Jonathan Mortimer
Head of Dispute Resolution
01423 566666
07850 993952
jonathan.mortimer@raworths.co.uk
Background
Born in Harrogate
Educated: Leeds Grammar School, University of Westminster (LLB (Hons)) and College of Law
Previous roles: Pinsent Curtis (now Pinsent Masons) and Head of Dispute Resolution Langleys
Joined Raworths February 2011
Member of Agricultural Law Association
Member of Association of Contested Trust and Probate Specialists
Member of Leeds Chancery and Mercantile Court Users Committee
Legal specialisation
Jonathan has a wealth of experience in civil and commercial litigation having represented clients in the Magistrates Court to the Supreme Court. Particular areas of expertise include contract disputes, defamation, financial services disputes, franchise matters, insurance claims, partnership disputes, professional negligence claims, property disputes and shareholder claims. Jonathan has also represented a number of individuals in respect of personal claims and brought group actions.
Experience
Cases Jonathan has dealt with include:
Of public interest:
- Acting for the Bradford & Bingley Shareholder’s Action Group and a claim for redress by shareholders following the Government’s intervention into the Bank
- Representing a Government body in judicial review proceedings
- Representing the residents of Knipe Point in Scarborough threatened by unexplained land erosion into the sea
- Pursuing the Co-operative Funeral Company in a high profile case following the incorrect cremation of two bodies in one coffin and exposing funeral company cover-up
- Acting for St Hilda’s Church, Pickering against Natural England with potential judicial review proceedings for failure to grant a licence to remove a plague of bats.
- Advising the Worldspreads Action Group on options to recover a black hole in segregated funds following the downfall of the spread betting organisation Worldspreads Limited.
Of commercial interest:
- Acting for an off-shore company in a derivative claim under section 260 of the Companies Act 2006
- Representing food company to defend proceedings brought for alleged misuse of confidential information to obtain a market advantage
- Defending a company against proposed fine by the OFT for alleged price fixing in the construction industry
- Representing a former director of a company for breach of fiduciary duties with a value of in excess of £1 million and proceeded to a five week trial
- Acting for business partner in dispute with the partnership as to numerous investments made in start-up businesses and a failure to account for the proceeds
- Representing in excess of 20 Prontaprint franchisees in disputes with the Franchisor.
Of private interest
- Suing Leeds Building Society for breach of contract and misrepresentation in respect of a private investment
- Defending defamation proceedings brought against private individual following speech made in public
- Pursuing a firm of solicitors for failure to account for client monies and breach of professional duties
- Obtaining a settlement for individual left destitute following death of partner with no financial provision having been made in the will.
In conversation
What drives you in your career ?
I do get a kick out of resolving disputes, representing interesting clients and trying to bring parties together to broker a deal. At the same time, I also enjoy the thrill of the Court room and fighting hard for a result.
Why did you choose dispute resolution as an area of law to specialise in ?
I remember being taken to Court to attend a hearing as part of a work experience placement in the 1980s and I was immediately hooked on litigation. I was pleased to be offered a position in my then firm’s litigation department upon qualification as a solicitor and have not looked back since.
Are you one of those lawyers that just advise clients to settle ?
I hope not. I do believe in standing up for your rights and not selling yourself short. However, I settle more of my cases that the national average but importantly on terms which I, and more importantly my clients, believe are fair.
What have been the most interesting cases you have been involved with ?
I have to say that although I have been involved in substantive commercial litigation over the years, the cases which really stand out are those in which I have represented individuals or groups with personal issues which have hit the news headlines. The use of the media to expose wrong doing has always interested me.
What was your most embarrassing professional moment ?
This has to be the time I was conducting a trial in South Yorkshire when the seam in my trousers decided to give up. I had to run out during the lunchtime adjournment and buy a new suit.
What else do you do at Raworths ?
In addition to my duties as Head of Dispute Resolution, I take a particular interest in the firm’s marketing and social events. I have also set up our Corporate Responsibility Programme in which we adopt a charity each year and raise what money we can for good causes.
What interests do you have outside work ?
I have always had an interest in politics and I stood in the General Election in 2005. Nearly 9,000 people voted for me but it was not sufficient to get elected. I will therefore stick to being a solicitor.
