The best litigation strategies are not about the law. They are about your objectives.
Huw Wallis
Head of Disputes & Partner, Disputes
Huw Wallis is a standout senior disputes lawyer – calm, commercial and strategic.
Clients comment on his personable approach, trusting him to lead high-stakes litigation with clarity and confidence, always focused on achieving the client’s objectives. Educated at St John’s College, Cambridge and trained at Freshfields and White & Case, Huw brings heavyweight experience and clear-eyed judgment to every case.
He leads Greenwoods’ Disputes team across all offices, advising on complex litigation, shareholder disputes, injunctions and arbitration, in the UK and beyond. He is also a preferred partner for several global law firm litigation firms seeking a safe, expert pair of hands when conflicts arise, or where a personal, cost-effective approach is needed.
Whether navigating contentious shareholder disputes, enforcing high-value judgments, or managing complex commercial litigation, Huw brings clarity, confidence and strategic focus to every case. He is described in recent legal directories as “smart, very commercial” and “a great lawyer with lots of strategic input” – praise that reflects his ability to cut through complexity and focus on what really matters to clients.
Clients value Huw’s ability to see the bigger picture. He never gets lost in detail – instead, he uses it to build a clear path to the client’s goal. His litigation strategy is always purposeful, designed not just to win arguments but to achieve outcomes that support broader commercial objectives. He is particularly skilled at managing disputes where emotions run high and important commercial relationships are at stake, bringing a calm, measured approach that helps clients make confident decisions under pressure.
Huw’s experience means that he has developed longstanding referral relationships with lawyers and professionals across the UK and internationally. He is regarded as a valuable partner, particularly in situations where those firms are conflicted or where it is not cost-effective for them to be involved. These referrals often involve complex, high-value disputes, typically ranging from £1m to £50m, though many have exceeded that.
Huw also leads the team’s pricing strategies. Huw is experienced in structuring flexible fee arrangements, including damages-based agreements (DBAs) where appropriate. His approach ensures clients receive strategic, high-quality advice with pricing that reflects their commercial realities.
Whether leading a team or acting as strategic counsel, Huw’s focus remains the same: to deliver clear, confident and realistic litigation strategies.
- Successfully advised a US company on an urgent challenge to a multi-million pound UK public tender award, resulting in its withdrawal without proceedings.
- Acting for a prominent individual in Formula 1 and related family companies in proceedings concerning the recovery of approximately £300m.
- Defending multiple high-profile data privacy claims brought against a major UK political party – widely reported in the national press.
- Acting in an £8m claim arising from alleged MTIC fraud.
- Advising on a £3m oil and gas sector claim for unpaid consultancy fees.
- Representing a client in financial services/FOS proceedings against a major bank following the Swiss Franc/Euro currency peg fallout.
- Leading unfair prejudice claims for both petitioners and respondents – including one involving the £100m sale of a construction business and another concerning a motor racing/property investment venture.
- Securing injunctive relief in diverse cases – from recovering a classic Ferrari (with follow-on proceedings in Australia) to the freezing of over £20m in assets against a number of defendants in the UK and USA as part of a fraudulent misrepresentations/conspiracy claim.
- Advising on a novel £2.5m Groceries Code claim against a major supermarket – the first of its kind.
- Supporting a majority shareholder and director in potential £10m claims against an international law firm for negligent advice on an employee benefits scheme.
Huw also leads Greenwoods’ work advising individuals who have received loan repayment demands from West 28th Street Limited, bringing strategic oversight to disputes involving historic tax planning arrangements, enforceability and assignment issues.
If you’ve received a letter from West 28th Street Limited demanding repayment for an old loan, you’reprobably feeling confused and understandably worried.
These demand letters often arrive many years after the contractor loan or Employee Benefit Trust arrangements ended. The sums claimed may be significant, and the letter probably threatens legal action if payment is not made.
The key point to understand straight away is that receiving a demand does not automatically mean you have done something wrong, and it does not mean you must pay the sums demanded.
Greenwoods is helping people understand their options at this stage. While each person’s position needs to be assessed on its own facts, there can be practical advantages in identifying shared issues and, where appropriate, considering a coordinated way forward. This can help keep advice proportionate and cost‑effective, while still ensuring that guidance is tailored to individual circumstances.
Click here to find out more about how Greenwoods can help you.
Case studies
When does a DBA make sense for a commercial dispute?
Disputes / 18 May 2026