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Tim Bignell

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"Tim Bignall.
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Tim Bignell is a strategic thinker who has unrivalled experience in the insolvency field.

Legal 500 UK 2024
About

Tim Bignell is an accomplished litigator with over 35 years' experience in dispute resolution acting on complex and high-value commercial and insolvency disputes.

He is a successful and experienced solicitor who takes a   pragmatic, focused and strategic approach which delivers results quickly and cost effectively. 

His practice embraces the full range of commercial dispute resolution, with particular expertise in company, partnership and shareholder disputes. He additionally is an expert in contentious insolvency litigation where he represents administrators and/or liquidators of companies and trustees in the bankruptcy of individuals.

Tim has also developed a niche practice in art, sport and entertainment where he acts for an eclectic mix of clients. These include internationally acclaimed recording artists, Middle Eastern art galleries, American art dealers and a very high world ranked professional tennis player.

Tim delivers pragmatic commercial solutions to his clients ensuring  their requirements formulate and drive the strategy to achieve those ends. He always keeps sight of the big picture to ensure optimum outcomes for clients achieved for the minimum exposure to risk. This approach coupled with his inclusive and collaborative client management skills assists in reaching solutions to problems as serenely and seamlessly as possible. 

Recent work
  • Acting for the liquidator of an insolvent company against the company's bankers and two firms of auditors for failing to identify fraudulent activity of the company's directors pre insolvency.
  • Acting for the administrator of a company against a claim by a shareholder that the administrator had been part of an unlawful means conspiracy by which the company was sold to a rival at an undervalue.
  • Acting for a Middle Eastern gallery on a misattributed bronze statue bought at an auction run by Sothebys.
  • Acting for internationally renowned rock guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, against the administrators of his management company in a dispute over the return of his intellectual property rights to songs that he had written in the 1970s and 1980s.
  • Acting for world ranking professional tennis player, Alexander Zverev, in a claim against his professional commercial representative seeking a court declaration that their contract was invalid by reason of it being in restraint of trade.
  • Acting for Royal Academician, Sir Frank Bowling RA in a dispute with his former gallery and agent on the return of the artist's paintings together with an account of their dealings undertaken on his behalf.  Novel features of the case were the galleries' attempt to exercise a lien over the artwork and to engage the European Commercial Agents Regulations on the termination of their appointment.
  • Acting for the estate of the late iconic artist, Duggie Field, in the recovery of his artwork and personal possessions of intrinsic artistic merit that is being unlawfully retained by a trespasser occupying his former flat.   
Accolades

Listed as Key Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market, Legal 500 2022

"Tim Bignell is a very experienced litigator." Legal 500 2022

"Tim Bignell is a real pleasure to work with: business savvy, felt like we were in completely safe hands and worked sensitively but robustly to achieve a great result for us." Legal 500 2021

Did you know
In his spare time Tim flies large scale remote control model aeroplanes. He also keeps Koi Carp and a short sighted albino Sturgeon called Mr Magoo.
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Tim Bignell has ‘huge experience and is thoughtful and resourceful’.

Fraud: Civil,
Legal 500 2018
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We won "Insolvency Law Firm of the Year (Up to Three Insolvency Partners)" at the TRI Awards 2022

This is the third year in a row we have won this award and the fourth year the firm has been shortlisted. This is great recognition for our Restructuring & Insolvency group's hard work over what has been an incredibly challenging period for the industry.

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