Ian Coupland, non-executive director and head of litigation at Adam Benedict.

Ian Coupland

Director (Non-Executive)
Head of Litigation

Ian is a Director (Non-Executive) and Head of Litigation at Adam Benedict, having previously been a Partner at 2 Top 200 Law Firms and also one of “The Times Best Law Firms”. He has over 35 years’ experience in dealing with all aspects of Business and Commercial Law, Employment, Insolvency, Litigation and Regulatory Law.

Ian is well known for his litigation expertise including heavyweight contractual and commercial disputes, civil fraud, insolvency and restructuring, injunctions, partnership disputes, debt collection, professional negligence, and property disputes. Ian issued the first action in the North East Mercantile Court relating to a multi-jurisdictional delivery of goods dispute and has lectured extensively on property litigation matters to fellow professionals.

Ian Coupland's LinkedIn Profile

What Can Ian Help You With?

“…an amazing individual who is always reliable, trustworthy and is very professional. I have no hesitation in recommending Ian.”

Things you need to know about Ian

Hull City supporter | A keen gardener | Most importantly; very proud dad and grandpa!

Articles featuring Ian Coupland
Professional Discipline and Regulatory Investigation Solicitors
Professional Discipline and Regulatory Investigation Solicitors

Regulatory investigations can move quickly, and the way you respond at the outset can shape the entire direction of the matter. We advise professionals, directors, businesses and regulated individuals on regulatory investigations, disciplinary proceedings and strategic responses to regulatory pressure.

Served with a Freezing Order in the UK: What Should You Do Next?
Served with a Freezing Order in the UK: What Should You Do Next?

If you have the misfortune to be on the receiving end of the legal broadside that is a freezing order, the likelihood is that the Order itself will be many pages long and will have been formally delivered to you with hundreds of pages of supporting evidence and exhibited documents. You need expert legal advice, and fast.

Freezing Orders in the UK: How to Stop a Debtor Hiding or Moving Assets
Freezing Orders in the UK: How to Stop a Debtor Hiding or Moving Assets

If you move fast, all is not lost. One of the law’s most powerful remedies is the freezing injunction. The Court can freeze an individual or corporate debtor’s assets so they cannot readily be…

  • "Ian is a top-notch commercial and property litigator. He always manages expectations and advises clearly and unambiguously from the outset of any matter, essential in commercial litigation where one has to determine whether the matter is 'worth' pursuing. He is one of a rare breed of truly 'commercially thinking' litigators and we would not want to go into any contentious matter without Ian onboard."

    — Daniel Cohen, Councillor and Lawyer

    Previously Managing Director and Head of Legal at Madison Hosiery Ltd.

  • "Ian is an amazing individual who is always reliable, trustworthy and is very professional. I have no hesitation in recommending Ian as I believe whatever he undertakes he does with passion and integrity."

    — Martin Port, Founder and CEO

    Build Concierge (previously Founder and CEO of BigChange and Masternaut)

  • "Ian is an excellent litigator. He has tremendous ability to master large data sets whilst keeping his eye on the ball. He is thorough, efficient, flexible and above all highly experienced in both civil and regulatory disputes."

    — Jeremy Barnett, Head of Regulatory

    St Pauls Chambers

  • "I regard Mr Coupland very highly...Mr Coupland has the ability to take his clients with him...From the perspective of the Bar, Mr Coupland is a pleasure to work for..."

    — Simon Myerson, K.C

    Byrom Street Chambers

  • "Mr Coupland is, in my view, an outstanding solicitor. He has an excellent grasp of the areas of law in which he has instructed me, as I have discovered in discussing our cases together. Articulate and proactive, he has also an acute tactical awareness, and is always prepared to go the extra mile in advancing his clients' interests. He is tenacious in those interests, hardworking and very efficient, whilst always prepared to consider resolution of disputes on his behalf..."

    — Victor Joffe, K.C

    Temple Chambers, Hong Kong

    • Hymers College, Hull

    • Nottingham Tent University

    • College of Law, Chester

  • Director and Head of Commercial & Litigation, Lewis Nedas Law

    • Previously Partner at two top-200

    • Law firms Cited as a notable lawyer by the Legal 500, 2022 edition

  • Published decisions include:

    • Lawtex Nursery Products Ltd –v- Mothercare Ltd (Leeds Mercantile Court, 2003): Dispute about whether clip-on parasols for pushchairs were of the contractually specified quality.

    • ICM Computer Group plc –v- Micro-Peripherals Ltd & others (Court of Appeal 2004): Acting for a quoted computer company in dispute with suppliers over their computer hardware delivery obligations

    • Microsoft –v- ICM Computer Group plc (2004): Assisting a company which had unknowingly purchased counterfeit computer software

    • ICM Computer Group plc –v- Jayhard Ltd (2004): Acting for a computer supplier which was alleged to have supplied non-performing software.

    • Flowrite v Masternaut (2005): £1m claim for breach of contract resulting from a failure to pay for goods supplied, the Defendant claiming that the goods were unfit for purpose.

    • E Williams, S Williams, P Carter and D Maxwell. Law Soc Gazette 27.9.12 SRA Regulatory issue. ARP non-payment. Small fines due ro exceptional circumstances,

    • Harris and Co. Law Soc Gazette 4.1.13 SRA Intervention

    • Ramasamy. Law Soc Gazette 11.3.16 Challenge to SRA Intervention.

    • Successfully acted for an Estate Agent company in a 6 day Trial against former Partner who tried to take both clients and approx. £300K worth of income for work done and obtained an Indemnity costs order.

    • Successfully acted for one of the largest UK Logistics companies in a 3 day Trial to recover approx. £200K from a Customer for breach of contract.

    • Successfully acted for a Solar Panel company in a 3 day Trial recovering approx. £150K from its agent who had tried to get payment direct from the Customer.

    • Acted for a Biomedical Engineering company in a £7m breach of contract claim again an American worldwide manufacturing company which has involved both Medication and High Court proceedings.

    • Acted for the Founder and Main Shareholder of a company in a £15m Employment and Share Valuation dispute.

    • Acting for an Investor who is seeking to recover approx. £400K paid to a company based on misrepresentations which included an application for pre-action disclosure to the High Court.

    • Acted for a Commercial Landlord in London seeking to recover approx. £500K from Tenant and Personal Guarantors.

    • Acted for Commercial Landlord in Squatter Proceedings.

    • Acted for Commercial Tenant in Dilapidations Claim.

    • Acted for Freehold Company in Central London in Forfeiture Proceedings against the Leaseholder.

    • Acted for a Commercial Scaffolding company in opposing Possession Proceedings brought by its Landlord.

    • Acting for a Central London Residential Tenant in dispute with Landlord over License to Alter.

    • Acted for a Dubai based company in a property dispute with UK Trustee in Bankruptcy.

    • Acted for a Saudi Arabian based family in Probate dispute in relation to UK assets.

    • Acted for US based service providers in chasing monies due from UK company.

    • Acted for a UK company in dispute with Australian based IT service provider.

    • Acted for a Textile Company in professional negligence claim against financial advisors and negotiations with HMRC.

    • Acted for an individual in professional negligence against a Solicitors firm over the failure to be given proper independent legal advice.

    • Acted for the main Shareholder and Creditor in putting a Bathroom and Kitchen company into administration.

    • Acted for Minority Shareholder in Unfair Prejudice Claim

    • Acted for a Legal Charge holder to appoint a Receiver to recover monies due.

    • Acted for an ex-wife in Bankruptcy Proceedings against former husband.

    • Acted for Directors in Insolvency Service investigation relating to failed company.

    • Acted for Executor in conduct claims brought by Beneficiary.

    • Acting for a Canadian company who is claiming the return of £350K wrongly paid by an FX company to an unauthorised 3rd party.

    • Acting for one of the Partners in a long running Property Partnership dispute.

    • Acting for a Professional Firm in relation to delivery up of documents claim by a Trustee in Bankruptcy.

    • Acting for Finance Company against Administrators in dispute to enforce its Security in the region of £10m

    • Acting for Minority Shareholders in £10m breach of warranty dispute following sale of business

    • Acting for Owner of multi million pound residential property in Arbitration Proceedings against supplier of bespoke high value doors.

    • Acting for long term Partner of Deceased in Inheritance Dispute matter

    • Acting for Business Partner in high value Quantum Meruit Claim against Company for work done.

    • Acting for Professional Firm in Partnership Dispute