News | Alternative Dispute Resolution

Saturday 1st May 2004

Craig Pollack has been appointed to head of SJ Berwin's Litigation department from 1 May 2004. Described by The Chambers Directory as a "blunt speaker whose drive is tempered with an openness to negotiation" and billed as "brilliant" in the same publication, 41 year old Craig is Southern African by background. He practised in Israel before joining SJ Berwin in September 1991, becoming a partner in 1997. Craig quickly developed a reputation as a tough, no nonsense litigator and has a wealth of experience in all forms of commercial dispute resolution, particularly mediation and financial services related litigation.

Craig Pollack said "I'm looking forward to the challenge of continuing to move the litigation practice forward in the post Woolf era. We are in a changing environment where litigators have to be light on their feet and adapt fast and we think that's our strong suit."

Craig has always worked closely with our current head of department, Tim Taylor and the pair were described by the Legal 500 as the "Dynamic Duo" of Litigation.

Tim Taylor now plans to concentrate his energies on building the firm's International Arbitration practice, recently complemented by the hire of up and coming Russian arbitration specialist David Goldberg. Tim Taylor commented: "After seven years leading a group it feels like a good time to move with the "itch" and take up a new challenge. My whole career has been about International Dispute Resolution and in recent years the arbitration content has been going up and up. Now we want to build a specialist cadre with a range of experience right across this international spectrum. Watch this space…….."

Murray Rosen QC of 11 Stone Buildings said "Pollack and Taylor have really personified the tough and creative approach to litigation that Berwin's pride themselves on. When Tim took on the role in 1997, Berwin's was known as a Corporate deals firm and only just on the map for litigation, now they are seen as a force to reckoned with. I shall be interested to see where this new dynamic takes them.

• SJ Berwin is a full-service international legal practice with more than 450 lawyers across its offices in London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Madrid and Paris.
• SJ Berwin has a reputation as a leading international commercial litigation and dispute resolution practice. The firm is involved in litigation and dispute resolution across a variety of forums, whether it be in the High Court of England or courts in other jurisdictions, in international arbitrations or in mediation or other forums of ADR.
• The work carried out is representative of the firm's commercial and international client base. In addition to servicing clients from all of the firm's other departments, the litigation fee earners act for many litigation-only clients in a variety of complex matters. A diverse industry emphasis includes: banks, venture capitalists, insurers, and insurance brokers, pharmaceuticals, computer and hi-tech industries, property and hotel groups, media and sports related industries (including individuals), acting for clients before regulatory bodies such as the FSA, gaming and betting, financial intermediaries and professionals.