Business Details
32 Years
experience
Trusted Legal Experts in International Trade
Davies Battersby was founded in 1994 by Guy Davies and Patrick Battersby, establishing a reputation for legal excellence in international trade, commodities, and commercial dispute resolution. Our small but highly experienced team brings decades of commercial litigation expertise to deliver proactive, client-focused solutions. We prioritise our clients' interests, combining hands-on legal strategies with competitive pricing to achieve tangible outcomes. Our approach ensures direct communication with senior team members, eliminating delays caused by junior staff involvement. Specialising in cross-border cases, we leverage global partnerships to address complex jurisdictional challenges.Our expertise spans maritime law, arbitration, and high-stakes litigation, including landmark cases in the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal. We maintain a commitment to transparency, ethical practice, and results-driven advocacy. Our team's deep industry knowledge and tenacity have secured notable victories, including worldwide freezing injunctions and successful appeals. We serve clients across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas, offering tailored legal strategies for international trade and transportation matters. Our record of reported decisions underscores our authority in maritime and commercial law.
Services
Commercial Litigation
International Trade Law
Maritime Law
Dispute Resolution
Arbitration
Details
- Year established: 1994
Highlights and features
- We have 28 years of experience in international trade and maritime law
- Our senior team handles cases directly with no junior staff involvement
- We secure worldwide freezing injunctions and complex jurisdictional resolutions
- Our record includes High Court and Court of Appeal victories
- We maintain SRA authorisation for regulatory compliance
Associations and certifications
- Solicitors Regulation Authority
What people say
Achieve terrific results
Dedicated and hard-working
Excellent communication
No-nonsense approach
Proven track record
Services
Commercial Litigation
We handle complex commercial litigation involving international trade, jurisdictional conflicts, and high-value claims. Our team specialises in securing favourable judgments through strategic evidence gathering and courtroom advocacy. Clients benefit from our proven success in landmark cases across multiple jurisdictions.
Maritime Law
Our maritime law practice covers ship arrests, cargo claims, and admiralty cases. We represent clients in maritime insurance disputes and charterparty agreements, leveraging deep industry knowledge to resolve shipping-related legal challenges efficiently and effectively.
Arbitration
We provide expert arbitration services for international trade and transportation disputes through leading forums like GAFTA, FOSFA, and LMAA. Our approach balances cost-effectiveness with rigorous representation to achieve commercially sensible outcomes while preserving client relationships.
Cross-Border Disputes
We specialise in resolving multi-jurisdictional legal matters with coordinated global strategies. Our network of trusted international law firms enables effective representation in complex cross-border cases, ensuring compliance with diverse legal frameworks while protecting client interests.
High Court Claims
We manage high-stakes Commercial Court proceedings with focus on precision and efficiency. Our team has secured significant victories in reported decisions, demonstrating our capability to handle technically complex cases requiring immediate injunctive relief and thorough legal analysis.
People
Patrick Battersby
Founder
Patrick Battersby is a hands-on litigator with clients across Europe, the Middle East, and the USA. He specialises in recovering assets and resolving complex international trade disputes through strategic legal action.
Melanie Nash
Solicitor
Melanie Nash qualified as a solicitor in 1986 and brings extensive litigation experience to our team. She focuses on commercial disputes and arbitration, combining legal expertise with practical problem-solving for client benefit.
Geoffrey Brunton
Consultant Solicitor
Geoffrey Brunton specialises in dry shipping and international commodity trading law. His advisory work includes drafting complex contracts and representing clients in maritime disputes across multiple jurisdictions.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We focus on international trade, maritime law, commercial litigation, and arbitration through leading forums like GAFTA and LMAA.
How do you handle cross-border cases?
We coordinate with trusted international law firms to provide seamless representation in multi-jurisdictional disputes while maintaining direct client communication.
What makes your firm different?
Senior lawyers handle cases directly with no junior staff involvement, ensuring immediate action and strategic decision-making throughout your case.
Can you assist with urgent legal matters?
Yes, we specialise in securing worldwide freezing injunctions and other urgent remedies to protect client interests promptly.
What experience do you have in court cases?
We have significant High Court and Court of Appeal experience, including landmark decisions in commercial and maritime law.
How do you charge for services?
We offer competitive pricing structures with transparent cost management while maintaining senior-level legal representation throughout your case.
