Jonathan is an Associate in DTM’s Dispute Resolution team. He advises clients on commercial disputes, for example concerning commercial contracts; shareholders and directors; loans and personal guarantees; and post-termination restrictions in employment contracts.
Jonathan graduated with a degree in Law from Nottingham Trent University and completed his Legal Practice Course (LPC) at BBP Law School. Jonathan’s legal career began at national firm Keoghs (whilst studying the LPC part-time) where he trained and qualified as a solicitor. Jonathan later worked for national firm TLT in Manchester, before moving closer to home and building his career in Chester.
Role within the DTM Legal Team
As an as Associate in DTM’s Dispute Resolution team, Jonathan plays a pivotal role in the team working across both DTM’s Chester and Liverpool offices.
Additionally, Jonathan’s experience spans many Sectors including Finance, Hospitality, Retail and Leisure, Startup and Early Stage Businesses and Intellectual Property which has been developed over the years working with lenders and high street banks, insurers, franchises and business owners.
Jonathan acts on a sphere of pre-action and complex litigated commercial disputes, including insolvency, cross-jurisdictional issues, service of proceedings against international opponents, enforcement of foreign judgments, and allegations of fraud. Jonathan is routinely instructed and retained by various clients including, SME’s, high-net-worth individuals and debt recovery companies on behalf their clients.
Examples include:
- Acting for an international supplier to the entertainment industry, in a multimillion-pound dispute involving a former director and shareholder concerning breaches of fiduciary duty and improper use of information confidential to the limited company with allegations of conspiracy by the defendant and their limited companies to destabilise the client’s contractual relations with some of its largest clients with the intention of diverting business away.
- Defending a c£3.2m winding-up petition brought against a hotelier.
Jonathan has consistently been recognised in the Legal 500 as a key lawyer for his expertise in Commercial Litigation. The recent Legal 500 testimonials report that Jonathan is “hardworking and diligent”.
Publications or Speaking Engagements
Jonathan is a contributor of articles for DTM Legal’s insight page, including an explanation about The Importance of Preserving Documents and Disclosure – DTM Legal. The importance of disclosure was emphasised in the application brought by Jim Morris and Jonathan in the High Court on behalf of an international business client. The application was reported Reeds Carpeting Contractors Ltd v Cairns | Practical Law (thomsonreuters.com) [2023] EWHC 2713 (Comm), 2023 WL 07301617 where disclosure was key in the case to establish whether the defendants diverted business away from the client, with evidence of diversion by the defendants being buried in hundreds of thousands of documents or withheld. Off the back of the evidence presented by Jonathan, the judge landed heavy criticism on the defendants’ “unfathomable” errors in non-compliance with disclosure, resulting in the opponents facing unfavourable orders and costs consequences.
He has also provided training to clients over the years.
“My focus is to be approachable and to provide down to earth, practical and commercial advice to clients whilst retaining tenacity to seek the realisation of a favourable and commercial outcome for his clients against opponents”
Personal Interests
Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys time with his young family, getting to the boxing gym and is a dab hand with DIY and gardening. He remains ever seeking to learn Spanish.
