Yes. Through the Direct Access scheme, businesses and individuals can instruct a specialist commercial barrister directly, without needing to go through a solicitor first. Direct access is increasingly used for commercial disputes, including breach of contract claims, business partner disputes, and debt recovery: as a more cost-effective alternative to full solicitor management.
What Can a Direct Access Commercial Barrister Do?
A direct access commercial barrister can:
- Advise on the strength and value of your claim or defence
- Draft the pre-action letter before claim
- Draft the particulars of claim or defence
- Advise on the appropriate court and track for your claim
- Represent you at any court hearing, including trial
- Advise on settlement strategy and the merits of any offer made
- Draft a Part 36 offer to protect your position on costs
- Apply for interim injunctions or freezing orders in urgent cases
What Types of Commercial Disputes Can a Barrister Help With?
- Breach of contract: suppliers, clients, contractors, service providers
- Disputes between business partners or company directors
- Shareholder disputes
- Professional negligence claims against accountants, solicitors, or other professionals
- Debt recovery for unpaid invoices
- Disputes about confidentiality agreements or non-compete clauses
- Misrepresentation claims
When Is Direct Access Most Useful for Commercial Disputes?
Direct access to a commercial barrister is particularly valuable when:
- You have a clear factual picture of the dispute and need specialist legal analysis and advocacy
- The value of the claim justifies specialist legal advice but not the cost of full solicitor management
- You are already partway through a dispute and need targeted help at a specific stage
- You want a frank and independent assessment of your prospects before committing to litigation
Are There Fixed Fees Available?
Yes. Barrister Connect provides fixed fees for many common commercial law tasks, including initial advice, letter before action drafting, and hearing representation. This provides cost certainty before you commit to any expenditure.
Summary
Businesses and individuals can instruct a direct access commercial barrister without a solicitor for a wide range of commercial disputes. A commercial barrister can advise, draft key documents, and represent you at court: providing specialist legal expertise at a lower overall cost than the traditional solicitor-plus-barrister route. Fixed fees are available for specific tasks.
To discuss a commercial dispute and how a barrister might be able to help, contact our team.