Solicitor – Admitted 1996
“Andrew is shrewd, gives clear and concise advice, and provides good explanations to support his reasoning.”
“Andrew Baines, a star performer: pragmatic and constructive.”
“Andrew’s strengths include his pleasant, calm and unflustered manner, along with his very good technical knowledge.”
“Andrew Baines has excellent technical expertise and judgment, as well as an extremely personable manner and highly collaborative and constructive approach.”
“He has a keen sense of tactics and admirable negotiating skills”
Overview
I am the Head of Michelmores’ Specialist Real Estate team, and the leader of the Property Litigation team.
I have over 26 years’ experience of coming up with the answers to property-related problems, and helping clients fight, or navigate their way through them.
Clients particularly value my judgment, my negotiating skills, and my ability to resolve their disputes outside litigation. But when litigation is involved, my experience covers all forums: from mediation, to arbitration; expert determination, the property tribunals and court action. I have been involved in a number of notable, reported cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
I have a first-rate team of lawyers to assist me. We pride ourselves on delivering the highest standard of service, and pragmatic and constructive advice.
I am ranked in the independent legal guide, Chambers, for Real Estate Litigation, and I am a recommended lawyer for Property Litigation by the Legal 500.
Recent experience
Advising on all real property rights. The most commonly encountered are rights of way, rights of light, rights of drainage or water supply; nuisances such as flooding, subsidence, tree-damage, and noise; restrictive covenants, adverse possession and other land-ownership issues; and land registration disputes
Advising both developers and landowners on contractual issues, vacant possession strategies, title problems, overage disputes, and options and pre-emption agreements
Advising both business occupiers and landlords on all aspects of leasehold relationships, including: rent issues, service charge problems, disputes arising from alterations and improvements, telecommunications disputes, repairing obligations and dilapidations disputes, break options, statutory lease renewal and termination, forfeiture, the surrender of leases, contested assignments, and sureties and guarantees
Advising landlords and tenants on occupational agreements, assured and assured shorthold tenancies, long residential leasehold issues, rent and service charge problems and collection, contractual obligations, and the termination of tenancies
Advising on problems arising from secured lending on real property, mortgages and charges; dealing with receivers, administrations and liquidations in relation to business tenancies and development land; and company voluntary arrangements