A college friend recently told me he’s going through a divorce, which is already a tough situation in itself. But then I found out her partner had also defamed him in public. That’s a whole new layer of complicated.
While divorce falls under family law, defamation is a civil—and for that, you need a good civil litigation lawyer. The thing is, she never had to find lawyers in the past, so we had no idea who to call.
So, to help her, my Wundelust team did some digging. We took our time and reviewed the best civil litigation lawyers in London.
After months of research and interviews, we finally found reliable firms and experts in resolving disputes like defamation, breach of contract, and more. Keep reading to find the right legal expert when things get messy.
How much do civil litigation lawyers charge?
Civil litigation lawyers charge from £100 to £500 per hour, depending on the solicitor’s level and case. Some lawyers charge a fixed rate for a particular service. The final amount is from the professional fee plus value-added tax.
How we chose
- Experience in civil court cases: We reviewed law firms based on their years of experience in handling lawsuits of different cases, like defamation, personal injury, and other non-criminal matters.
- Negotiation skills: We chose lawyers who know how to build a connection with their clients and craft persuasive arguments to achieve a favourable outcome. We interviewed clients to confirm this.
- Success rates: We picked solicitors who were able to resolve cases successfully and immediately without having a court trial.
- Pricing: We chose legal professionals whose pricing is reasonable given their qualifications and years of experience in the legal industry.
1. OTS Solicitors
Address: 60 Cannon St
Contact Details: +442039599123, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
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OTS Solicitors is a boutique firm serving London people and international clients. They’re a reputable agency known for their immigration services, but they also offer various legal solutions.
We’re really impressed with their speciality in property disputes, which most clients need. Example cases they’ve handled are tenant deposit disputes and maintenance issues with landlords. This might be a simple case, but it means a lot to tenants.
Another case was from a client who was able to get out of a bad contract made by her landlord. This proves that their solicitors are willing to fight for your rights as a tenant.
The firm is also an expert in family law, and we appreciate their flexibility. A busy divorcee shared that Behzad of OTS Solicitors represented her in a long divorce and financial settlement while accommodating her availability.
Their rates are pretty reasonable too, considering their reputation. A 40-minute consultation starts at £140 (plus VAT). Meanwhile, a one-hour consultation is at £210 (plus VAT).
Downside? Since they’re available via phone and video conferencing platforms, they can get busy at times. This affects their availability to cater to other clients.
Great service
“Our experience with Nollienne and Esraa was great! Facing a breach of contract by our landlord, we turned to them for help, and they surpassed our expectations. With their expertise and persistence, they managed to retrieve every cent owed to us.”
Mr. Chris Kuyper, Google Review
Professional and recommended
“We used OTS to settle a dispute with our ex-landlord. Tia and Nollienne handled our case in a professional manner, with an outcome we were aiming for. We are happy to recommend them for settling any offshore landlord disputes in London.”
-Mr. Pepso L., Google Review
2. Freemans Solicitors
Address: 18 Bedford Row
Contact Details: +442079353522, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
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Freemans Solicitor is a strong and reputable law firm with 30 years of experience. They are experts in immigration, property, and children and family law.
One client stood out to us, saying that despite the COVID lockdown years ago, the team was able to give her consistent and supportive guidance on her divorce case. For us, it’s a BIG plus since it tells how committed they are to helping people.
It’s also worth mentioning that they cater to defamation or false statements. Another client mentioned Harvey for assisting him with his stressful false allegation case. He appreciated his solicitor’s calmness and professionalism.
Aside from that, they also cater to employment issues. A five-month pregnant employee sought help from the firm because she was unlawfully dismissed from work. The firm’s dedication and respect for its clients touched our hearts.
Upon digging more, we learned that they have 24-hour open lines, ideal for those with urgent legal questions or assistance. It’s clear that they value accessibility for their clients.
One thing to note is they’re a bit in demand. Also, given their years in the industry, expect it to be a bit expensive.
Caring and thorough
“I’m deeply grateful to Freemans Solicitors for their outstanding support during my recent court case. From start to finish I felt genuinely cared for and guided. Peter Bedingfield was thorough in preparing me for the hearing and took the time to ensure I understood each step and felt calm and ready. His clear communication and professionalism made a big difference to my experience.”
-Ms. Caitlin Wells, Google Review
Professional and dedicated
“I am deeply grateful to Katarzyna Jurkun and everyone at Freemans Solicitors for the unwavering support they provided to my family and me during a difficult time. Katarzyna’s professionalism was remarkable, and her dedicated attention to our case was truly exceptional. I highly recommend Freemans Solicitors, and in particular, Katarzyna. Her expert guidance and support were absolutely essential, and I don’t know how we would have managed without them.”
-Ms. Ketlyn Silva, Google Review
3. Lewis Nedas Law
Address: 24 Camden High St,
Contact Details: +442073872032,
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
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With their 40+ years of experience, Lewis Nedas Law is a firm known for giving simple legal advice to handling complex cases.
We appreciate the team’s practical, business-focused solutions. For instance, a founder shared how the team gave him the legal advice and options he needed for the boardroom dispute he was in.
Another client expressed her satisfaction regarding the firm’s support in her probate case after her husband died. For us, the level of empathy the firm showed to give this client a swift outcome is very commendable, as it’s not easy to be in that situation.
We also like the departments handling particular cases. They have 20+ lawyers, each with specialisations, so you can make sure that your case will be handled by an expert solicitor. They have divorce lawyers and real estate lawyers, to name a few.
In fact, a couple of clients thanked the firm for dealing with their lease extensions. They thanked Naziana, a real estate lawyer, for being professional and approachable throughout the process. Friendly lawyers can make stressful cases feel easy.
Pricing? Their fees start at £250 per hour and are exclusive of VAT. This could reach up to £350 per hour, depending on the solicitor and your case.
Experts and experienced
“As a director and founder of a limited company, I contacted Lewis Nedas to gain advice on a boardroom dispute. Ian Coupland and his corporate team swung into action immediately, providing me with the legal advice and support that I needed to take action. With unrivalled expertise and experience, I was guided through the options to help resolve the situation and provide a positive outcome. If you need straightforward advice or help with a negotiation, then I would not hesitate to recommend Ian and his team.”
-Mr. Jeff C, Google Review
Professional and supportive
“I had a really positive experience with this firm. Lily did a great job of putting all my files together and making sure everything was prepared for the day. Harry from 25 Bedford Row represented me in court and did a great job getting me a good outcome. They were both professional and supportive, and without them, my court could have gone terribly. Highly recommend!”
-Mr. T N., Google Review
4. Hall Ellis Solicitors
Address: 89 Fleet St
Contact Details: +442070369282, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM
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Hall Ellis Solicitors is a law firm known for handling civil litigation with a strong focus on the tech sector. Leigh, the founder, decided to build this firm after realising that businesses heavily rely on technology.
We appreciate Leigh’s skills in IT and law, helping clients solve cases in the digital world. An entrepreneur shared that Hall Ellis supported her online education industry after facing plagiarism. They solved it via the cease and desist action.
Their solicitors also have a strong track record in dealing with contract disputes. A business owner of a software company contacted the firm to deal with a complex contractual situation for a 3D tourist app for a client.
What we like about this firm is their specialisation, especially since there aren’t that many IT lawyers available. However, since they’re only focused on that niche, they are very selective about their clients as well.
Quick and professional
“We needed some urgent advice on an IT services contract after our support company abandoned us after nearly 20 years. We had an existential-level business crisis and needed some legal guidance. These solicitors helped us get on the right track quickly. They set our focus on what was important for the business, rather than treat it all as a legal problem. It was a refreshing difference. I would highly recommend Leigh Ellis. He was thorough, professional and got to the heart of the issue quickly.”
-Mr. Daniel Anderson, Google Review
Fully engaged solicitor
“With Leigh, we got a specialist technology contracts lawyer who was fully engaged to understand the problems we were encountering, so we could resolve our contract issues permanently. My experience with other lawyers was that they just wanted to get the client’s instructions, and then we would be in the dark about why changes were being made. We now know what we can negotiate on, what we can give way on, and what we can’t.”
-Mr, Mark Saville, Google Review
5. Brett Wilson
Address: 35-37 St John’s Ln
Contact Details: +442071838950, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Website
Facebook
Brett Wilson is a firm with offices in London and Wales, serving wider clients. Their services span from defamation, harassment law, and privacy.
We think that one of the firm’s strengths is handling libel cases. Most clients mentioned Tom for resolving false accusations and defamation issues.
A client also mentioned that after receiving a spurious claim of harassment, Brett Wilson took care of her matters. They were able to cut down the costs and guided them throughout the process. This also speaks about their skills and strategic advice.
In a more unusual case, a client commended the firm for figuring out the sudden freeze of his bank account. Turns out it was for a different business similar to his company’s name. We appreciate the calm approach here – important in stressful situations like this.
Despite the positives, clients note that the fees are expensive. The team is also relatively small, so expect that you might find it hard to onboard them.
Professional, respectful, and empathetic
“Tremendous thanks to Adham Harker, Senior Associate at BRETT WILSON LLP, for his profound advice and guidance regarding my matter. Adham treated me with professionalism, respect, and the right amount of empathy. His pragmatic approach was exactly what I needed during a very difficult period. I highly recommend his services and will use them again if ever needed.”
-Ms. Carlette Norwood, Google Review
On point and caring
“I would recommend Brett Wilson LLP to everyone, they have helped me in a difficult time in my life. The Legal team they have is relentless in helping, providing solutions and ideas that are outside the box and defending you at every stage. They are on point and caring, guiding you through every step of defence, and supporting you with the best advice. They are best at what they do and I am truly grateful for what they did for me.”
-Mr. Robert Arnold, Google Review
