Commercial Contract & Breach of Contract Disputes
When a contractual breach threatens your business - we act swiftly to protect your position and recover your losses.
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No Win, No Fee
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35+ Years Experience
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Acting nationally from Manchester
Proud to be associated with and featured in
Has a Contract Breach Caused Your Business Loss?
Commercial contracts form the foundation of business relationships. When a party fails to honour their contractual obligations, whether through non-performance, defective performance, repudiation, or misrepresentation – the financial consequences for the innocent party can be severe. Lost revenue, damaged supply chains, failed projects and wasted investment can all result from a single material breach.
Wealth Recovery Solicitors acts for businesses, partnerships and individuals in high-value commercial contract disputes across England and Wales. Tony Hill leads the commercial litigation team, drawing on over 35 years of experience in resolving complex contractual disputes from multi-party supply chain failures to high-value repudiation claims. His approach is commercially pragmatic: he pursues sensible outcomes through negotiation and mediation where achievable, but has the courtroom experience and preparation to take matters to trial when the situation demands it.
Types of Commercial Contract Disputes We Handle
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Breach of Contract
Claims where a party to a commercial contract has failed to perform their obligations - whether through non-delivery, defective performance, late performance, or outright repudiation of the contract.
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Commercial Contract Disputes (General)
Disputes about the meaning, interpretation or application of commercial contracts - including disputes about conditions precedent, implied terms, exclusion clauses and contractual remedies.
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High-Value Contract Disputes
Complex, high-value commercial disputes where the quantum of loss is substantial and the legal issues require specialist expertise and robust case management.
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Supplier Breach of Contract
Claims against suppliers who have failed to deliver goods or services in accordance with the contract - including quality failures, delivery failures and repudiation of long-term supply agreements.
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Business Contract Disputes
Disputes arising from a wide range of commercial agreements - including service agreements, distribution agreements, franchise agreements, agency agreements and technology contracts.
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Contractual Negligence Claims
Where a party to a contract has also acted negligently in performing their obligations giving rise to concurrent claims in contract and in tort.
Remedies Available in Commercial Contract Claims
The law provides a range of remedies for breach of contract, depending on the nature and gravity of the breach:
- Damages – compensation for the financial loss caused by the breach, assessed to put the innocent party in the position they would have been in had the contract been performed
- Specific performance – a court order requiring the defaulting party to perform their contractual obligations
- Injunction – an order preventing a party from acting in breach of contract or from taking steps that would cause irreparable harm
- Termination – the right to treat the contract as at an end and claim damages where a repudiatory or fundamental breach has occurred
- Quantum meruit – a claim for reasonable payment where services have been performed but the contract has broken down
Our Process
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Step 1 - Urgent Consultation
We assess the contract, the breach, and your exposure quickly, because commercial disputes often require prompt action to preserve your position.
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Step 2 - Protective Measures
Where urgent action is needed - injunctions, preservation orders or without-notice applications - we act immediately to protect your position.
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Step 3 - Letter Before Action
We put the defaulting party on formal notice of your claim and invite a response, in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims or relevant commercial protocol.
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Step 4 - Negotiation or Litigation
We pursue a commercial resolution through negotiation or mediation where possible - issuing proceedings and litigating robustly where it is not.
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Step 5 - Judgment and Recovery
We pursue judgment and, where necessary, enforcement action to ensure you actually receive what you are owed.
Do You Have a Commercial Contract Claim?
You may need specialist legal advice if:
- A supplier or service provider has failed to deliver what was promised under a commercial agreement
- A party has repudiated a contract and you need to protect your position and recover your loss
- You have received a claim for breach of contract and need specialist representation to defend it
- You are in a dispute about the interpretation or application of a commercial contract
- A long-term commercial relationship has broken down and you need to enforce your contractual rights
- You have suffered significant financial loss due to a counterparty’s non-performance
Breach of contract claims in England and Wales are generally subject to a six-year limitation period from the date of the breach under the Limitation Act 1980. For contracts executed as deeds, the limitation period is 12 years. Different periods may apply to certain equitable remedies or statutory claims. Time limits can be complex – do not allow time to run. Contact us as soon as a dispute arises.
Head of Professional Negligence & Commercial Litigation
Your Specialist — Tony Hill
Tony Hill has represented businesses, partnerships and high-net-worth individuals in high-value commercial disputes throughout his 35-year career. He has particular experience in complex multi-party contractual disputes, urgent injunction applications, and cases involving concurrent claims in contract and tort. Tony has been involved in cases that have contributed to the development of commercial law in England and Wales, and he brings that depth of knowledge and courtroom experience to every matter he handles.
“Commercial contract disputes often involve urgent and technically specialised areas of law. WRS is equipped to deal across the spectrum of such matters with expertise in all areas of complex and high value matters with an established history of recovering compensation and securing tailored remedies for its clients.” – Tony Hill
Member, The Law Society of England and Wales | University of Oxford (MA)
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a repudiatory breach of contract?
A repudiatory breach is a serious breach that goes to the heart of a contract, allowing the innocent party to treat the contract as terminated and seek damages, including future losses in appropriate cases.
However, the decision to accept or affirm a repudiatory breach can have significant legal consequences. If you believe a counterparty has committed a repudiatory breach, specialist legal advice should be sought before taking further action.
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Can I claim loss of profit in a breach of contract claim?
Yes, in many cases. Damages for breach of contract aim to put the innocent party in the position they would have been in had the contract been properly performed. This can include loss of profit, loss of business opportunity, and wasted expenditure – subject to the requirements of foreseeability, causation and mitigation.
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What is the difference between a breach of contract claim and a professional negligence claim?
Many situations give rise to both. A breach of contract claim focuses on the contractual obligation that was not met. A professional negligence claim focuses on the failure of a professional to meet the standard of a reasonably competent practitioner. The claims can run concurrently and the appropriate strategy depends on the specific facts and which route offers the better recovery.
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Can I get an injunction quickly?
Yes. In appropriate cases, injunctions can be obtained on an urgent, without-notice basis where there is a real risk that delay would cause irreparable harm. Tony Hill and the WRS team are experienced in urgent injunction applications and can act quickly when the situation demands it.
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When does a breach of contract become a professional negligence claim?
Where the party in breach is a professional, such as a solicitor, surveyor, financial adviser or accountant, the claim may also give rise to a professional negligence action. The key question is whether the professional fell below the standard expected of a reasonably competent practitioner in their field and caused financial loss as a result.
Tony Hill heads both the commercial litigation and professional negligence departments at Wealth Recovery Solicitors and regularly advises on cases involving both contractual and professional negligence claims.
Important Information
In certain particular circumstances, there may be longer limitation periods available through statute or other mechanisms but the primary periods, as noted, are always to be considered.