When Supply Chains Break: what you can actually do insights from LIDW25 + how Gilson Gray LLP helps clients stay in control

Iain Clark attended London International Disputes Week 2025, follow his thought leadership series where he provides insight to key sessions throughout the week, key takeaways and what they mean for dispute resolution practitioners in Scotland. 

Global supply chains are under pressure like never before – wars, tariffs, ESG rules, even cyberattacks. For many businesses, that means real-time disruption and tough decisions.

At LIDW25’s panel, “International Rescue  What You Can Do If Global Supply Chains Break Down,” legal and in-house leaders shared strategic advice: most disputes come down to money, timing, and leverage.

“Suppliers can’t absorb inflation. Customers can’t take on cost increases. No one wants to trigger a contract termination that takes 18 months and £15m to unwind.”Richard Bielby-Wright, Head of Legal, Aston Martin

In sectors like automotive and manufacturing, the supply chain is especially fragile. Proprietary tooling, single-source suppliers, safety-critical parts – when something breaks, the impact is immediate.

At Gilson Gray LLP we help clients avoid breakdowns, enforce contracts, and renegotiate from a position of strength. Here’s what’s working now:

• Interim Relief: We secure urgent court or arbitral orders to compel supply and prevent stoppages. These are enforceable – often with penal consequences – and give clients leverage in renegotiation.
• Specific Performance: Where damages aren’t enough – e.g. with niche components or time-sensitive goods – clients can obtain orders requiring delivery. Courts are increasingly open to this remedy, especially in commercial contexts.
• Strategic Litigation: Litigation is often a tool, not an endpoint. It shows seriousness, drives board-level engagement, and gets suppliers to the table.

“Getting the interim order is often enough. You don’t need to go the full distance, it’s the leverage that matters.” – Bielby-Wright

• Dispute-Ready Contracts: We draft resilient contracts that account for price volatility, ESG, and geopolitical risk. That includes jurisdiction clauses tailored to enforcement realities—whether UK litigation, SIAC arbitration for Chinese suppliers, or LCIA arbitration seated in London or Scotland.

What should you be doing now?

• Stress-test your contracts: Do they cover inflation, ESG, and political risk?
• Assess your leverage: Could you get an interim order if supply stopped tomorrow? Could you enforce it abroad?
• Act early: Once production halts, your options shrink. Early intervention preserves outcomes and relationships.
• Choose your remedy wisely: Confidential arbitration or public court action? We help you choose based on real leverage and enforcement potential.

At Gilson Gray LLP we combine commercial litigation, international arbitration, and business insight. Whether it’s urgent relief, tough renegotiation, or proactive risk management, we help you stay in control when the stakes are high.

Let’s talk. Whether your issue is live, looming or latent.

To discuss any of the points raised further, please contact him below or a member of our Litigation team here.

The information and opinions contained in this blog are for information only.  They are not intended to constitute advice and should not be relied upon or considered as a replacement for advice.  Before acting on any information contained in this blog, please seek solicitor’s advice from Gilson Gray.