Clarke Willmott bolsters Cardiff team

10 Jul 2025Appointments

Clarke Willmott enhances its financial services disputes team in Cardiff with the appointment of Martin Cox

National law firm Clarke Willmott has announced the significant expansion of its Cardiff office by hiring Martin Cox as a partner in its financial services disputes team. This appointment follows Cox's extensive experience dealing with high-value and complex commercial disputes, which he accumulated over more than a decade working in the City at prestigious firms such as Freshfields and Stewarts. Before joining Clarke Willmott, Cox was a part of Acuity Law in Cardiff.

Cox has advised a diverse range of clients in various sectors, demonstrating notable expertise in banking and financial services, telecommunications, and energy. His skills encompass handling negligence and misrepresentation claims, breaches of contract, and issues related to regulatory compliance and corporate governance.

Darren Kidd, partner and head of the financial services disputes team, expressed his enthusiasm for Cox’s arrival, stating “We’re delighted to welcome Martin to the team. We are committed to providing commercially astute, tailored advice to our clients and Martin’s appointment reinforces that commitment.” He added, “His technical excellence, broad commercial experience and strong sector insight will add real depth to our practice.”

Martin’s recruitment unfolds amid ongoing growth within Clarke Willmott's financial services disputes team. Kidd noted, “As we build and strengthen the team, we are well placed to meet increasing demand for strategic and high-quality advice. Martin’s appointment is a clear indication of our ambition to grow and to invest in exceptional people who share our values and client-focused approach.”

Clarke Willmott, with a strong national presence, operates offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, London, Manchester, Southampton, and Taunton, underscoring its commitment to providing comprehensive legal services across the UK. For those looking to learn more about Clarke Willmott’s capabilities, further information about its financial services litigation and dispute resolution team is available online.

Legal News desk contact: editorial@solicitorsjournal.com|

Employment tribunal cases rising sharply

Recent Ministry of Justice figures reveal a significant increase in open Employment Tribunal cases and challenges faced by employers

SRA updates guidance for litigation supervision

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has enhanced its supervision guidelines to clarify litigation conduct after recent court rulings

Millions of fathers lack parental responsibility

Many fathers may be surprised to learn about their parental responsibility rights and how to secure them

Re Poundstretcher: cross-class cramdown survives even when six landlord classes say no

The Chancery Division sanctions Poundstretcher's restructuring plan despite six dissenting landlord classes, applying the Adler and Petrofac framework.

Ponsford v Sali: a property partnership's messy divorce shows why documentation wins partnership disputes

The Chancery Division takes a pragmatic, evidence based approach to untangling a property partnership built on undocumented cash dealings.

North Somerset District Council v Secretary of State: failing the flood sequential test is not the end of the story

The Planning Court confirms that a failed flood risk sequential test still gets weighed in the planning balance, not treated as an automatic refusal.

Thomas Armstrong (Aggregates) v Housing Secretary: when landfill buries a quarry's right to be reviewed

The Planning Court applies Pilkington and Hillside to find a 1954 quarry permission can no longer be revived under the ROMP regime.

Clerkenwell Lifestyle v HG Construction: be careful what you call "agreed" in extension of time correspondence

The TCC enforces a £955,943 adjudication award after rejecting a contractor's late attempt to recast email exchanges as a binding settlement.

Ward v Donnellan: when both sides lie, "no order for costs" is not a free pass

The Court of Appeal overturns a no order for costs ruling, finding a judge let a dishonest claimant off too lightly.

London Borough of Camden v BW: when a single missing fact can decide a capacity case

The Court of Protection finds an expert's failure to explore one consequence, losing a placement, was enough to undermine his capacity assessment.

Griffiths v Essex County Council: EAT clarifies causation in discrimination remedy awards and sends pension loss back for recalculation

A single act of indirect disability discrimination can ground a full loss of earnings award, even where a later constructive dismissal claim was framed only...