Thomas Cowan

Tom previously worked as a Solicitor at a nationally recognised law firm in Leeds, practising in civil and commercial litigation.

Tom advised clients ranging from high net worth individuals, limited liability partnerships, private limited companies, owner-managed businesses, small and medium sized enterprises, administrators, and charities.

Tom’s practice covered a wide range of disputes, including:

• Defending a claim for an alleged breach of a settlement agreement following allegations of defamatory comments made by the client in national newspapers. Sought to resolve dispute through mandatory arbitration with the London Court of International Arbitration with a claim value of £1,000,000.00.
• Defending a claim brought by a global logistics company which involved issues relating to shipping and logistics litigation and performance of contractual obligations.
• Acting for an investment company pursuing a breach of contract against a professional trader. This involved reviewing guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to business to customer relationships and what levels of protection are afforded.
• Acting on behalf of a technology company in pursuing a breach of contract claim against a customer in relation to the development of an “Uber” style NHS mobile phone app.
• Acting on behalf of a charity advising on a potential claim/injunction proceedings against an ex-employee in relation to unauthorised access of sensitive information.
• Acting on behalf of a Muslim community centre in relation to a claim brought by a contractor.
• Acting on behalf of a private NHS provider in relation to advising on decommissioning proposals put forward by a Clinical Commissioning Group in addition to seeking the recovery of £200,000.00 in outstanding fees owed for contracted services provided.
• Instructed midway through a fast-track claim for claimant client against subcontractor for defective works relating to the fit out of a retail unit in a shopping centre together with instruction on a single joint expert.
• Advising whether the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 applied to a sub-contractor’s claim for payment.
• Advising a client on non-payment of invoice by contractor including consideration of JCT subcontractor agreement (2016 edition).
• Successfully applied to set aside a County Court Judgment against a client for £74,000.00 which included, amongst other points, contesting the jurisdiction of the court where a preferential right to arbitrate under the contract existed.
• Defending a claim against a contractor for alleged non-payment of invoices together with issuing a substantive counterclaim against the same company for defective works together with obtaining the court’s permission to add a third party to proceedings.

Mediation

Tom is also an accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator and accepts mediation instructions, either in person or remotely.