Linklaters is gearing up to defend itself in court after a $55m (£25m) negligence claim was brought by a former client in one of the largest cases against a top UK law firm in recent times.

The magic circle firm is preparing for a 20-day trial in the High Court next January over claims it gave negligent advice to Baltic telecoms company Levicom.

Linklaters was instructed to advise Levicom in 2000 over a dispute with telecoms company Tele2 AB. Levicom claims Linklaters' advice on the dispute led to an arbitration in 2004, rather than a settlement on favourable terms.

The company claims Linklaters advised it that its case had a 70% chance of success if it were to go to arbitration, but at a later date reduced that to 50%. It says that, based on Linklaters' advice, it turned down three settlement offers.

According to the claim form, which was initially filed in October 2006 but was amended in April this year, Levicom is claiming damages for 'the lost opportunity to negotiate a more advantageous settlement'. It is also seeking an uplift of at least 10%, bringing the minimum claim value to $55m (£25m).

Levicom is also demanding legal costs of £1.7m from Linklaters, which it alleges would have been avoided if an earlier settlement had been reached.

Manches litigation partner Andrew Shaw is advising Levicom, with 4 New Square's Justin Fenwick QC instructed as counsel. Linklaters has instructed Clyde & Co litigation partner Conrad Walker, with Fountain Court's Stephen Moriarty QC brought in as counsel.

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