Two senior litigation specialists are teaming up to set up a London boutique with a focus on corporate, insolvency and banking disputes.

Keidan Harrison will open for business in May, led by name partners Luke Harrison, head of commercial litigation at Debenhams Ottaway, and Marc Keidan, a name partner at the boutique Cooke Young & Keidan (CYK).

Harrison said the aim was to offer a “disruptive” service specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration, principally in high-value contractual corporate, insolvency and banking and finance disputes. 

He said both he and Keidan had worked together in the past – describing him as a friend and mentor. 

The duo aim to build up strong team of associates and practice from a competitive cost base – both Keidan and Harrison’s former firms have made use of litigation funding and the new firm is expected to follow suit.

The firm will compete against fellow boutiques such as London’s Enyo Law and Signature Litigation, US commercial claimant litigation firms such as Hausfeld and Scott & Scott, and silver circle UK firms including Mishcon de Reya.

In a LinkedIn post Keidan said: “I’m naturally excited to be embarking on this new venture together with Luke, who is someone I have known for many years and admire greatly for what he has achieved to date with his current firm.”

Keidan is known for his work in relation to commercial and banking litigation claims, including LIBOR-related cases, having litigated against Deutsche Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland in the past, while also leading CYK’s India practice. 

Keidan announced his departure while on sabbatical from CYK, which he co-founded with Gerald Cooke and Philip Young in 2009.

Harrison, who led a 20-strong litigation team at Debenhams Ottaway, said he expected to maintain ties with his old firm.

Harrison will be succeeded by Juliet Schalker as head of litigation.

She said: “As everyone who knows him can vouch, [Luke] is a unique, ebullient person with abundant energy and creative ideas. We are sure he will make a great success of his venture and we wish him all the very best.”