Ian Cooper | Manchester, Leeds & Birmingham

Ian is frequently instructed in consumer credit disputes, notably cases arising out of the ‘unfair relationship’ provisions under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Ian also has experience of both advising and litigating in disputes concerning assets bought by consumers under credit finance agreements.

Commercial litigation is the mainstay of Ian’s practice. He has a wide experience across a broad range of commercial disputes, including debt recovery claims, sale of goods and supply of services cases, employment disputes, disputes concerning issues of contractual interpretation, breach of confidence claims, and matters of consumer credit finance.

Ian has a very active court practice, representing clients in a range of contexts, including small claims trials, fast-track trials, hearings for interlocutory applications, and procedural hearings, such as CCMCs. Alongside his court work Ian has a busy paper-based practice, drafting statements of case and providing advice across the broad spectrum of commercial work identified above.

Ian has acquired experience of a wide range of insolvency matters, all within the context of the business disruption caused by Covid-19.

As well as hearing experience across a number of courts, Ian has also developed experience in drafting applications, and advising more generally on various insolvency matters, including transactions at an undervalue, applications to annul bankruptcy orders, the fixing of administrators’ fees, winding up and bankruptcy petitions, and applications to discharge administrators from liability.

During his pupillage, under the supervision of Matthew Hall, Ian was exposed to a broad range of real estate litigation. Ian carried this across into his practice and has gained experience in a wide range of property law matters. As well as appearing in court on a frequent basis, Ian is developing a busy paper-based practice.

Ian’s experience of property law matters includes landlord and tenant disputes (both residential and commercial), the Electronic Communications Code, boundary disputes, adverse possession, advising on relief from forfeiture, farm business tenancies, creation of easements, and the modification/discharge of restrictive covenants.

Ian is well positioned to receive instructions given his previous career in sport. At CFG Ian worked at the interface of commercial sport, contract and sports regulation. CFG own a number of football clubs across the world, giving Ian insight into regulatory matters for a number of leagues including the Premier League, MLS, the J-League, and the A-League. His experience of the sports industry was further consolidated by participation in the Mishcon de Reya Sports Law Academy (2016).

Ian has begun to develop particular experience in the sphere of technology and construction. Most notably, assisting Andrew Singer QC in an arbitration regarding a contractual dispute arising out of the construction of a large housing estate.

Ian also supported Lesley Anderson QC in a matter concerning a multi-million pound property development, involving issues of professional negligence, misrepresentation and breach of contract.