High Court injunction breaks deadlock between opposing directors
February 17th 2026The High Court has intervened to break a boardroom stalemate between two equal blocs of directors and shareholders, ordering a company to circulate written resolutions that could lead to the appointment of an independent director. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The case arose from a long-running deadlock at ESMS Global Ltd, where Simon and Jennifer Webster on one side and Rajesh and Sarita Sood on…
High Court rules in favour of driving instructors in franchise dispute
October 21st 2025A group of driving instructors have won their High Court case against their franchise company after the judge found it had breached an implied duty of good faith in their agreements. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The court ruled that the instructors were entitled to treat their franchise contracts as terminated, after concluding that the franchisor’s conduct had undermined the trust and confidence central to…
Cartmell Shepherd recognised in prestigious legal rankings
October 17th 2025Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has been recognised for the outstanding achievements of its agriculture and Wills, probate and inheritance departments. Published this week, the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026, has ranked the firm’s agriculture team as one of the best the in the country for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition comes just a few weeks after the team also retained its Band 1 rating in the Legal 500 professional legal…
Cumbrian legal firm shortlisted for national law award
August 28th 2025A Cumbrian legal firm has achieved national recognition after being named as a finalist in the British Wills and Probate Awards 2025. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors is shortlisted for the best Contentious Wills & Probate team (Boutique) at the awards which celebrate legal excellence across the country. Rebecca Armstrong, who is Head of Will and Inheritance Disputes at Cartmell Shepherd, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for our specialist expertise in…
Cartmell Shepherd restructures Dispute Resolution team to highlight specialisms
July 29th 2025Leading law firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has announced three senior promotions this week, as part of a move to highlight specialisms within its Dispute Resolution team. Director and Head of Dispute Resolution Mark Aspin said: “Dispute Resolution encompasses a broad spectrum of legal work. While our team deals with the majority of ‘Civil Disputes’, we also employ recognised specialists in the areas of Will & Inheritance Disputes, Property Disputes, and Court of Protection,…
Free online event for landlords on major legal changes ahead
June 10th 2025Landlords can get advice on new legislation coming into force later this year at a free online event. The Renters’ Rights Bill is set to usher in a raft of changes which will directly impact landlords renting out residential properties, from agreeing the amount of rent paid to the process of evicting tenants. Now landlords and letting agents can get advice at a free lunchtime webinar on Thursday, June 26…
Superdry and Manchester City group ordered to mediate dispute
May 9th 2025The High Court ordered a compulsory mediation between owners of the clothing brand Superdry and Manchester City Football Club’s commercial arm shortly before their trademark dispute was due to go to trial. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. DKH Retail Ltd, which owns and operates the Superdry brand, brought a claim against City Football Group Ltd (CFG), alleging that CFG was infringing its ‘Superdry’ trademark. The…
Supreme Court rules on debtor who dispersed assets at undervalue
March 10th 2025The Supreme Court has ruled against a debtor who dispersed his assets at an undervalue while owing millions of pounds to his bank. The case involved El-Husseiny and another v Invest Bank PSC. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The judgment confirms that section 423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 applies even when assets are transferred through a company owned by the debtor, rather than directly…
Changes to court rules could lead to more settlements through mediation
December 16th 2024Judges are now more likely to direct businesses involved in legal disputes to seek resolution through mediation or arbitration rather than proceeding to court. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution provides an update. New updates to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) in England and Wales, effective from 1 October, emphasise alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a key part of civil litigation. The changes follow the Court of Appeal’s decision in…
Restrictive covenant against director ‘too restrictive to enforce’
November 7th 2024The High Court has dismissed a company’s bid to enforce restrictive covenants against a former director. Mark Aspin Director and Head of Dispute Resolution reports on this recent case. The ruling determined that the covenants, which sought to prevent the director from competing for up to 10 years, were unenforceable due to their excessive scope and duration. The case involved Literacy Capital plc, an investment firm, which sought an interim injunction to prevent…
