National law firm Ashfords has appointed Tom Llewellyn as a partner in the firm’s commercial disputes team in Bristol.
Tom, pictured, joins from Bath-headquartered regional law firm RWK Goodman, where he was a partner in its dispute resolution team for nearly three years. 
Prior to that he worked at DAC Beachcroft in Bristol for jut under 12 years, rising from a trainee to a senior associate in commercial dispute resolution.
His work focuses on the financial services, tech and energy sectors and he regularly acts on matters relating to outsourced services contracts, IT contracts, distribution agreements, warranty claims, shareholder disputes, insurance disputes and professional negligence claims.
Tom also has particular specialisms in urgent injunctive relief, fraud and contentious data protection.
He has worked on several notable cases, including a high-profile breach of confidence claim for a leading insurance broker which set a precedent for the interim deletion of misappropriated confidential information.
Tom said: “I’m looking forward to working with the experienced Ashfords team and using my expertise to help continue to deliver an exceptional service for clients.
“It’s an exciting time to join the firm as it looks to further grow and deliver more for clients and colleagues.”
Ashfords head of commercial disputes Andrew Perkins added: “Tom joins us at a very interesting time for the commercial dispute world.
“A period of healthy commercial activity and the clearance of COVID-imposed delays within the judicial system has led to a particularly busy period with a buoyant market likely for the foreseeable future.
“Shareholder, finance and insurance disputes appear to be on the increase and the area of data rights and data breaches continues to be a rapidly expanding market where Tom will lead.
“Along with this, 2023 sees the introduction of the Fixed Recoverable Costs regime affecting lower-value claims and this will radically alter the way this type of work is conducted, we’re looking forward to working with our clients in this area.”
Ashfords’ commercial disputes and regulatory team works with local, national and international clients providing advice on a variety of legal issues from data, health & safety and environmental regulation through to cases relating to shareholder litigation, finance and joint ventures, debt, business transactions, professional negligence, and insurance litigation.
The team is ranked tier 1 in the latest Legal 500 directory while head of commercial disputes Andrew Perkins is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers & Partners.
Ashfords also has offices in Exeter, London, Taunton and Plymouth.
