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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 and barrister Katrin Harter discusses undertaking pro bono work during her pupillage in Counsel Magazine, and offers advice to new pupils. Katrin’s piece was published in Counsel Magazine, 8 September, and can be read in full here.
During my pupillage, I had the privilege of undertaking a pro bono case through Advocate – an experience that proved both professionally formative and personally rewarding, writes Katrin Harter.
My client, due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, had been charged with being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle and was subsequently convicted in their absence. Beyond a significant fine, it was the conviction itself that carried broader consequences.
I attended a reopening hearing in the Magistrates’ Court alongside my client and we succeeded in having the conviction set aside and the proceedings reopened. I then advised my client throughout negotiations, which culminated in a reinstated fixed penalty notice. This resulted in a much smaller fine and, more significantly, no conviction.
What made this experience especially valuable was the level of responsibility it entailed. I had full conduct of the case – from developing the strategy to preparing submissions and conducting the advocacy. While I was fortunate to have pupillage supervisors who involved me in all aspects of their work, managing a case independently, and without a solicitor involved, was an invaluable opportunity to build confidence, particularly in the context of client-facing work. Making judgement calls, liaising directly with a client and advocating in court all provide opportunities to hone the skills essential to successful practice. And should concerns arise, support is usually available within chambers, or the helpful team at Advocate can arrange contact with a suitable mentor.
I would wholeheartedly encourage any pupil to take on pro bono work. It presents an opportunity to broaden your horizons, exposes you to less familiar areas of law and contributes meaningfully to your development – all while being able to help someone navigate an unfamiliar legal process they may otherwise face alone.
