Robin Somerville

About My Work

I help shareholders, directors, partners and businesses resolve their disputes and legal problems. As a barrister, mediator, investigator, arbitrator, regulatory panel chair and in other roles, I have been involved in over 1,000 cases spanning more than 20 years. Described as having a "Remarkable set of experiences" by legal tech and the future of the legal profession guru Professor Richard Susskind, I have a very different and valuable background to other lawyers. Prior to qualifying in law, I was a money market trader in the City of London before setting up, growing and successfully selling three technology start-up businesses. For over 13 years I was an equity holding director of one of the UK’s leading online price comparison sites. I have been chair of the board of an educational establishment and a non-exec and audit chair of a large NHS organisation that commissions over £500 million of healthcare services for over 369,000 patients. This experience benefits clients as I share the legal, practical and commercial lessons I have acquired in business, shareholder, board, technology and employment situations. Legal knowledge is cheap and easy to come by. Strategy, judgement, experience and trust separates good lawyers from great lawyers. I am repeatedly complimented by clients for my focus on problem solving and finding solutions to legal issues and disputes. I am at my best at times when clients are facing crisis or radical change where they benefit from my strategic and analytical focus and calm approach. I can help with most disputes and legal problems businesses and professionals encounter including: - Shareholder, director and board disputes - Partnership disputes - Business and commercial disputes - Online, software and technology business disputes - Employment and workplace disputes and HR investigations

Notable Experience

  • £120m Partnership Dispute
  • £15m S994 unfair prejudice claim between three brothers and their children.
  • £3m directors’ duties civil fraud claim.
  • Multiple S994 unfair prejudice claims all settled before trial.
  • Six party international joint venture dispute - settled via client division agreement.
  • Eight party international partnership dispute - settled.
  • Breach of partnership agreement brought by beneficiaries of a will of a deceased partner.
  • Breach of directors duties by a director who speculated company funds with financial futures/derivatives without authorisation.
  • Misrepresentation/breach of warranties claim against previous owner.
  • Breach of covenants by ex-director.
  • Multiple breach of contract (B2B & Construction) claims.
  • Multiple share sale/exit negotiations.
  • High conflict husband and wife board/shareholder dispute shortly before a £100m+ sale
  • Technology/ICT Leased equipment contract dispute with director guarantees.
  • CEO/Director employment/workplace dispute at a UK institution of the highest profile
  • Workplace Investigations, multiple complex, challenging and sensitive investigations normally in respect of CEOs, senior executives and board members. Sexual misconduct, dishonesty, supplying Class A drugs...

Memberships & Qualifications

  • Fellow Civil Mediation Council
  • Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
  • Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn
  • Society of Computers and Law
  • Chartered IT Professional - British Computer Society (2014-17).

Education

  • Masters in Law (LLM) - International and Comparative Dispute Resolution - Queen Mary, University of London
  • Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC - Post Graduate Barrister Training) - College of Law
  • Accredited Mediator - CEDR and ADR Group (Dual Accreditation)
  • Accredited Workplace Mediation Conversion - CEDR
  • Accredited Advocacy Trainer - Inner Temple.
  • Keble Advance International Advocacy Course - South East Circuit.

Hobbies & Interests

Private Pilot with Night and IMC ratings; RoSPA ‘Gold’ Advanced Driver (for over 25 years) and Approved Instructor winning Instructor of the Year Award (N. London/Herts) 2017 & 2018; Institute of Advanced Motorists; Venue Controller - Under 17 Car Club (2019-2020); private investor; house restoration and extension - Edwardian and Victorian properties; film; clarinetist in amateur film orchestra; music; travel.

Specific Areas of Focus

  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Board Room Disputes
  • Business Litigation
  • Chancery Litigation
  • Civil Disputes Mediation
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