Blake Lapthorn set for High Court fight over £300K claim

Blake Lapthorn set for High Court fight over £300K claim" />Blake Lapthorn (now Blake Lapthorn Linnell) is being sued in the High Court for professional negligence for a sum in excess of £300,000.

Former client Maris Marine is suing Blake Lapthorn for allegedly failing to comply with time limits, drafting requirements and procedures relevant to its instruction as competent arbitration lawyers.

Blake Lapthorn advised Maris Marine (formerly the Gosport Marina) in adjudication and then arbitration proceedings against contractor JT Mackley & Co and engineeer Posford Haskoning.

However, Maris Marine alleges that Blake Lapthorn failed to comply with the three-month time limit set out in the contract between Maris Marine and Mackley.

A spokesperson for Blake Lapthorn said: "The claim will be strongly defended and it is in the hands of our solicitors."

In the particulars of claim, Maris Marine states that the Notice to Refer the dispute to arbitration was declared invalid in the Technology and Construction Court because it was filed too late. The claim also states that an earlier Notice was declared invalid as it did not refer to contractual preconditions for serving it.

Because the dispute could not be referred to arbitration, Maris Marine claims it was not able to institute arbitration proceedings and claim damages from Mackley and Haskoning totalling £498,666.

White & Bowker is representing Maris Marine.