Frank Ryan
Profile
Frank qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and specialises in both commercial litigation and contentious employment law. He is also experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution. Frank joined Barker Gillette LLP as a litigation partner at the start of 2010 having formerly been a partner at Courts & Co (now DMH Stallard LLP).
Frank is a member of The International Bar Association, The Solicitors' European Group, The Employment Lawyers Association and The Society for Computers and Law.
Expertise
As well as undertaking general commercial litigation, Frank's particular interests include:
- company/shareholder disputes and "minority prejudice"
- employment law - acting predominantly for employers but also for senior executives; he has a special interest in the issues arising on the sale and reorganisation of businesses: transfer of undertaking [TUPE] issues, multiple redundancies and so on
- misuse of confidential information
- enforcement and enforceability of post-termination restraints
- partnership disputes and partner exits (accountants, lawyers, surveyors etc)
- intellectual property (mainly copyright and passing off)
- commercial landlord and tenant, including business lease renewals.
Significant Cases
- Brett -v- Brett Essex Golf Club Limited (1986) 52 P & CR 330 (interpretation of rent review clause in commercial lease).
- Roneleigh Limited -v- M.I.I. Exports Inc [1989] 1 WLR 619 (likelihood of the claimant not securing a costs order at trial in a US court a relevant issue for the English courts in determining whether England was a more appropriate forum than New Jersey for litigation over a shipment of steel to Turkey fob New York).
- Turberville Smith Limited -v- Harry Turberville Smith & Others (1998) (director's duties and use of company information).
- Hosking & Others v Chelton & Others (2004) (claims by Liquidators for in excess of £14 million alleging unlawful dividends and director misfeasance; also, contribution claims involving professional negligence allegations)
