Hugh Hitchcock is a Senior Partner within our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team, as well as a shareholder, and a member of our Senior Leadership Team.

Hugh heads up the Acuity Litigation and Dispute Resolution department, comprising Commercial Litigation, Property Litigation, Construction Litigation and International Arbitration. He is also the lead partner in our Swansea office.

Hugh’s practice includes disputes that encompass every facet of commercial and corporate life, both at the pre-emptive stage and once litigation progresses.

He works both nationally and internationally with clients on a full range of commercial litigation cases, and is renowned for his vast experience in high-value contractual claims against large national firms. His notable wins have included High Court litigation for Loches Capital Limited against Goldman Sachs International, and taking on multi-billion-pound steel giant Corus (now Tata Steel) on behalf of Port Talbot-based family firm Qual-Chem in an IP dispute. He also handles recovery claims and minority shareholder claims.

Before joining Acuity, Hugh gained a wealth of experience as a partner/director at a boutique law firm, and in the media litigation department at Frere Cholmeley Bischoff, where he acted for an array of notable clients including Elton John, Sting, and The Beatles’ record company. He is well known for his defamation work, which has seen him achieve notable successes against several national newspapers. 

Hugh was named as one of The Lawyer’s Hot 100 of 2024 and has been noted by The Legal 500 as a “Leading Partner” for a number of years.

Advising Red and Yellow Limited and R&Y NL Limited on a claim arising from a joint venture agreement in relation to the development of quality extra care accommodation.

Acting for Tingo Group, Inc in its UK action against a US short seller.

Acting for Tingo International Holdings, Inc. in respect of a claim by Outlier Ventures LLP purporting the breach of a Deed of Adherence, the terms of which required Tingo to invest £7.5 million into Outlier.

Acting for the owners of APCymru Ltd, an established business providing education, training, learning and consultancy services as part of the education of young people, in their dispute with Learning Curve Group Limited, an international training and education specialist.

Acting for Helix Securities LLP (“Helix”) in a claim against FinTech payment platform, Revolut.

Advising a high-profile alcohol brand in bringing a passing off claim against a competitor, up to and including Court proceedings, which featured an application for an injunction in the High Court. The case resulted in settlement at the stage of disclosure.

Acting for Loches Capital Limited in a substantial pre-action disclosure application against Goldman Sachs International.

Acting for HR Investor Group, a group of 26 individuals and companies, in a claim against 12 defendants, including two current and former solicitors. Claims include unlawfully establishing and operating unregulated collective investment schemes, misrepresentation, and deceit.

Acting for a shareholder seeking damages, declarations and orders concerning breaches of a Shareholders Agreement relating to an independent hospital.

Acting for Malben Limited pursuant to section 994 of the Companies Act 2006 for unfair prejudice in respect of its shareholding in a joint venture company.

Acting for private equity funds and individual corporate shareholders on boardroom disputes, hostile takeovers and defending and commencing Section 994 claims.

Advising and successfully pursuing a global steel company on a complex patent infringement claim all the way from letter of claim through to the Court of Appeal.

Advising several celebrities including a major internationally renowned recording artist, on issues of defamation and malicious falsehood against the Sun and Daily Mirror.

Advising an international investment fund on its claims in a minority shareholder dispute arising from a billion-dollar high-profile merger.

Advising a national haulier and logistics group on a multi-million cartel and unfair competition claim.

Advising a number of UK funds, charities and property development businesses in relation to the mis-selling of multimillion-pound hedging products.

Advising on a multimillion-dollar dispute with an international mining company over various overseas contracts.

Advising a number of local authorities in relation to procurement related claims in excess of £20 million.

Acting for a claimant in ongoing litigation involving alleged brake defects in Ferrari supercars. The case, which has attracted national media attention, centres on catastrophic brake failure incidents later reflected in a Ferrari recall.

• Commercial contract disputes
• Director and shareholder disputes
• Professional negligence
• Contentious insolvency and antecedent transaction claims
• Defamation, privacy and reputation management
• All types of injunction proceedings
• Intellectual property disputes