What can I do for you?
I am a solicitor in the commercial disputes team. I trained at Mills & Reeve and qualified here in September 2005, after spending eight months of my training contract in the team.
I deal with all manner of disputes from breach of contract because of a faulty product to claims that can arise from a key supplier becoming insolvent. Not all of my work means going to court. I also help clients resolve their disputes using alternative methods such as mediation and expert determination. I also provide clients with advice long before disputes have arisen to help them manage risks and avoid potential difficulties later on. Increasingly my workload involves dealing with parties who may be based outside the UK and I regularly advise on cross-border issues.
Much of my work is insolvency focused and I am a member of our Rescue & Insolvency Group. I often work with administrators or liquidators to help them untangle insolvency problems and get the best for the creditors.
Supporting my clients’ aims
I recently advised on the risks of terminating a five-year supply agreement that was severely impacting its operations. The client’s key objective was to take control of the situation, which it was able to do as a result of the work I did for them. I also spent 8 months seconded to a facilities management company where I worked alongside their existing in house legal team. This experience has allowed me to see what actually matters to clients from the other side of the desk.
What do others say?
Clients have said that they like my approach and were glad to find some “pragmatic and straight talking lawyers”. I was also recently praised by a QC after a mediation who said he was “seriously impressed by Lino’s mastery of the detail of the papers and of the figures”.
What else should you know?
I am an associate member of R3, the Association Business Recovery Professionals. I have also completed a diploma in advocacy which is a step towards obtaining Higher Rights of Audience.