Ian McCombie is a partner in Gordons’ commercial litigation department.

Ian joined the firm at the end of 2011 having come to Leeds on qualifying in 1985 when he joined a well-known general practice, at which he became partner in 1988. He left to set up his own firm, McCombie & Co in 1994, specialising principally in commercial litigation. The practice grew significantly before eventually merging with a Sheffield firm in 2008.  He has a strong reputation for his thorough and commercial approach, his practical advice, and his tenacity in pursuit of the best outcome for the client.

The majority of Ian’s work involves contractual disputes, negligence claims, director and shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, and complex commercial litigation. Recent cases include an international arbitration with a California-based company, requiring 2 weeks of hearings in the US, successfully claiming millions of dollars in compensation for breach of a distributor agreement.

Passionate about ‘giving back’ to the legal community, he was instrumental in forming Leeds Legal – the UK’s first legal trade marketing body for a city – which has been promoting Leeds nationally and internationally for two years. As a strong ambassador, Ian has undertaken international trade delegations across Europe showcasing the best of Leeds’ legal talent as well as hosting delegations in the City. Gordons is a strong supporter of the Leeds Legal initiative.

Ian is also the editor of the region’s Leeds & Yorkshire Lawyer magazine and is a former President of the Leeds Law Society (2005/6). He is a regular contributor to Radio Leeds as a paper reviewer, has appeared as a legal commentator live on Sky News, has twice been invited as a guest on The Gadget Show, and regularly presents seminars on current legal topics and changes in the law.