Mishcon de Reya has replaced Rosenblatt Solicitors on a High Court action against Zurich’s specialist property lender Dunbar Bank, now named Dunbar Assets.

Business owner Julia Davey has launched a countersuit against Dunbar, The Lawyer understands, after it filed a court petition to reclaim enforcement costs in relation to a prior liability.

The lawyer swap is the second on the case after Dunbar switched its representation from DLA Piper to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer last year.

DLA’s Lorinda Peasland was replaced by Freshfields partner Neil Golding.

Davey initially instructed Rosenblatt partner Anthony Field to lead the counterclaim, which is expected to make serious allegations about the bank’s handling of her account, but last week switched to Mishcon following a change in strategic direction of the claim.

Mishcon partner Michael Armstrong will continue to instruct Guildhall Chambers’ Stephen Davies QC, who was originally instructed by Field.

Davey’s case against Dunbar concerns a £16m loan advanced against the purchase and development of a residential tower in Canary Wharf, known as Angel House.

Dunbar called in the loan in 2012 together with a personal loan of £1.6m. The bank is claiming costs from Davey related to its pursuit of the personal guarantee.

While details of Davey’s countersuit have not been made public, Dunbar has faced a series of allegations in recent months over its pursuit of former customers that could be central to this latest High Court action, The Lawyer understands.

Dunbar Bank arranged for investigations and surveillance of small business owners when it decided to wind down its loan book, according to an investigation by the BBC in April. It has made over 70 individuals bankrupt since it decided to put its loan book into run off in 2011.

The owners of the failed businesses have accused Dunbar of abusing the insolvency regime and “ruthlessly” pursuing repayments as it called in loans.

The initial case management conference for Davey’s claim is booked for 15 October.

It is the second high-profile case involving Davey and her now defunct property business Angel Group to hit the High Court this year. In July The Lawyer revealed an application had been made to have CMS Cameron McKenna removed as the lawyers for two KPMG administrators over allegations the firm’s role represents a conflict of interest.

Davey made the application as part of her legal battle with the accountancy firm and Lloyds Bank, in which she claims the pair acted in collusion to put her business into insolvency. Hausfeld partner Antony Maton and silk Davies are representing Davey on the case.