A litigation specialist is holding seminars for local businesses with advice on how to avoid and manage commercial and intellectual property disputes.

Baines Wilson, which has offices in Lancaster and Carlisle, has organised the events.

They will be hosted by litigation experts Elizabeth Black, Imogen Duck, intellectual property specialist Adam Turley and corporate partner, Jennifer Bell.

The seminars will cover the common areas of disputes between companies and within a company, discuss the protection that a shareholders agreement can provide and advise on intellectual property disputes.

Elizabeth said: “Disputes can be very costly and therefore devastating for businesses of all sizes.

“We’ll cover the steps businesses should take to avoid costly disputes, including looking at contractual documentation, properly drawn up terms and the importance of shareholder agreements.

“Through looking at high profile cases we’ll also explain what to do when a dispute does occur.

“We’ll also cover intellectual property disputes, what constitutes an intellectual property dispute and how to protect your IP.”

According to the Federation of Small Businesses, legal disputes cost small businesses more than £11.6 billion every year, with 70 per cent having faced at least one dispute in recent years.

The seminars will take place on Tuesday November 19 at The Shepherds and The Auctioneer, Carlisle, and on Tuesday November 26 at the Royal Kings Arms Hotel, Lancaster.

To book a place email Martha Winn at Baines Willson at m.winn@baineswilson.co.uk