Technology
Sarah Evans
Partner – Construction, Engineering & Projects, Dispute Resolution
Stuart Evans
Partner - Commercial Dispute Resolution
Robert Foote
Partner - Corporate/Commercial Disputes, Restructuring and Insolvency
Andrew Gilbert
Partner – Dispute Resolution/Corporate and Commercial
Richard Gilbert
Partner - Family, Contested Trust & Probate
Hanne Mällinen-Scott
Partner – Family Law
Cameron Hill
Partner – Director, Spencer West Bermuda
Amy Hope-Smith
Partner - Dispute Resolution - Restructuring & Insolvency
Louise Johal
Partner - Dispute Resolution, Insolvency
Amrit Johal
Partner - Commercial Dispute Resolution, Family Law & Sports Law
Maleeha Khan
Associate Solicitor
Jack Khurana
Partner – Commercial Dispute Resolution and Employment Law
Sharokh Koussari
Partner - Employment & Dispute Resolution
Diane Liston
Partner - Family, Private Client and Litigation
Germana Lo Iacono
Partner - Banking and financial services litigation; clinical negligence litigation
Zainab Malik
Registered Foreign Lawyer
Joseph McCaughley
Partner - Dispute Resolution, Healthcare, Professional Practices
Duncan McNair
Partner – Commercial Disputes and Contentious Wills, Estates and Inheritance
Ted Mercer
Partner - Communication Industries and Dispute Resolution
Katherine Muldoon FCIArb
Partner - Private Client
Justin Murray
Partner – City Disputes: Contentious Employment and Commercial Dispute Resolution
Syed Mustafa Mahdi
Partner - Commercial & International Dispute Resolution
Lisa Nabou
Partner - Healthcare Specialist
Paul Nathan
Partner - Dispute Resolution, Company Commercial and Insolvency
Henry Nydam
Partner – Dispute Resolution
Gerallt Owen
Gerallt Owen
Partner - Investigations, Regulatory and Corporate crime
Brendan Pang
Partner - Dispute Resolution, Property Disputes
Michael Parker
Partner – Commercial Dispute Resolution
Susan Paul
Partner - NHS, Employment & Conflict Resolution
Tony Pearce
Senior Counsel / Consultant – Will, Trust and Estate Disputes
Sangeeta Rabadia
Partner - Private Client
Jasdeep Rai
Partner - Commercial Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation & Property Disputes
Gagan Ranu
Partner - International Dispute Resolution
Zoya Rao
Partner - Corporate, Commercial and Dispute Resolution
Jackie Ray
Partner - Commercial Litigation & Insolvency
David Rose
Partner – Family, Commercial Dispute Resolution
Somaiyya Saad
Registered Foreign Lawyer
Ian Sellars
Partner - International Arbitration & Commercial Litigation
Jonathan Sharp
Partner - Commercial Dispute Resolution, Risk & Compliance
Simon Silver
Partner - Dispute Resolution
Nina Toor
Partner - Commercial Litigation and Insolvency
Jonathan Warner-Reed
Partner- Dispute Resolution
Shahaab Kharal
Trainee Solicitor - Real Estate and Development, Private Finance, Commercial and Dispute Resolution