Witan

Witan Solicitors is a specialist litigation firm with a history tracing back to 1986, when John Cato commenced his legal training as a solicitor in Lincolns Inn. The firm, known as Cato Solicitors until the autumn of 2022, was initially established by John Cato as a sole trader in Northamptonshire in 2003, providing services to individuals and companies. After a period, John Cato re-established Cato Solicitors under its current legal identity in 2013, continuing to lead the practice until his retirement as a Director in 2022. The firm subsequently rebranded as Witan Solicitors.

The company operates as Witan Solicitors Limited and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, with SRA number 605789. The firm's purpose is to provide wise counsel and advice to its clients in their legal affairs. The name "Witan" draws inspiration from Anglo-Saxon times, when the Witan was a council of wise and educated individuals convened to advise the King on significant matters affecting the country. Witan Solicitors aims to embody this tradition by offering commercially focused legal advice and pursuing strategic litigation to achieve client success.

The firm's vision is to redefine dispute resolution by empowering businesses and individuals with commercially astute insights and unwavering determination, guiding them through the complexities of litigation with integrity. Witan Solicitors is committed to a client-centric approach, ensuring a laser focus on client objectives. The firm utilises its combined legal knowledge and experience, spanning decades, alongside legal technology, to deliver legal services that aim to achieve client objectives in a timely and cost-effective manner. The firm's distinctive qualities include client-centred litigation experience, where clients regularly work directly with the solicitor managing their case.

It also prioritises efficient and transparent delivery by avoiding unnecessary overheads and leveraging legal technology to maximise value. Witan Solicitors provides strategic, results-focused advice, combining rigorous legal analysis with commercial clarity and tactical courtroom advocacy. The firm's core practice areas are extensive, primarily focusing on litigation. These include commercial disputes, encompassing breach of contract, construction litigation, director/shareholder and partnership conflicts, insolvency and winding-up petitions, probate and trust litigation, professional negligence, property and landlord/tenant disputes, and urgent injunction applications.

Additionally, Witan Solicitors maintains a well-established family and employment law offering, which constitutes approximately a third of its practice. Family law services cover divorce and separation, child arrangements, cohabitation and unmarried partner rights, financial settlements, and cross-border family disputes. Employment law advice extends to both employers and employees on matters such as unfair and wrongful dismissal, workplace discrimination, redundancy, TUPE, restrictive covenants, shareholder/employee issues, and settlement agreements. Witan Solicitors serves a diverse client base, including SMEs, high-net-worth individuals, and corporate clients across the Midlands, London, Northampton, and nationally.

The firm operates from offices located in Birmingham, Northampton, and London, providing accessible, high-quality litigation advice across key UK business hubs and the wider Midlands. While Witan Solicitors offers a broad spectrum of legal services, including commercial property disputes and landlord and tenant issues, the firm's primary focus is on specialist litigation across various legal disciplines. Information regarding specific experience or a dedicated focus on the UK PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation) sector is not detailed within the available company content.