Mateusz Sikorski

Mateusz is a Trainee Solicitor at IMD Corporate, assisting businesses, directors, shareholders and individuals with commercial and contractual disputes and other contentious matters. His work includes disputes arising from contractual breaches, defective goods and services, construction projects, shareholder relationships, unpaid commercial debts and regulatory enforcement.

Fluent in English and Polish, Mateusz regularly assists Polish-owned businesses operating in the UK, UK-based entrepreneurs and international clients involved in disputes governed by English law. Mateusz takes a practical and commercially focused approach to dispute resolution. He recognises that litigation is rarely an objective in itself and focuses on understanding clients’ objectives, assessing the available evidence and risks, and identifying proportionate routes to achieving commercially sensible outcomes.

Mateusz assists with a broad range of commercial and contractual disputes, including breach of contract, defective goods and services, contractual performance and termination, disputed liabilities and claims for damages. His experience covers the full lifecycle of a dispute, from reviewing contractual obligations, assessing the merits of potential claims and developing pre-action strategies through to settlement negotiations, mediation, court proceedings, disclosure, witness evidence, hearings and enforcement. His work has included a high-value dispute concerning a £4 million industrial bottling line, in which the purchaser advanced an £11 million claim arising from alleged defects and associated losses. The matter involved complex technical issues, cross-border evidence and consideration of expert evidence.

Mateusz has developed particular experience in construction disputes, including payment and valuation disagreements, defective works claims, unpaid retentions, final account disputes, contractual deductions and adjudication.

He has assisted in an adjudication involving a claim exceeding £3.3 million and a counterclaim exceeding £3 million, requiring detailed consideration of contractual obligations, valuations and substantial documentary evidence.

His experience also includes assisting a contractor in a disputed contractual claim that concluded with the recovery of approximately £190,000 through settlement, as well as construction litigation involving expert evidence, substantial defects allegations, security for costs issues and preparations leading up to a trial.

Mateusz assists shareholders, directors and business owners in disputes arising from the ownership, management and control of companies. His experience includes disputes concerning shareholder agreements, compulsory share transfers, company valuations, directors’ loan accounts and duties, director removals and the breakdown of business relationships. He has assisted in a shareholder dispute concerning interests in two businesses, involving negotiations that resulted in a settlement of £155,000 plus costs shortly before trial.

Mateusz assists businesses and individuals with commercial debt recovery, disputed liabilities and enforcement, including assessing recovery prospects, preparing pre-action correspondence and pursuing court proceedings where necessary. His experience includes statutory demands, winding-up proceedings and enforcement against assets and income, including matters with a cross-border element. His experience includes assisting with the preparation of a winding-up petition arising from a commercial debt exceeding US$270,000.

Mateusz also has experience in contentious insolvency matters involving directors, creditors and insolvency practitioners, including disputes concerning alleged breaches of directors’ duties, misfeasance, preferences and transactions at an undervalue.

His approach takes account of the commercial realities of recovery, including debtor solvency, enforcement prospects and the proportionality of further legal action.

Mateusz has developed experience assisting international haulage and transport businesses in matters involving UK Border Force, particularly the seizure and restoration of commercial vehicles and clandestine entrant civil penalties.

He has assisted clients in securing substantial reductions in penalties, including reducing one driver’s liability from £24,000 to £668 and reducing a haulage company’s liability from £40,000 to £20,000.

His work includes preparing detailed written representations, challenging the basis and proportionality of penalties and assisting businesses in securing the return of seized vehicles.

Mateusz also has experience in property ownership disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA), including matters concerning beneficial ownership, declarations of trust and competing claims to residential property interests.

He has assisted with reviewing ownership arrangements, preparing evidence, assessing settlement options and progressing Part 8 court proceedings in disputes between co-owners.

A significant proportion of Mateusz’s work involves disputes with an international dimension. He regularly assists overseas businesses, UK companies with international operations and individuals whose commercial interests extend across different jurisdictions. His experience includes disputes involving foreign parties, cross-border contractual relationships, overseas evidence and assets, and the practical challenges of pursuing or defending proceedings in England and Wales where international considerations arise. He is familiar with the additional procedural and commercial issues these matters can present, including questions of jurisdiction, service of proceedings abroad and cross-border enforcement.

As a fluent English and Polish speaker, Mateusz has particular experience working with Polish-owned businesses operating in the UK and Polish entrepreneurs involved in disputes governed by English law. He understands the importance of explaining unfamiliar legal procedures clearly, identifying the commercial implications of different courses of action and ensuring clients can make informed decisions throughout a dispute.

His approach combines an understanding of the English legal system with an appreciation of the practical challenges faced by businesses operating across borders, helping clients navigate complex disputes with clarity and confidence.

Mateusz obtained his LLB from the University of Liverpool before completing the LPC LLM at the University of Law in Manchester.

Before commencing his training contract, he also served as Head of Legal and Finance at the Poland 2.0 Foundation, a charity focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and strengthening connections between students, professionals and businesses.

Outside work, Mateusz enjoys cinema, particularly the work of Jim Jarmusch, Christopher Nolan and David Fincher. He also enjoys skiing, hiking and swimming, is an enthusiastic reader of fantasy and science fiction literature, and has a longstanding interest in classic rock and collecting vinyl records.