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Founded in 2012, Signature Litigation has grown into one of London’s pre-eminent specialist dispute resolution practices. From the outset, we set out to do things differently: a conflict-free, disputes-only platform designed to give clients the undivided focus and strategic agility that complex, high-stakes matters demand.
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Established in 2017, Signature Litigation's Gibraltar office was founded to address growing demand for specialist expertise in commercial litigation and private wealth disputes on the Rock.
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Signature Litigation AARPI houses one of France’s most enviable product liability practices, with the team also handling commercial and corporate litigation, insurance and reinsurance, toxic tort and ESG, civil fraud and asset tracing, international arbitration, administrative and public law.
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Frankfurt has emerged as one of Europe's foremost financial and commercial centres and, increasingly, as a bridge between European and Asian markets. With that growth comes an increasing demand for sophisticated dispute resolution. Signature Litigation established its Frankfurt office to meet this need, bringing our conflict-free, disputes-only platform to the German market.
FIND OUT MOREAssociate Alex Guest analyses the legal implications of a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, including the application of force majeure in such a scenario. Alex’s comments were published in ICLG, 25 June 2025, here.
“In the event that access to the Strait is restricted, I think there would be immediate legal repercussions across international commerce.
“One of the most pressing consequences is that parties may seek to renegotiate contractual terms, or bring claims for breach contract, and consequently initiate arbitration or litigation proceedings over undelivered goods or delayed shipments.
“This type of claim frequently revolves around the invocation of force majeure clauses which are very familiar in commercial contracts. These provisions are designed to relieve parties from liability when extraordinary events beyond their control prevent contractual performance. However, invoking force majeure is often complex and rarely straightforward. Legal disputes could quicky emerge over whether the Strait’s closure qualifies as such an event or whether the affected party took reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of the event and fulfil their obligations despite the challenges.
“There could also be significant legal consequences for the maritime insurance industry, especially since the Strait of Hormuz is classified as a high-risk zone. Any escalation in tensions could lead to higher insurance premiums or event exclusions from coverage, potentially resulting in complex and prolonged legal disputes.
“In addition, escalating tensions might lead to changes in sanction regulations. As a result, firms’ operation in or near Iranian waters could accidentally violate international trade bans or restrictions.”
