Martina Yvonne Shand v Mishcon De Reya LLP

Facts

Ms Shand, acting in person, was a client of Mishcon de Reya LLP between February 2013 and May 2016. During that time the firm acted for her in a 2012 action against the landlord under her lease, a St James company whose director, Mr Tony Pidgley, was Chair of the Berkeley Group. The fee earner, Mr Warren, handled the case negligently, and Mishcon admitted that negligence long ago. In the 2019 Action, Ms Shand sued Mishcon and nine others. She alleged, among other things, breach of fiduciary duty, deceit, negligence, an unlawful means conspiracy and a potential conflict of interest. She discontinued the conspiracy allegations against Mishcon, and the rest of that claim was settled when she accepted a Part 36 offer on 22 January 2021. On 26 September 2025 she issued the present claim against Mishcon and DWF, alleging breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy. After the November 2025 strike-out hearing, she relied on promotional videos of property events that Mishcon had co-hosted with the London Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr Pidgley was President. She then served Particulars of Claim against Mishcon alone, alleging an undisclosed "own interest conflict". By judgment of 18 February 2026, Cotter J struck the action out and declared it totally without merit. Mishcon applied under CPR 17.2 and/or CPR 17.4 to disallow the unauthorised amendments and for strike-out. Ms Shand applied to amend further and for permission to report matters to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. These applications came before the court at the adjourned consequentials hearing.