Disputes are an inevitable part of wealth, power and complex business interests. High-net-worth individuals need advisers who can combine technical excellence with strategic calm in the face of sensitive personal conflicts. Litigation and dispute resolution lawyers are key — stepping in when negotiations falter and ensuring their clients’ interests are protected and reputations safeguarded.
This year’s selection of the best litigation & dispute resolution lawyers highlights the leading names — advocates who are trusted to deliver clarity, certainty and strength in moments of challenge.
Click the links below to jump to a section of this article:
Related
- The best litigation & dispute resolution lawyers: the complete list
- Methodology: how we choose our recommendations
- The best litigation & dispute resolution lawyers: some names to know
- Contact us
The best litigation & dispute resolution lawyers: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles of each adviser on The Spear’s 500 website. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.
Content from our partners
Methodology: how we choose our recommendations
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to the Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best litigation & dispute resolution lawyers: some names to know
David Draisey
- Focus: Landed estates disputes
- Position: Partner
- Firm: Hunters Law
- Rank: Top recommended
David Draisey joined Hunters as a trainee in 2007 and became partner in 2018. He represents a wide range of clients on contentious matters involving wills, trusts and probate in the High Court.
He also takes on residential and commercial property disputes, including those involving land ownership, and those between landlords and tenants.
Read David Draisey’s full profile on Spears500.com
Johannes Gasser
- Focus: Foundations and trusts
- Position: Senior partner, founder
- Firm: Gasser Partner
- Rank: Top recommended
A leading figure within Liechtenstein’s trust and foundation space, Johannes Gasser of Gasser Partner specialises in cross-border disputes, arbitration and litigation, corporate law and white-collar crime.
Read Johannes Gasser’s full profile on Spears500.com
He is also highly experienced in complex trust issues, including trustee removals and liabilities. His portfolio of clients therefore entrust him with their most private issues and find solace in his expertise and discretion.
Lawrence Kelly
- Focus: Commercial litigation and dispute resolution
- Position: Partner
- Firm: Lawrence Stephens
- Rank: Top recommended
Founded in 1997 by Senior Directors Steven Bernstein, Lawrence Kelly and Stephen Messias, Lawrence Stephens is a leading full-service law firm based in Central London with a reputation for delivering bespoke, commercially focused legal advice to its clients.
Now led by 30 Directors, the team of more than 100 people work collaboratively to provide market-leading legal advice and services in ten core sectors: Corporate & Commercial, Real Estate, Construction & Development Finance, Real Estate Finance & Banking, Dispute Resolution, Business Restructuring & Insolvency, Private Wealth & Succession Planning, Family, Employment Regulatory Solutions.
Read Lawrence Kelly’s full profile on Spears500.com
David Wedgwood
- Focus: Fraud and breach of trust
- Position: Partner, head of commercial and civil dispute resolution
- Firm: Anthony Gold
- Rank: Recommended
As a partner and head of commercial and civil dispute resolution at Anthony Gold, David Wedgwood leads a highly respected team of commercial lawyers.
Wedgwood is renowned for his analytical ability, an important asset given the complex cases he encounters, particularly those concerning contentious trusts and probate. He is also known for his creativity and for being a clear communicator to a broad spectrum of private clients – a valuable skill, especially when his role involves helping families in times of crisis.
Read David Wedgwood’s full profile on Spears500.com
Contact us
- Click here to order a print copy of The Spear’s 500.
- To apply for inclusion in The Spear’s 500, complete our submission form.
- For further information about rankings, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
- For commercial enquiries and questions relating to enhanced profiles, please contact Commercial Director Shady Elkholy: shady.elkholy@spearswms.com
- To keep up to date with the Spear’s 500, subscribe to our magazine, newsletter and follow Spear’s on LinkedIn and Instagram.
- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2025, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
