Peter Lees is a director in the Litigation team in Manchester. Peter advises on a wide range of commercial disputes, with a particular focus on defamation and professional negligence claims.

Defamation: Peter has considerable experience of advising clients on defamation matters, as part of the firm’s wider reputation management expertise. Peter’s commercial and strategic approach is informed by his background; prior to joining the firm, Peter worked in advertising and media for companies including the Telegraph Group, Viacom and Carat.

Professional negligence: Peter advises numerous financial services and commercial clients on negligence claims against professionals including accountants, solicitors, surveyors and patent attorneys. Peter advised Manchester Building Society in its successful Supreme Court appeal against Grant Thornton (Manchester Building Society v Grant Thornton UK LLP [2021] UKSC 20).

Commercial litigation: Peter also advises on a wide range of commercial disputes. In particular, Peter has advised numerous clients on the enforcement of restrictive covenants, building on experience gained acting for the successful franchisor in Pirtek (UK) Limited v Joinplace Ltd & others [2010] EWHC 1641 (Ch).