Financial Disputes
We have a specialist team of financial Dispute Resolution experts at Teacher Stern with a wide range of experience in resolving high-value and complex banking and financial disputes. Our advice spans a broad range of domestic and international disputes including in relation to:
- bank-customer/mis-selling claims;
- commodities;
- consumer credit disputes;
- fraud and asset tracing claims;
- private and retail banking disputes (including Loan & Security Enforcement and Restructuring);
- real estate and asset finance disputes; and
- worldwide freezing injunctions.
The resolution of these disputes often involves litigation, arbitration, mediation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. As well as having significant experience in domestic court proceedings, we also have a wealth of experience in international arbitrations and many other forms of alternative dispute resolution including CEDR mediations and arbitrations under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and many more.
Our clients benefit from the experience and expertise of our lawyers who provide them with practical commercial advice. We take the time to understand our client’s commercial objectives and to tailor our advice accordingly. By helping clients to understand the legal issues and available options, we assist them in managing risk and making the best strategic and commercial decisions for their businesses.
We have a strong reputation in the market and are frequently called upon to represent financial institutions, banks, insurance companies, mortgage lenders, funds, finance industry professionals and high net worth investors.
Representative Financial Disputes Work
Examples of our team’s financial disputes work include:
- Advised a well-known English commodities company in connection with a USD $15 million dispute with a supply company in Ghana.
- Advised VIAC Eastern European Export Bank in connection with a performance guarantee claim made against it.
- Advised in the successful recovery of £1.5m from the perpetrator of property fraud; which involved cross-border asset tracing and the obtaining of worldwide injunctions.
- Advised a notable Russian commodity house in respect of a £20 million fraud predicated against it.
- Advised a lender in connection with the enforcement and realisation of its fixed and floating charge over the book debts of a defaulting borrower.
Key contacts:
Biography
Claire is head of the Legal 500 ranked Real Estate Finance team and has a wealth of experience in general lending and security matters including complex intercreditor arrangements. She acts for a wide range of UK and international financial institutions, as well as a variety of borrowers, in relation to domestic and cross-border finance transactions on a bilateral, club or syndicated basis. Claire’s particular expertise is property finance and corporate lending. Claire has a wealth of experience in drafting and reviewing the full suite of lender standard form loan and security documentation.
Claire also regularly deals with senior funding lines for her lender clients borrowing from institutional lenders as well as participators and investors funding underlying facilities with end borrowers. This involves Claire advising on various structures (such as senior loan agreements and participation agreements); security arrangements (either with security trustees; sub-charges; charges over bank accounts; and/or assignments of the underlying borrower security package) and identifying the inherent potential risks with such structures. She always seeks to improve her client’s position whilst respecting the commercially agreed terms and aligned interests of the parties.
Claire’s clients value her commercial advice combined with her technical knowledge and guidance. She ensures she has an in depth understanding and knowledge of our client’s business objectives to ensure she achieves this. She is driven, committed, personable, and always aims to exceed client expectations when it comes to service delivery and deadlines. Claire works proactively with all parties to a transaction to achieve a smooth closing. Her clients appreciate her responsiveness and attention to detail. Claire is a trusted advisor to many leading property and finance professionals in the market. This reputation is demonstrated in the client testimonials she has consistently received since being listed as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 in 2016.
Testimonials
Legal 500 2025 500 directory:
‘Claire Gibson has a wealth of commercial and technical knowledge, using her skill set to go above and beyond for her clients.’
Legal 500 2024 500 directory:
‘Teacher Stern’s team, led by Claire Gibson, has advised us on real estate finance for the last couple of years on various deals. The team is of the highest calibre for this sector in the London market. They are very professional and always responsive. All matters were dealt with, with attention and great flexibility. The team has proven to consist of highly skilled professionals, all of whom have very extensive knowledge of legal issues and an actual understanding of our needs, making it possible for them to provide advice and solutions, which are always individually tailored for the issues and goals in hand.’
‘Claire Gibson is our well-trusted advisor. Claire helps us resolve challenges that we, and our business, face. Claire is highly praised for providing the highest quality advice.’
‘Phil Berry and Claire Gibson both offer a wealth of knowledge in their field. Clients are central to the team’s work ethos, and they are undoubtedly people you want to have in your corner.
2023 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “understands what her clients need; she combines her wealth of knowledge with a commercial outlook to deliver a stellar service time and again.’
2022 Legal 500 directory: recommended laywer.
2021 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “has a wealth of knowledge in her field; her commercialism and dedication to her clients sets her apart from others”
2020 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is ‘pragmatic, commercial and a pleasure to deal with.’
2018/2019 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is praised for her ‘unparalleled professionalism and diligence’.
2017 Legal 500 directory: The ‘super-efficient’ Claire Gibson is ‘always on top of things’.
2016 Legal 500 directory: recommended figure of the ‘top-notch’ Claire Gibson.
Year qualified
Solicitor, 2003
Career History
Claire qualified in 2003 and joined the firm as a partner in 2014.
