Arabella joined Bermans as a Paralegal in January 2023 and is currently a Trainee Solicitor in our Litigation team based in Liverpool.
She works on a wide range of commercial litigation matters and works with a variety of companies and business owners.
Arabella obtained a First Class Economic History Degree from the London School of Economics and completed her GDL and LPC at the University of Law in Liverpool.
Outside of work, Arabella enjoys reading, cooking and baking.
Elizabeth joined Bermans in March 2025 as Partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team.
Elizabeth has over 25 years’ experience of helping clients resolve disputes efficiently and cost effectively. Elizabeth specialises in advising on the rights and obligations of directors and shareholders and is particularly experienced in shareholder disputes and claims involving directors’ duties and warranties in sale and purchase agreements.
She advises clients on minimising risk and protecting the value of their businesses, enforcing restrictions in employment contracts and sale agreement when needed. She is experienced in securing urgent solutions such as injunctions and asset freezing orders.
Elizabeth also advises on partnership disputes, commercial contracts and negligence by professionals such as accountants or surveyors.
She has advised a wide range of clients during her career from SMEs and OMBs to large corporates and PLCs as well as individuals.
Elizabeth has been recognised a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500.
Away from work, Elizabeth loves to travel with her family and enjoys reading and training at karate.
Mike joined Bermans in 2025 as a Partner in our Litigation team based in Manchester, with over 15 years litigation and dispute resolution experience.
Prior to starting his career in law in 2007, Mike spent 20 years in the shipping and logistics industry – in commercial and operational management roles – experience that has helped form his business orientated approach.
Mike advises owner-managed businesses, small and medium-sized business enterprises, property developers, secured lenders, professional practices and individuals.
His specialist practice areas are contract disputes, professional negligence, acting on behalf of secured lenders, shareholder and partnership disputes, construction disputes, various intellectual property related matters and contested probate.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys exploring the outdoors be it running, hiking or cycling and gardening.
Mike is a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 directory 2024 and a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association.
Jonathan Berkson, (pictured) joined Bermans in June 2013 and is a Senior Partner in our Asset Based Lending and Litigation teams. We spoke to him to learn more about him and his work.
This is our latest update as the introduction of a “fixed costs” regime for most civil court disputes, where the disputed amount is over £10,000 up to £100,000, draws ever nearer.
When businesses enter into contracts with one another, it is common for them to want their own terms and conditions (Ts&Cs) to apply to the contract. However, whether these have been successfully implemented into the contract often does not seem to be of concern to the parties until a dispute presents itself. Having the Ts&Cs adequately incorporated is especially important since it is common practice for businesses to conduct their dealings through contractual documents such as purchase orders and invoices rather than having an actual written contract in place. By not having a signed contract in place, the parties open up themselves to scrutiny over which party’s Ts&Cs are to prevail in case of a dispute.
You have – all things considered – enjoyed a fruitful trading relationship with a supplier or customer over many years, or at least you have assumed that to be the case.
Then things go sour. You locate your copy of the contract, only to find that it was made by your predecessor company, or the other party’s predecessor, or even both. The change(s) may have been due to a corporate reorganisation. In any case there is no evidence in writing of consent to the change, as required under the contract.
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Jonathan Berkson,
