Jo Wilson

Jo is a senior dispute resolution solicitor who helps businesses resolve commercial disputes efficiently and pragmatically.

Having qualified in 2010, Jo supports businesses through disputes that can have a significant financial and operational impact. She advises on a wide range of matters, including energy-supply issues, disputes arising from franchise agreements and commercial contracts, unpaid and disputed debts, defective building works, and disputes involving water and telecommunications suppliers.

Jo has particular expertise in energy disputes. She advises businesses on overbilling, the failure to apply back-billing rules properly, threatened disconnections, disputes with energy brokers and complaints referred to the Energy Ombudsman. She works quickly to understand the issues, challenge suppliers’ positions where appropriate and protect business continuity while the dispute is resolved.

Jo also acts in franchise disputes, helping businesses navigate disagreements arising during the life of a franchise relationship or following its breakdown. Her experience includes advising on contractual rights and obligations, disputed payments and the commercial issues that can arise when parties’ expectations differ.

In high-value disputed debt claims, Jo helps clients take a strategic and proportionate approach to recovering sums due or responding to disputed claims. She focuses on identifying the key issues early, assessing the available evidence and pursuing the route most likely to achieve a commercially worthwhile outcome.

Before joining Harper James, Jo spent six years at BLM LLP (now Clyde & Co), specialising in professional indemnity and property damage matters. She acted for major UK insurers, advising on policy coverage and defending claims brought against insured businesses and professionals. This experience gives her a strong understanding of how claims are assessed, defended and resolved.

Work highlights include:

• Resolving an energy-billing dispute for a business through the Energy Ombudsman, challenging a supplier’s demand for £45,000 and securing a reduction to £8,000 following a review of the account and disputed charges.
• Acting urgently where businesses face threatened energy disconnection, challenging disputed account balances and seeking to preserve continuity of supply while the underlying issues are investigated.
• Managing disputes with energy suppliers and brokers, including progressing complaints through the Energy Ombudsman where direct resolution has not been possible.
• Resolving a series of supplier disputes for a business, advising on contractual rights, supplier performance, pricing and payment issues to achieve practical resolutions and protect the client’s commercial relationships.
• Successfully acting for a school facing a significant claim from an energy broker for alleged lost commission, advising on the broker arrangement and contractual position to resolve the dispute and protect the school from substantial liability.
• Advising businesses in franchise disputes, including disagreements over contractual obligations, payments and the breakdown of franchise relationships.
• Acting in high-value disputed debt claims, helping businesses assess the merits of a claim, manage the evidence and pursue or defend proceedings in line with their commercial objectives.

“I take an open and collaborative approach to resolving disputes, ensuring clients understand their options and remain in control of the strategy. My focus is always on finding a practical solution that protects the business and achieves its commercial objectives.”

Outside work, Jo enjoys a wide range of sports, particularly running, netball and competing in triathlons, as well as long walks with her energetic Cocker Spaniel.