A SOLICITORS has strengthened its team with the arrival of a commercial disputes partner.

Taylors Solicitors has welcomed partner Stuart Farr to the north west practice from national firm Knights, where he was a partner.

Stuart becomes the eighth partner at Taylors, which has an office on Exchange Street in Blackburn and another office space in Manchester.

He said: "I’m excited to have joined Taylors and to returning to working in the north west.

“When the opportunity arose to join the firm, I needed no persuasion because of its excellent reputation as a commercial law practice and the quality of its people.

“I am looking forward to helping existing clients and to expanding our offering both regionally and nationally.”

Specialising in advising individual and business clients on contractual disputes, product liability and professional negligence matters Stuart has over 25 years’ experience in the field and has featured in the Legal 500.

He has been the head of the dispute resolution team at Clarke Willmott’s Birmingham office and before that he headed the commercial disputes team in the Manchester office of Laytons.

He also has a niche practice in shooting and conservation matters and is a member of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

Taylors’ managing partner Elaine Hurn said: “Stuart is an astute operator with vast experience. He is a perfect fit for Taylors and his appointment is great news for our clients.

“His extensive expertise means he is able to act on our clients’ needs by swiftly getting to grips with matters and provide speedy and effective advice on strategy to achieve the desired outcome, in many cases without the need for litigation.

“Where litigation is necessary, he has years of experience, right up to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

Stuart works with clients across sectors including manufacturing, printing, consumer services, retail and distribution.

He advises on complex and technical disputes in the UK and internationally involving equipment, machinery, breaches of specification and product liability, as well as matters concerning areas such as investments, shareholdings, partnerships, franchises and the supply chain.

Alongside his legal expertise, he has a strong background in ethics. Stuart is a keen proponent of ethical conduct as a real and practical means of dispute avoidance and is a member of the ethics committee of Oxford University.