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Dispute resolution

Dispute resolution services to help clients avoid or resolve complex commercial, regulatory, and cross-border disputes efficiently and with expert guidance, from litigation to arbitration, and all forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

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Our dispute resolution solicitors are dedicated to achieving successful outcomes for our clients, focusing on resolving your disputes swiftly and effectively.

We prioritise outcomes, not just the process, working alongside you to ensure the right solution is found, minimising the impact on your business while maximising success. Our experienced partners are at the forefront of dispute resolution law. They lead from the front, ensuring you have direct access to our most senior experts and highly skilled teams.

Our approach is pragmatic and flexible; we treat your challenges as our own, resolving disputes efficiently and practically. In each case, we consider the broader context, underlying causes, and contributing factors to ensure the most appropriate resolution method is applied between litigation, arbitration or the various forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

We offer the expertise clients need to tackle high-profile, cross-border, and multi-sector disputes. Moreover, we are committed to making a positive difference beyond our cases, being signatories of the Greener Litigation Pledge to reduce the environmental impact of dispute resolution.

Our dispute resolution services span a range of solutions designed to address your unique challenges. From formal litigation to alternative dispute resolution (ADR), we ensure comprehensive support and guidance across all types of disputes.

  • Complex disputes: Providing clear, practical advice in the most complex cases, delivering specialist analysis and tailored solutions.
  • Multi-jurisdictional situations: Working with international partner firms to manage disputes involving multiple jurisdictions and cross-border issues.
  • Alternative dispute resolution (ADR): Resolving disputes cost-effectively through mediation, adjudication, and other forms of ADR outside of court.
  • Arbitration and specialist tribunals: Handling cases across various tribunals, including a growing number of arbitration proceedings.
  • Reputation-critical investigations and inquiries: Expertise in criminal and regulatory investigations presenting significant challenges to clients’ reputations.
  • Strategic risk resolution: Assisting clients in devising strategies to manage risk and resolve developing situations before they escalate into disputes.
  • Urgent and emergency situations: Our substantial resources enable us to deploy legal teams swiftly to meet urgent challenges and tight deadlines.
  • Project management: Utilising our in-house project managers and bespoke litigation management tools to enhance efficiency and communication during cases.
  • Evidence management: Our specialist disclosure lawyers are at the forefront of the latest technology for managing and analysing large volumes of data.

Our expertise

Commercial and business disputes

Leading commercial and business disputes expertise helping clients across multiple sectors resolve complex contract, corporate, partnership and shareholder disputes through tailored solutions, whilst ensuring minimal business disruption.

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Real estate disputes

Expert guidance in resolving complex contentious real estate issues and disputes, providing tailored solutions for commercial and residential property challenges.

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Public law disputes

Public law disputes expertise across judicial reviews, regulatory decisions, procurement challenges, and statutory obligations, providing tailored solutions for public bodies, businesses and individuals dealing with the public sector.

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Technology disputes

Specialist dispute resolution and risk management expertise, providing tailored solutions for public bodies and businesses dealing with technology risks, disputes or facing regulatory action, litigation, arbitration or alternative dispute resolution.

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Financial markets disputes

We act on business-critical disputes and investigations for clients across a range of financial markets, including banking, insurance, asset management, fintech and investment funds.

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Disclosure and evidence management

A leading multi-disciplinary team with expertise in disclosure and evidence management with experience in a range of matters, including complex litigation, arbitration, internal and regulatory investigations, and public inquiries.

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Private wealth disputes

Expert legal support to avoid, manage, and resolve high-value private wealth disputes.

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Our team

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Examples of our work

Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund Trustee Ltd

Advising on a £362 million pensions deficit recovery, leading to a landmark ruling on trustee obligations in pensions and trust law.

URE Energy

Acting in successful Commercial Court proceedings for a start-up energy supplier following the contentious termination of a novel, long-term electricity supply agreement with major housing association.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Acting as intervener in Court of Appeal proceedings relating to an industry-wide point of law on the interpretation of the Insurers (Rights against Third Parties) Act 2010.

Gleeds UK and the Trustees of the Gleeds Group Pension Scheme

Acting for these clients in a multi-million-pound High Court professional claim against their former advisors.

German aircraft manufacturer

Defending a German aircraft manufacturer in a multi-million-euro dispute with an Irish-based entity concerning the terms of a restructuring of a number of financial facilities and the repossession of 17 aircraft.

Ministry of Justice

Acting for the Ministry of Justice in a high-profile procurement dispute over facilities management services across the HMCTS estate, defending claims brought by Mitie.

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Focus on specific sectors

Our transport disputes lawyers are industry leaders.

We offer rapid, proactive legal advice in urgent situations such as safety incidents or investigations.

With deep expertise in rail, bus, coach, motor, marine, ports, and aviation, we represent clients in the High Court, Competition Appeals Tribunal, coroner’s courts, and before various regulatory tribunals.

Train Station Platform With Motion Blurred People Walking representing the transport sector

Expert dispute resolution services for sport regulation, governance and anti-doping

With services spanning regulation and governance, to brand management and commercial agreements, our team works with international federations, sports clubs, and individuals on key cases, including anti-doping and financial fair play.

The success of the sport industry depends on robust regulation and governance, ensuring fair play and confidence in the enforcement of rules.

We specialise in all aspects of sport regulation and governance disputes, working with the UK’s top sport governing bodies and participants, ensuring integrity on and off the field.

View inside a full Twickenham Stadium, London. Home of the English Rugby Football Union or RFU

Our transport disputes lawyers are industry leaders.

We offer rapid, proactive legal advice in urgent situations such as safety incidents or investigations.

With deep expertise in rail, bus, coach, motor, marine, ports, and aviation, we represent clients in the High Court, Competition Appeals Tribunal, coroner’s courts, and before various regulatory tribunals.

Train Station Platform With Motion Blurred People Walking representing the transport sector

Expert dispute resolution services for sport regulation, governance and anti-doping

With services spanning regulation and governance, to brand management and commercial agreements, our team works with international federations, sports clubs, and individuals on key cases, including anti-doping and financial fair play.

The success of the sport industry depends on robust regulation and governance, ensuring fair play and confidence in the enforcement of rules.

We specialise in all aspects of sport regulation and governance disputes, working with the UK’s top sport governing bodies and participants, ensuring integrity on and off the field.

View inside a full Twickenham Stadium, London. Home of the English Rugby Football Union or RFU

What others say

“Burges Salmon has a highly commended team of well-reputed practitioners, known for handling high-value national and international disputes. It advises an enviable list of key commercial clients, particularly those from the transport, financial services, retail and energy sectors.”

Chambers UK 2025

“Burges Salmon are highly experienced in commercial litigation, with a strong focus on serving the clients who have relationships with other teams in the firm, and a strong knowledge of the market. They are head and shoulders above the competition.”

Legal 500 UK 2025

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Insights

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