Few businesses relish the prospect of commercial disputes. We understand that when disputes do occur, you would like them dealt with economically and effectively and with minimal damage to your reputation. To achieve this, you need lawyers with in-depth experience not just of commercial dispute resolution, but also with specialist knowledge of your industry or sector.

Our dispute resolution lawyers understand the pressures you face in dealing with commercial disputes and have extensive experience of handling all kinds of disputes, from straightforward claims to complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes. We will work with you to resolve disputes in a way that meets your commercial objectives, whether that is to litigate aggressively or otherwise, arbitrate or employ alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation. We take the lead in identifying how clients can avoid disputes and often advise on strategies for dispute avoidance, understanding our clients’ business and the commercial pressures under which they operate is a priority for our team.

Our dispute resolution team comprises around 40 partners and 270 associates working across each of our dedicated industry sectors and spread across our 12 offices, making our dispute resolution team one of the largest in Europe, enabling us to dedicate the correct number of associates and partners to each dispute whatever its size.

The dispute team has experience of a broad range of commercial, financial and professional disputes and represents clients in all forms of dispute resolution including litigation, arbitration, mediation, adjudication and conciliation, as well as expert determination.

For full details of our capabilities and experience please see the relevant practice area pages.

CMS Guide to Arbitration

CMS has published its guide to arbitration both as hard copy and online. It brings together in one publication the national arbitration laws in 30 countries including leading European arbitration centres, China, the Middle East and South America. The Guide provides a detailed overview over the law and practice of arbitration in 30 jurisdictions in Europe and beyond.