Phil Duignan

Principal Associate

Practice areas

• Diversified industrials
• Public law
• Retail
• Transport

Practice notes

Phil is a Principal Associate in our Litigation and Dispute Management Practice Group. He specialises in acting in high value and complex litigation, and has particular expertise in advising on shareholder disputes, warranty claims, professional negligence actions, contractual disputes, procurement matters and both the bringing of and responding to applications for injunctive relief.

Phil has extensive expertise in business protection litigation. He is highly experienced in advising on taking action (ranging from the securing of undertakings to obtaining urgent injunctive relief, and pursuing claims for damages/loss of profits) to enforce employer's rights and protect sensitive confidential information, and also defending employees and businesses in respect of the same.

Phil's recent experience includes: acting for a FTSE 100 listed PLC following the discovery of a multi-million pound fraud in its supply chain to obtain a freezing injunction over assets within 24 hours of initial instruction; acting in the 2019 Rail Franchising Litigation; acting for one of the country’s leading universities in respect of an £18 million dispute relating to the redevelopment of its campus; acting on behalf of one of the nation’s leading fashion brands in respect of a multimillion pound dispute arising under a logistics services agreement; and acting on behalf of two Jersey based trusts in a professional negligence claim against solicitors arising out of the negligent drafting of trust documentation resulting in a substantial tax liability being claimed by HMRC. This included a successful application for rectification in the Royal Court of Jersey.

Phil also has extensive experience of acting in Company Director Disqualification proceedings and proceedings brought by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skill to wind up companies in the public interest.

Where appropriate Phil advocates the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution techniques, such as mediation, in order to achieve the best possible results for his clients.

Phil has been recommended in the Legal 500 since 2017 as a "Next Generation Lawyer" for Commercial Litigation in the North West and is listed as a “Rising Star” in this area for 2019. He is also ranked as an Acritas Star Lawyer for 2019, with the GC of a leading UK listed business stating:

 “He is young and dynamic, he really wants to serve his clients, he is responsive, and looks at things from all angles”.

Phil regularly speaks at In-House Counsel seminars and also provides bespoke training to clients on all areas of commercial litigation.