Effective litigation - Advocacy by Gannons

At Gannons, we offer clients a level of continuity and efficiency that many firms cannot match. While most solicitors can only appear in the County Court, our solicitor advocate holds Higher Rights of Audience (HRA), allowing us to represent clients in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (the Higher Courts) without needing to instruct a barrister for those hearings. 

This approach ensures that your case is managed seamlessly from the outset through to the final hearing, offering both cost savings and strategic consistency – and potentially setting you up for a better outcome.

What is a solicitor advocate?

A solicitor advocate is a solicitor who has undertaken specialist advocacy training and assessment, granting them rights of audience in the Higher Courts. Solicitor advocates are typically highly experienced practitioners with substantial litigation experience. 

Using solicitor advocates  allows us to combine case preparation and advocacy within one integrated team, maintaining consistency and avoiding delays or duplication that can arise when multiple professionals are involved. 

How you will benefit

Our in-house advocacy service offers clients an efficient and commercially focused solution. You will benefit from:

1. Continuity of representation: Your solicitor advocate is involved from the moment instructions are taken, ensuring complete familiarity with the facts, documents and commercial context of your matter. From letter of claim through to trial, this continuity reduces the risk of misunderstandings and avoids the need to repeat your concerns to several different advisers.

1. Cost-effective litigation: Because we do not need to instruct a barrister for Higher Court hearings, clients avoid an extra layer of fees. This makes costs more predictable and avoids the double charging that can be a feature of engaging counsel. As most cases settle at some stage before trial, using a solicitor advocate makes it more likely your case can reach a commercially informed, negotiated settlement without the need to instruct a barrister.

1. Speed and responsiveness: Some matters (such as bankruptcy petitions, interim applications, data-theft issues and injunctive proceedings) move extremely quickly and may require court action within hours. As our solicitor advocate can appear in court personally, we avoid the delays involved in briefing counsel and can react immediately. 

1. Clear and direct communication: Your solicitor advocate prepares the case and conducts the hearings. Decisions can therefore be taken quickly and confidently, particularly in hearings where urgent client instructions are required. There is no back-and-forth between a solicitor and barrister, no delays in relaying advice and no risk of conflicting strategic advice. 

1. High-quality advocacy in and out of court: Solicitor advocates are trained and authorised to conduct advocacy at the highest level, with rights of audience identical to those of a barrister. This training informs every aspect of the case, from initial correspondence, through evidence gathering, preparing witness statements and developing trial strategy. Clients benefit from a qualified advocate working closely on every stage of the matter, without compromising on the quality expected of an experienced solicitor.

When do you need a solicitor advocate?

Solicitor advocates are especially valuable in contractual, commercial and shareholder disputes progressing in the Higher Courts, including the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales. These matters often involve multiple hearings over the life of the case, and having one dedicated advocate promotes continuity and efficiency.  

Even where parties chose to instruct a barrister for trial, most High Court claims involve several interim hearings focused on case management, budgeting and directions. These costs and case management conferences (CCMCs) are often dealt with by junior counsel, but in many cases the solicitor – who knows the case best – is ideally placed to present practical proposals to the judge. 

With a solicitor advocate, you are never obliged to brief a barrister, and you always retain the option of having your solicitor advocate appear whenever that is best for your case.

Why choose Gannons for representation?

Gannons offers a personalised, commercially astute litigation service supported by civil solicitor advocates. Gannons are highly familiar with the Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, and our office is located only a short distance from the Rolls Building, the main High Court centre for commercial, insolvency and property disputes. 

This combination allows matters to progress with clarity, speed and efficiency while keeping costs proportionate and predictable.

Where a specialist barrister would add real value, we will advise accordingly. However, for most commercial disputes, our solicitor advocate model provides a practical and effective solution that keeps you firmly in control of your case from start to finish.