Business Details
24 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Specialist Commercial Lawyers in London
Francis Wilks & Jones is a London-based law firm established in 2002, specialising in commercial litigation, insolvency, tax disputes, and director disqualification cases. Our team of experienced solicitors provides tailored legal solutions to SMEs, directors, shareholders, and private clients across the UK. With a focus on practical outcomes, we combine technical expertise with responsive service to resolve complex financial and commercial challenges. Our lawyers regularly act in high-stakes matters including freezing orders, debt recovery, shareholder disputes, and HMRC investigations. We maintain strong relationships with accountants and insolvency practitioners, offering specialist support for contentious situations.The firm's approach emphasises early case assessment, transparent communication, and cost-effective strategies. Recognised for excellence in director defence work and company rescue operations, we deliver discreet and commercially astute legal advice. Our clients benefit from direct access to senior lawyers with backgrounds in leading City firms, ensuring high-quality representation with personal service. We operate from central London while serving clients nationwide through physical and digital channels.
Services
Commercial litigation
Debt recovery
Director disqualification
Tax disputes
Company rescue
Freezing orders
Shareholder disputes
Bankruptcy help
Professional negligence
Insolvency litigation
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of experience in commercial dispute resolution and insolvency law
- Our team includes partners with backgrounds at leading City law firms
- We provide fixed fee and staged payment arrangements for cost certainty
- We act for over 85% of our clients through professional referrals
- Our lawyers have handled cases involving sums exceeding 20m
Associations and certifications
- Solicitors Regulation Authority No.599151
- Solicitors Regulation Authority No.643637
What people say
Outstanding service
Successful outcome
Prompt personal service
Professional team
Highly recommend
Services
Commercial litigation
We handle complex commercial disputes through negotiation, mediation, or court proceedings. Our solicitors specialise in contract disputes, shareholder conflicts, and high-value claims. Clients benefit from strategic legal representation in County Court and High Court matters.
Director disqualification
Our specialist team defends directors facing Insolvency Service investigations or disqualification proceedings. We provide strategic advice on regulatory compliance and representation in Magistrates Court hearings to protect professional interests.
Tax disputes
We represent clients in HMRC investigations, COP8/COP9 enquiries, and tax penalty disputes. Our solicitors secure favourable outcomes through disclosure negotiations, appeal processes, and court challenges to protect business interests.
Company rescue
Our insolvency specialists advise on administration, liquidation, and restructuring options. We implement company voluntary arrangements and rescue plans to maximise business continuity while protecting stakeholder interests.
Debt recovery
We recover commercial debts through statutory demands, County Court claims, and enforcement actions. Our solicitors handle high-value debt recovery cases with emphasis on swift asset preservation and judgment enforcement.
People
Andy Wilks
Managing Partner
Andy leads the firm's commercial litigation team with over 25 years' experience in complex business disputes and insolvency matters. He specialises in high-value claims and cross-border enforcement actions.
Tim Francis
Partner
Tim specialises in director liability issues and company restructuring. He has defended numerous disqualification proceedings and advises on insolvency practitioner claims across multiple sectors.
Stephen Downie
Partner
Stephen heads the tax disputes practice with expertise in HMRC investigations and COP9 negotiations. He has resolved multi-million pound tax liability cases for corporate and private clients.
Andy Lynch
Partner
Andy specialises in freezing order applications and asset recovery. He has successfully obtained and defended numerous account freezing orders in high-stakes financial disputes.
Maria Koureas-Jones
Partner
Maria leads shareholder dispute resolutions and commercial litigation. She has particular expertise in unfair prejudice claims and complex partnership breakdowns across family businesses.
Questions
What areas of law does Francis Wilks & Jones specialise in?
We specialise in commercial litigation, insolvency law, tax disputes, director disqualification cases, and debt recovery. Our solicitors also handle shareholder disputes and freezing order applications.
Do you offer fixed fee legal services?
Yes, we provide fixed fee arrangements and staged payment plans for many of our services to ensure cost certainty for clients.
Can you help with HMRC investigations?
Yes, our specialist tax team handles HMRC investigations, COP8/COP9 enquiries, and tax penalty disputes for businesses and private individuals.
What experience do your lawyers have?
Our partners have over 100 years combined experience, with backgrounds at leading City firms. We focus on practical solutions in commercial disputes and insolvency matters.
Do you handle cross-border legal matters?
Yes, we regularly handle international cases involving foreign jurisdictions, including debt recovery, asset tracing, and cross-border freezing orders.
