Gary Pitt

Gary is a Commercial Dispute Resolution Solicitor and Partner based in Leicester, where he deals with a wide range of legal matters including commercial litigation, shareholder disputes and restrictive covenant disputes.

He has significant experience in a broad range of commercial disputes, including:

• Breach of contract disputes
• Restrictive covenant disputes, including protecting businesses when employees leave and enforcing non-compete clauses
• Warranty claims
• Injunctive applications
• Business disputes between shareholders
• Companies Act applications

Gary has particular expertise in advising businesses in the food and beverage sector, and offers dispute support and strategic advice to a number of household named clients as well as challenger brands in the space. He is experienced in advising on the Groceries Supply Code of Practice, and matters concerning the Groceries Code Adjudicator.  

He also works alongside the employment team at Howes Percival, both enforcing and defending claims of breach of restrictive covenant. Gary has a busy practice in this area, and has significant experience in seeking and defending applications for injunctive relief, including springboard injunctions.  

Alongside the traditional ‘litigation’ approach, Gary embraces ‘dispute resolution’ as a wider practice and often offers strategic advice to clients before disputes arise. He has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation, and has led mediations both in person and remotely. He is regarded as a thought leader in this area and has spoken on panels and podcasts about mediation tactics.  

Key Experience

Some of Gary’s leading cases include:

1. Advising the Secretary of State for Business and Trade in proceedings against Alexander ‘Lex’ Greensill under the Directors Disqualification Act;
2. Securing a £1,000,000 judgment following a 4 day trial in the Royal Courts of Justice;
3. Advising an education establishment facing claims from more than 30 ex-employees;
4. Advising on adjudication proceedings in front of the Groceries Code Adjudicator; and
5. Advising on a significant unfair prejudice claim, where assets were being diverted by an errant director. The claim was settled at mediation.

Gary joined Howes Percival in 2019, having qualified as a solicitor in 2015.

• 2025 - Present: Howes Percival LLP, Partner
• 2023 - 2025: Howes Percival LLP, Director
• 2020 - 2023: Howes Percival LLP, Senior Associate
• 2019 - 2020: Howes Percival LLP, Associate
• 2018 - 2019: Pertemps Network Group, In-House Solicitor
• 2015 - 2018: Spearing Waite LLP, Solicitor (Commercial Litigation)
• 2013 - 2015: Spearing Waite LLP, Trainee Solicitor
• 2011 - 2012: Legal Practice Course, The University of Law, Bristol
• 2008 - 2011: LLB, University of Leicester