News & Blog

Chris Clayton promoted to lead Civil & Commercial Litigation Department

LONGDEN, Walker & Renney Solicitors is proud to announce the promotion of experienced solicitor Chris Clayton to our Head of Civil & Commercial Litigation.

Since joining us in November 2023, Chris has achieved remarkable growth and demonstrated excellent leadership within the department – expanding our client base exponentially whilst establishing a reputation for high-quality legal support in complex commercial litigation.

This growth has already resulted in the need for departmental expansion with Solicitor Andrew Burford now supporting the increased caseload alongside the addition of Paralegal Jack Madison. We are also actively seeking another full-time solicitor to join the team, a reflection of the steadily-growing demand for our commercial litigation services.

“I’m incredibly proud to take on this new role as Head of the Civil & Commercial Litigation department,” said Chris Clayton. “Growing the department has been a rewarding journey and I’m grateful for the trust our clients and the firm have placed in me.

“Moving forward, I’m committed to driving our team’s success, expanding our expertise and continuing to act for clients in a diverse range of civil and commercial disputes.”

From his base in Cumbria, Chris works with a diverse range of clients – from small and family-owned businesses to large corporations across the North East of England – including Sunderland, Newcastle, as well as Cumbria and nationally. He also has international clients in the Middle East, South Africa and the US.

An experienced Commercial Dispute Resolution Solicitor and a qualified Solicitor Advocate with the same Rights of Audience as a Barrister, Chris can represent clients in all courts including the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Chris is also an accredited mediator, experience he draws upon to ensure he achieves what really matters to his clients.

Adding to his credentials, he was named among the Top 20 Most Influential Lawyers on LinkedIn in October 2024, underscoring his influence and leadership within the legal industry.

His team’s work spans various Civil & Commercial litigation areas, including director-shareholder disputes, contract breaches, fraud, warranty disputes, misrepresentation and professional negligence. The team also acts in property related disputes, including landlord and tenant disputes, end of lease disputes, including forfeiture, breaks, dilapidations and contentious lease renewals as well as contentious probate and insolvency disputes.

Commenting on the much-deserved promotion, Managing Director Neil Heavisides said: “I am thrilled to see Chris bringing his exceptional skill set and impressive track record to such an important role in our business. He has vast experience across a range of diverse areas, and it’s truly a pleasure to work alongside someone who brings such passion and dedication to his role.

“I have no doubt Chris will go above and beyond for our clients, delivering the high standards we strive for.”

Back to News

Discuss your needs with our friendly and dedicated team.

Call us 0191 5666 500

Email us law@longdens.co.uk

Or leave your details and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Request a call back

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.