Michael Hoskins

Acting for a national logistics business in High Court Technology and Construction Court proceedings arising from the failed implementation of a bespoke IT system; advising on claims for deceit, misrepresentation and breach of contract (valued at £5–10 million) and securing a favourable commercial settlement following proceedings and ADR

Acting for an engineering business in a significant pre-action dispute with a major automotive manufacturer concerning alleged delays, termination rights and payment obligations under a high-value electric vehicle production-line contract, coordinating complex technical evidence and pre-action correspondence in a claim valued at approximately €30 million

Acting for ten companies within the food manufacturing industry in successfully challenging a "pay when paid" clause contained in the terms and conditions of a national food service distributor, which the distributor sought to rely upon as a basis for withholding sums of approximately £1.5 million owed to our clients following the liquidation of a major restaurant chain to which it had supplied our clients' products; securing a settlement on terms favourable to our clients

Representing a pistachio supplier in multi-party proceedings, arising from alleged contamination of pistachio nuts with Aflatoxin; defending contribution and indemnity claims brought through a multi-tiered supply chain by an intermediate distributor, itself the subject of claims by a biscuit manufacturer whose products were found to be non-compliant following export to an overseas market; advancing our client's case in a claim valued at £600,000–£750,000, with the matter currently proceeding towards mediation

Advising a large energy-intensive business in the waste sector in a professional negligence, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claim against its energy advisor, arising from the procurement of a long-term electricity supply contract at the height of market volatility, with alleged losses exceeding £5 million

Representing an international distributor of electric vehicle charging equipment in a cross-border dispute against a UK manufacturer arising from the termination of a distribution agreement and the manufacturer's subsequent establishment of a competing subsidiary; pursuing claims for statutory compensation in the English courts, raising complex issues of contractual interpretation and conflict of laws, and coordinating a multi-disciplinary team of counsel, forensic accountants and foreign law experts, securing a confidential settlement on the opening day of an expedited trial, in a claim valued at €3–5 million

Defending a leading landfill operator against a group claim alleging odour nuisance arising from the operation of a waste management site, securing a favourable settlement

Representing the former shareholders of a leading online technology retailer in defending a claim for breach of warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation and deceit following the sale of the company, with the purchaser seeking damages of approximately £20 million; pursuing a counterclaim of approximately £4 million arising from the purchaser's failure to comply with the completion accounts process under the share purchase agreement. [2.2]

Acting on expert determination processes in respect of disputed earn-outs following corporate transactions, securing positive decisions from experts and recovering significant sums for clients

Representing businesses across a range of sectors in the enforcement of restrictive covenants against former directors, employees and shareholders; securing undertakings and injunctive relief to protect clients' confidential information and client relationships