Dispute Resolution

“At Simcocks Advocates Chris Arrowsmith has a vibrant practice while Kevin O’Riordan is very experienced and well respected in the local market. O’Riordan has been advising on a major competition dispute concerning a challenge to the roll-on/roll-off ferry monopoly enjoyed by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.”
2009 Legal 500

“Simcocks’ litigation department continues to develop. Busy Chris Arrowsmith‘is one of the best, if not the best, on the Island and a match for anyone at the London Bar’. Kevin O’Riordan is recommended for high-value trust disputes and is also expert in ADR.”
2008 Legal 500

Litigation head Chris Arrowsmith is described as ‘an excellent advocate’ – marked as the star of his generation. Kevin O’Riordan is recommended for high-value ancillary relief work.
2007 Legal 500

Chris Arrowsmith is, “good for serious fraud and anything confrontational”. He heads the litigation department at Simcocks, which has experience in some high-value commercial disputes and insolvency matters.
2006 Chambers and Partners

The fused nature of the legal profession in the Isle of Man allows advocates to act both as solicitors and barristers and at Simcocks all advocates in the Litigation Department have extensive court experience. A back-up team of paralegals and lawyers qualified in other jurisdictions supports the companies advocates in their courtroom work.

The Advocates and support staff within the litigation department have extensive expertise and experience in complex cross jurisdiction disputes, with particular emphasis upon trust related and shareholder disputes, emergency injunctive and discovery remedies, together with judicial review applications.

We deal with a wide range of disputes, involving human rights issues, financial services and compliance regulatory work, individual and corporate insolvency alternative means of dispute resolution including mediation, employment, family law and white collar crime. 

The department enjoys the appointment, as with a small number of other practices, to a panel of approved Advocates to be utilised by various arms of the Isle of Man Government. 

The practice is proud two of its former members have been appointed to the judiciary. His Honour John Michael Kerruish QC is the First Deemster and Clerk of the rolls in the Isle of Man. He also acts as Deputy Governor. He became a Manx advocate in 1980 and was a partner at Simcocks from 1981 until 1993, when he was appointed Attorney General. Former Government Advocate and public law expert, Andrew Corlett, worked in the litigation department at Simcocks from 2001 until his appointment as Deputy Deemster in 2007.

The company specialises in defending commercial litigation, instituting pre-emptive commercial remedies and bringing or defending personal injury claims. Trust work and shareholders' disputes are increasingly important areas of business and the Litigation Department has developed specialist competencies to deal with them. The department also handles a wide range of domestic and criminal matters.

Whether dealing with a multi-national corporation or a private client, Simcocks adopt a commercially realistic approach to bring each case to an efficient and practical conclusion.

Please also see our ADR section.

Related Literature

• Dispute Resolution Brochure
• Restructuring and Insolvency Literature

Specialists in this field

• Christopher Arrowsmith
• Simon Graley
• Gerry McKenna
• Robert Lindley
• Caroline Murphy
• Kevin O'Riordan
• Jacqui Owens
• Paul Rodgers
• Peter Taylor
• Winston Taylor
• Marina Warwick
• Christopher Webb