Our People
Head of Chambers
Helen Swaffield
Called: 1987
Helen Swaffield is a practising Barrister with over 25 years’ experience in Commercial and Public Law including commercial contracts and regulation, EU Law, international outsourcing and procurement, competition, franchising, supply and distribution and IPR. Helen appears in the High Court, Commercial Court and Technology and Construction Court as well as commercial arbitrations and adjudications. Helen has a French Law accreditation and has a diploma in EU Law from the University of Strasbourg. Having worked at both the EU Commission and the EU Court, she speaks French and reads Spanish.
Helen has drafted commercial, public and health sector contracts and has developed precedents and templates for industry use. She is regularly consulted to mitigate business risks and resolve claims and other disputes before litigation. Publications: Helen is the editor of and contributor to the Commercial Litigation Journal and the Procurement and Outsourcing Journal.
Helen operates her practice with a tight-knit group of legal associates and other professionals to ensure that our clients receive the best possible service from a strong and multifaceted legal team.
Some of Helen’s most recent work includes:
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Advising multi-national mining company in contractual restructuring.
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Successfully representing some 200 Defendants in a seven-day trial relating to contractual interpretation in front of the County Court and High Court on appeal in Terracorp Limited v Rajesh Mistry and others [2020] EWHC 2623 (Ch).
Also see The Times article on the case: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/victory-for-owners-of-worthless-land-lk6bss2lnshareToken=fd9d0f405f73510a2117c681e4503c9f
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Achieving a multi-million pound settlement on behalf of over 200 Claimants in a claim for a failed property development.
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Advising top-tier law firms on the performance of lease covenants.
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Advising global IT development company on R&D/supply contracts and negotiating with UK/US law firms to a successful conclusion.
Door Tenant
Martin Langston
Called: 2005
Martin is a specialist Chancery & Commercial practitioner with experience in complex and high value claims. Martin is a door tenant at CLC but has St Ives as a main practice address.
He has developed a busy and varied litigation practice routinely appearing at the Business & Property Courts throughout England and Wales.
Martin acts for individuals, businesses, lenders, insurers and local authorities at interlocutory applications, injunctions, trials, appeal and ADR.
Areas of expertise:
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Property litigation
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Contractual and commercial litigation
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Partnership and business disputes
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Technology and Construction
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Company law and insolvency
Martin enjoyed a diverse career prior to the Bar including working as an expert software engineer and managing director of several companies including a housing management firm. He is often instructed in cases pre-issue and always looks to provide a cost-effective, pragmatic solution for the client.