Inside My Day – Behind The Scenes with Escalate’s Steve Rose

Back in 2021, I shared a glimpse into my day-to-day life at Escalate. At the time, my biggest challenge outside of work was adjusting to life with a newborn daughter. Fast forward four years, and that tiny whirlwind has just started school! It’s a reminder of how quickly time flies – not just in family life, but in the fast-paced world of dispute resolution.

As for Tranmere Rovers? Well, let’s just say they continue to keep their fans grounded. But hey, there’s always next season!

Escalate’s return to the office

Like many professional service firms, we made the transition back to full-time office working in 2024. While remote and hybrid working had their benefits, being back in the office has brought a renewed sense of focus. For me, a typical day involves making key decisions about case strategies, managing our investments in cases, and ensuring that the delivery of results meets the high standards we’re known for.

Of course, there’s more to office life than just work. Having everyone back means quicker collaboration, more spontaneous conversations – and more pairs of hands to help make the tea! (Though the quality of the brews is still up for debate.) Being able to get a second opinion on a case referral that’s just come in for example saves lots of virtual back and forth – and is invaluable at Escalate where collaboration is key.

These high standards are reflected in our Review Solicitors rating, where we proudly maintain a perfect score of 5/5. It demonstrates the trust and satisfaction of our clients and reinforces our commitment to achieving the very best outcomes.

Steve’s standout Escalate Law cases

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working on multiple high-value and complex disputes. Some of the cases that stand out include:

1. Contract breach and unpaid invoices – £385,000 recovery
   A company providing home care services entered into an agreement with a local authority to deliver short-term transition care. Despite fulfilling their contractual obligations, the company discovered that they had under-invoiced and subsequently issued additional invoices to address the shortfall. The local authority refused to pay the outstanding amount, resulting in a breach of contract.
   We intervened, initiated proceedings, and successfully negotiated a settlement. The local authority ultimately paid the unpaid invoices and compensation for the breach of contract, with the final amount exceeding the client’s expectations. The case was resolved in less than four months after issuing the claim, and highlighted our ability to deliver results in challenging circumstances, ensuring the client’s financial interests were protected.
2. Director misfeasance – £450,000 claim
   Another notable case involved a £450k claim against a director accused of misfeasance and breaches of fiduciary duty. We managed this case through complex insolvency law issues, ensuring the director was held accountable and the client recovered significant losses.
3. Intellectual property and unpaid invoices – £120,000 settlement
   A global marketing agency approached us to recover £120,000 in unpaid invoices and address the unauthorised use of their proprietary code. Through our legal expertise and a practical approach, we ultimately secured a settlement that compensated the client and safeguarded their valuable IP.

These cases reflect the variety of challenges we’re able to tackle at Escalate and the high stakes involved in delivering tailored solutions. Strategic thinking combined with our commitment to results is what makes this job rewarding.

The Future of Dispute Resolution

The dispute resolution landscape is evolving, with innovations like AI beginning to play a role in shaping how disputes are managed. While AI offers the potential for streamlining processes and improving efficiency, it’s no substitute for sound judgement, experience, and personal service that only people can deliver. 

For me, staying at the forefront of these developments is essential, and on a personal level, I’m working towards becoming a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management. My intention is to help shape the future of the credit and collections industry, ensuring it continues to prioritise both innovation and the human touch.

How Escalate Law work with partner firms

Over the past few years, we’ve expanded our network significantly, working with Debt Collection Agencies, insolvency practitioners, and law firms. Escalate’s unique approach combines legal expertise, case funding, and adverse cost protection, ensuring partners can help their clients pursue justice without facing financial uncertainty.

Our solution is designed to take the pressure off businesses, offering end-to-end support from pre-litigation through to recovery. Whether it’s an undisputed debt or a contested claim of up to £2 million, our model ensures clients can focus on achieving the best outcome while we handle the risks and complexities.

What’s to come in 2025…

From making critical investment decisions to seeing cases through to resolution, every case brings new challenges, and it’s a privilege to be part of a firm that delivers real value to businesses. In some situations it can make the difference between survival and insolvency.

As for 2025, I’m looking forward to building on our successes, helping more clients achieve their goals, and – who knows – maybe even seeing Tranmere have their day in the sun. (Here’s hoping!)

If your business has been affected by any of the issues raised, or if you need some advice on tackling a commercial dispute or late payment, please get in touch with us or one of our partner firms.