Banking Litigation

YOU ARE a senior in-house lawyer for a bank. You know that the bank's reputation must be spotless and the integrity of its brand protected.

You are aware that your bank - constantly on guard against opportunist fraudsters and malcontent customers - will need to instruct law firms to police that reputation and thwart marauders.

So the last thing you need is a snail's pace law firm moving inexorably toward an expensive court hearing.

"We provide banks with swift, conclusive resolution that protects their brand and their image," Gareth Kagan, a leading banking litigation solicitor at lawyers Bond Pearce, says.

"And there is nothing that big City firms can do that we're unable to deliver - at lower fees.

"That's why we're one of only a few law firms based in the regions that now receive an increasing volume of instructions from leading financial services institutions."

Bond Pearce's track record includes some impressive examples of multi-jurisdictional fraud actions and defences of banks against negligent lending claims.

In one case, an in-house accountant had been siphoning money by forging cheques. He defrauded his employer of £2.5m and was in charge of the investigation into the missing funds.

Bond Pearce experts helped reveal the fraud and moved within 24 hours of the discovery to impose a worldwide freezing order.

"We're proud of our speed of reaction," Gareth says. "And we have specialist skills and experience of mediation and alternative dispute resolution that can be used in allegations made by borrowers.

"We want it sorted without going to court, although our clients know that if litigation cannot be averted we will present a formidable case to the court."

In-house lawyers instructing Bond Pearce also know they are more likely to deal directly with a senior partner than if they instruct a City firm - an advantage many Bond Pearce lawyers appreciate from their days working for City firms.