Stutt Associates

Cornwall's Dispute Lawyers

Litigation solicitors in Cornwall, with more than a decade of experience assisting clients navigate all types of civil disputes

Litigation, South West England

Areas of law

Property/Chancery and land disputes

We know that your home is your sanctuary and that business properties may be both your livelihood and pension.  When something threatens your home or property, it can quickly escalate.  We aim to defuse things before they become expensive or irretrievable.  But if matters cannot be resolved, we will bring a claim on your behalf and secure your legal position. 


We are experienced in dealing with all property disputes, including those relating to:

  • Ownership disputes and challenges;
  • Trespass and damage (both by neighbours and strangers);
  • Adverse possession;
  • Boundary disputes;
  • Injunctions;
  • Anti-harassment injunctions;
  • Access and obstructions;
  • Trusts of land claims (TOLATA);
  • Property investments;
  • Neighbour disputes;
  • Breaches of covenant;
  • Dilapidations at commercial property;
  • Commercial lease 1954 Act renewals;
  • Nuisance;
  • Breach of trust;
  • Property damage;
  • Allegations of shoddy building work;
  • Easements, including those acquired by prescription.

Business disputes

A threat to your livelihood is urgent.  We intervene early and will work collaboratively with business owners or stakeholders, so that business operations can continue to run as smoothly as possible. 


We are experienced in dealing with all kinds of business disputes, including:

  • Contract disputes with suppliers;
  • Partnership disputes;
  • Disputes between directors;
  • Unfair prejudice petitions;
  • Insolvency (including pursuing winding up orders and administration procedures);
  • Company director disqualification threats;
  • Statutory demands and threats to wind up companies;
  • Fraudulent employees or former employees;
  • Restraint of trade;
  • Theft and misuse of company property, including intellectual property;
  • Restrictive covenants;
  • Passing off;
  • Urgent injunctions in respect of any of the above.

Insolvency disputes

When a business fails the fallout can be overwhelming.  Whether you are a debtor or creditor, we’re happy to discuss how we can assist.  We cannot give debt advice (although we have excellent professional relationships with advisors who can assist in that regard), but we can advise on your position generally and can assist with matters such as:

  • Investigations or proceedings for wrongful or fraudulent trading;
  • Investigations or proceedings for transactions at undervalue or fraudulent transactions;
  • Dealing with insolvency professionals on your behalf in relation to a debt owed to you by an insolvent individual or business;
  • Claims relating to the actions of an insolvency professional.


Claims against professionals

When things go wrong in a professional relationship it can be hard to know where to turn.  We will review in confidence the work of any professional advisor that you think has caused you, or may be about to cause you, loss. When appropriate we will instruct an expert to report on professional neglience.


We have strong experience of bringing and defending claims for negligence concerning surveyors, accountants, agricultural professionals, solicitors and more.  We will advise on alternative routes to achieve redress, which may avoid legal fees altogether. 


We will give a second opinion on legal advice you have received from another firm, or take over the instruction if things aren’t going the way you would like or if you have lost trust and confidence.


Disputed Wills

It is devastating if you were expecting a legacy, and either you aren’t left one, or someone disputes your appointment or conduct, or what you have legitimately been left.  We can advise you on your position, whether you are disappointed by the lack of a gift, or wish to protect the wishes of the deceased by having the will terms upheld. 


We are experienced in dealing with will dispute claims.  We aim to remove the emotion and wherever there is any chance to do so, to bring things quickly to a resolution, avoiding the stress and expense of protracted proceedings and a final trial.


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Litigation Lawyer

About Stutt Associates

Stutt Associates specialises in civil disputes (litigation).  If you instruct us, you can expect legal advice from partner level, city experienced solicitors without the price tag of a comparable traditional firm.  We have stripped unnecessary frills, like fancy premises, so we can focus our resources on the things our clients really want, like the latest technological assistance (including generative ai).


We are experienced in most types of civil disputes (litigation), including personal disputes and business disputes, such as property and land disputes, will disputes, business disputes, neighbour disputes and contract disputes.


We offer two service structures: fixed fee legal advice; and full service (including representation in proceedings, documentation preparation and/or negotiation).  In either case, you can expect straight-talking, practical, commercial advice, at a time that suits you.  All of our appointments can be booked and paid for online, including by ApplePay or GooglePay.


We aren’t tied to a traditional 9-5 working pattern, so you don’t need to be either.  We’ll happily work around your working or family timetable to ensure that you can access the advice you need at a time that is convenient to you (with our out of hours fixed fee legal advice).  And if you need very urgent advice you can book online an urgent fixed fee appointment, even at the very last minute.


We understand that disputes are stressful and can be all-consuming.  We will handle your dispute sensitively, working towards your preferred outcome.  Experience and statistics show that most disputes can be settled without a trial and perhaps without any litigation at all; we will work with you to attempt to conclude things at an early stage if possible.  If not, we have a wealth of experience in taking matters to a final trial and the tools and determination to do so.  We also have excellent professional relationships with specialists in various areas of civil disputes, who can work with us where needed on more complex matters. 


Litigation Legal Team

Meet the team

Your work will be undertaken by a partner-level, city-trained litigation solicitor with more than a decade of experience in handling civil disputes of all types to final trials or earlier settlement

Lisa Haywood

Director (Solicitor), COLP & COFA
Lisa Haywood is a director. She is a city-experienced, Cornish litigation solicitor with more than a decade of experience in dealing with civil disputes. She began her career as a litigation solicitor at a specialist disputes firm in Cornwall, then moved to a larger regional local firm after a career break. Lisa can deal with almost any dispute, including property and land disputes, business disputes, insolvency disputes, debt recovery, professional negligence, neighbour disputes and will disputes.

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