Clive Hitchen Consultant Solicitor

With a background in all types of litigation since 1982, Clive now focuses on commercial and property disputes together with employment law, advising commercial clients and individuals across England and Wales. Formerly a partner in charge of dispute resolution at a commercial firm based in Grays Inn, Clive spent the last 30 years in charge of the litigation department of a firm based in Buckinghamshire. He continues his practice on behalf of long-standing clients but is happy to take on new challenges

Areas of expertise

• High and County Court injunctive action across a range of areas from property disputes to complex contractual issues.
• Corporate and partnership disputes, including inter-jurisdictional issues and shareholder disputes.
• Settlement agreement negotiations for both employers and employees.
• Will disputes on behalf of national charities and individuals.
• Building construction and boundary disputes.
• Professional negligence claims against other solicitors, surveyors and architects.

Approach to work and clients

Nobody wants to get involved in a litigated dispute. It is time-consuming and expensive, and a client’s time could be better spent running their business. However, sometimes action is necessary, whether as a claimant or defendant. Clive has the necessary experience and expertise to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case and take a commercial approach to settling your claim without court action if that is possible. Often, that will be by direct negotiation or mediation. However, for the small number of cases that cannot be settled in that way, Clive has extensive experience guiding clients through the court process to a successful conclusion.

Career highlights 

• Successfully acted in a complex, multi-dimensional dispute between partners in a family business involving a substantial international property portfolio held through a partnership and multiple company shareholdings. The matter, which spanned assets in both the UK and Asia, concluded after a two-week High Court hearing, with all claims successfully determined in the client’s favour and an award of indemnity costs.
• Obtained and enforced an urgent High Court injunction on behalf of a national charity against two parties already engaged in ongoing litigation concerning property claimed by the charity. The injunction was secured and enforced within 48 hours of instruction by serving it on the two barristers involved in the case as they were about to negotiate a settlement outside of the court doors.
• Successfully defended a probate claim brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act on behalf of a national charity, involving complex and sensitive issues, including allegations of a same-sex relationship at a time when such relationships were not legally recognised.
• Negotiated a significant employment settlement on behalf of a client who had initially agreed to accept £350,000. Following strategic advice and further negotiation, the settlement was increased to £750,000, more than doubling the original figure.
• Acted in a professional negligence claim against a former solicitor, where the client had previously indicated to him she would not attend court. By advising and repositioning the client’s stance to demonstrate willingness to give evidence, the case was successfully settled two days before trial for a sum 15 times higher than the amount offered at mediation.

In his downtime, Clive enjoys cycling off-road, hill walking, golf, pickleball and socialising with his friends and family.