Witan Solicitors

Witan Solicitors: commercially focused litigation

Witan Solicitors is a British law firm that focuses on strategic litigation and legal advice aimed at protecting its clients' commercial interests. The firm serves both businesses and individuals and has offices in Birmingham, Northampton and London. Its presentation emphasises that it resolutely pursues its clients' legal interests and that its track record is built on securing favourable outcomes in court proceedings.

Practice areas

The firm organises its offering into a broad catalogue of specialities, with commercial litigation as its main focus. Among the areas it states it covers are:

• Commercial Litigation.
• Litigation for Individuals.
• Commercial Property Dispute.
• Construction.
• Insolvency & Corporate Recovery.
• Family.
• Banking & Finance.
• Wills, Trusts & Probate.
• Corporate.
• Crime & Investigations.
• Employment.
• Regulatory.
• Tax Litigation.

The firm also mentions specific defence services for motoring offences and a legal subscription called The Witan Legal Subscription Services.

History and origins of the firm

The firm states that it has specialised in litigation for over thirty years, since 1986, when John Cato began his career as a trainee solicitor. Until autumn 2022 it operated under the name Cato Solicitors. John Cato trained as a solicitor at Lincoln's Inn and developed his career at several regional firms before founding Cato Solicitors in Northamptonshire as a sole practitioner in 2003. The practice served individuals and businesses until 2009 and, in 2013, John Cato relaunched it under its current legal identity, maintaining it until his retirement as director in 2022. The firm was built around his reputation as a commercial litigator in London and the East Midlands, with clients ranging from AIM-listed companies to SMEs and high-net-worth individuals.

Qarrar Somji, the current director and owner, trained under John Cato between 2011 and 2012. Between 2012 and 2018 he held various commercial litigation roles in Northamptonshire and Birmingham. In 2018 he joined Cato Solicitors as an associate solicitor and in 2020 became a director. He was recognised as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 (2019), where he was described as 'an impressive and industrious litigator'. During his leadership, Witan Solicitors has more than doubled its gross revenue and its headcount.

Approach to work

The firm describes its method as strategic litigation focused on the client's objectives. According to its presentation, one of the first questions it asks those who instruct it is what they aim to achieve, and from there it combines legal knowledge and legal technology to achieve those objectives swiftly and cost-effectively. The firm states that it does not limit itself to advising, but seeks to persuade the opposing party and the court of its solution. Its stated vision is to redefine dispute resolution advice and support businesses and individuals throughout the legal process.

Accreditations and structure

The website includes a section on accreditations and memberships, as well as references to case studies and client feedback. Witan Solicitors operates under the company name Witan Solicitors Limited and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 605789. The firm maintains a Portuguese version of its website.

Offices and locations

Birmingham Office: Bradford Court 123-131 Bradford Street Birmingham B12 0NS

Northampton Office: Beckett House 14 Billing Road Northampton NN1 5AW

London Office: Central Court 25 Southampton Buildings Holborn London WC2A 1AL