Home office: London
Also works in: Bristol
Damian is an experienced litigator who is able to get positive results in a wide range of commercial and financial disputes on behalf of both private individuals and businesses
His financial services experience involves pension mis-selling, coverage disputes between advice firms and their Professional Indemnity insurers, and disputes between advice firms and networks. Damian frequently acts for finance brokers in disputes over arrangement fees arising out of the provision of senior and mezzanine finance.
He has expertise in commercial litigation which includes acting for clients in cases involving: breach of contract; professional negligence against solicitors, surveyors and financial advisers; and shareholder/director disputes.
Damian also has a keen interest in commercial disputes arising in the sporting arena, particularly motorsport. Damian is one of the few solicitors in the country who has represented clients before the National Court of Motorsport UK. Damian has also represented teams competing in British Touring Cars Championship and Formula E.
Damian was called to the Bar in 2009 before cross qualifying as a solicitor in 2012.
How Damian can help you
- Pension mis-selling claims, particularly involving transfers to SIPPs when the underlying investment is a Unregulated Collective Investment scheme.
- Coverage disputes between financial advice firms and their professional indemnity insurers, including 3rd party claims against the insurers if the advice firm has become insolvent.
- Disputes between financial advisers and introducers or networks.
- Professional negligence claims involving solicitors, surveyors, architects, and financial advisers
- Contractual claims
- Commercial motorsport disputes, including acting for drivers is sporting standards issues.
- Director and shareholder disputes.
Experience
- Acted for an independent financial advice firm based in Wales in a coverage dispute with its professional indemnity insurer valued at in excess of £1.4m
- Acted for a Formula E team in a dispute with its main sponsor over a failure to pay sponsorship fees in excess of €4m.
- Represented an independent financial advice firm in a judicial review application to challenge a decision of the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- Acted for a finance broker in the recovery of arrangement fees in excess of £350k arising out the arrangement of a £30m bond.
- Representing a racing driver before the National Court of Motorsport UK on a driving standards issue
Recommendations
Damian Pitts is knowledgeable, capable and diplomatic.
The Legal 500, 2022
Clients praise (Damian) Pitts for ‘clear, concise and timely advice combined with decisive action’.
The Legal 500, 2021
We engaged Damian at Clarke Willmott to advise in a dispute involving one of our customers, where a significant sum of money was owed, but where there were also disagreements regarding the contractual terms. Damian’s advice helped us make pragmatic decisions regarding our approach, such that result was inline with our expectations. Based on our experience we couldn’t recommend Damian highly enough.
UK Business Owner, 2025
Articles by Damian
Financial services litigation
Financial litigation trends in 2023
In the article we take a look at some of the possible types of financial services claims which might start to trouble the Courts in 2023.
Read more on Financial litigation trends in 2023
Financial services litigation
Clarke Willmott backs findings of British Steel Pensions poll
Our Financial Litigation team who are seeking compensation for victims of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) mis-selling scandal have welcomed the results of a poll that says the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) should not be tasked with providing a guaranteed income for those affected.
Read more on Clarke Willmott backs findings of British Steel Pensions poll