Lynsey
Oakdene

Lynsey is a Director in our Dispute Resolution Team at Walker Morris.  Lynsey specialises in all aspects of commercial disputes and regularly advises on a wide range of matters. Supporting clients to work through complex disputes to achieve their commercial objectives, Lynsey has a great deal of experience in all forms of alternative dispute resolution and is an experienced trial/hearing lawyer.

Lynsey’s clients know her to be “unflappable”– something which is very useful when advising on the commercial contract disputes, warranty claims, shareholder and partnership disputes, defamation claims and professional negligence claims that make up her practice. Lynsey often advises clients on long term projects dealing with disputes which arise to manage their contracts and improve outcomes.

Lynsey’s expertise includes advising on PFI/PPP related disputes, Judicial Review and Procurement Law issues. Lynsey also provides non-contentious procurement advice and has particular experience in the Energy and Infrastructure sector, and is a member of Walker Morris’ specialist team for those areas.

Driven by strong relationships

Asked what she finds most rewarding about her work, Lynsey says, “I act for all kinds of clients, from large PLCs to successful individuals. I’m driven by having strong relationships with the people I work with: team members and clients”.

Lynsey acknowledges that disputes can be long and stressful, but by having a clear view of what a client feels a good outcome looks like, working out a strategy to achieve that aim, avoiding surprises and being clear about the legal position makes a huge difference. She says, “I love being part of the client’s team so that I can work through difficult waters with them, getting to know them and their business aims.”

“My focus is on getting the best commercial outcome for my client”

Lynsey’s approach to client work is direct and pragmatic: “I’ll fight as hard as my client needs me to get where they need to be and I’m firm, but fair with my opponents”. That said, Lynsey also believes that every dispute needs a bespoke approach from its lawyers, especially if it involves a long-term project or contract and it’s important to maintain the client’s relationship with their contracting partner. “I love a complex and messy legal problem, but my focus is really on getting the best commercial outcome for my client and on supporting them to deal with the strains of a dispute”.

As well as being a technically strong lawyer, Lynsey also forms strong and often long-term relationships with her clients and she is always very commercial and outcome driven. Describing her working style as calm, tenacious, supportive and open she notes that having trained at Walker Morris, her ethos mirrors that of the firm and she likes working as part of a team and supporting more junior members to develop their own careers. Lynsey is also part of the firm mentoring scheme.