Chris Charlesworth

Expertise

Chris has spent over 25 years dealing with a range of commercial disputes. His experience includes: contracts for the supply of goods and services, construction issues, intellectual property matters, share owner and partnership fall outs, restrictive covenant and other employment contract claims. He has represented clients in the High and County Courts in Leeds, Manchester and London (including: Mercantile, Chancery, ‘Intellectual Property and Enterprise’) and is an experienced advocate with a keen interest in legal costs.

Chris regularly advises client regarding injunctions and other emergence remedies and has also been involved in health and safety and other regulatory issues. He regularly advises clients regarding alternative dispute procedures including: mediation, expert determination and direct negotiation. Chris’ approach is client focused, with an emphasis on finding cost effective and proportionate solutions. He is a regular speaker on commercial contract issues to industry groups. He has worked overseas, including, Switzerland, Spain and the Isle of Man.

Chris Advises

Well known PLCs, and large and smaller enterprises, involved in a range of sectors, including:

• Construction and civil engineering;
• Food manufacture;
• Commercial waste management;
• Recruitment consultants;
• Schools and universities;
• Transport and logistics;
• Solicitors and other professional advisors.

Experience Highlights

• Saved client £6m in a dispute regarding deferred consideration arising out of a share purchase agreement;
• Acted for a successful party in one of the first cases on cost budgeting to go the Court of Appeal;
• Defended Yorkshire based pharmaceutical company against intellectual property claim brought by global giant Phizer;
• Successfully struck out £6.9m claim against defendants arising from allegations of conspiracy to defraud.

Career History

Previous Law Firms

• 2010 to 2016 Partner, Commercial Dispute, Schofield Sweeney LLP
• 1990 to 2010 Partner, Commercial Dispute and Regulatory, Ford and Warren, Leeds

Education

• College of Law, Chester
• University of Staffordshire
• Salts Grammar School