Overview
I am a Partner in the Property Litigation team at Michelmores and act for a wide range of clients advising on a diverse mix of property related disputes and management issues.
I regularly act for commercial landlords and tenants including on lease renewals, dilapidations, service charge liability, break options, possession, rent review and forfeiture.
I also work closely with landowners, developers, estates, education providers, private individuals and charities advising on restrictive covenants, rights of light, telecoms, boundary disputes, trespass, easements, trusts of land claims and adverse possession.
I joined Michelmores in 2018 attracted by the strength and reputation of the Real Estate team. As a litigator, I am experienced in taking claims before the court or tribunal, but I particularly enjoy working with our clients to identify pragmatic solutions to property issues; be it in the context of acquisition, disposal or development.
I am a recommended lawyer for Property Litigation in the South West by the Legal 500.
Recent experience
Acting for a Police Authority in contested lease renewal proceedings which were issued to protect the Authority’s interest in a critical operational site. The proceedings were issued alongside a protective Compulsory Purchase Order application and a key aspect to my work for this client was managing the interrelation between the two processes to ensure that the Authority could retain possession whilst the applications were being litigated
Advising a corporate investor as to how it could achieve vacant possession of its London properties which were occupied by various tenants and licensees under differing legal arrangements. The timing of the advice and outcome was critical to ensure the client was able to complete a disposal under a conditional contract
Acting for a private individual in a contested trusts of land claim to enable the sale of a multi-million pound London property
Advising a London Hospital Trust on rights of light issues arising out of a proposed development of the hospital. The claim is complicated by the number of potential beneficiaries and critical to my advice has been working with the Trust’s other professional advisors to develop a strategy to try to ensure that any claims or potential claims do not prevent the development starting in line with the proposed timetable
Advising an education provider on a number of issues arising out of its tenancy of a former education facility. Initially, I was asked to advise and represent our client in respect of a disputed rent suspension claim before an independent expert, and latterly I have been asked to advise in respect of our client’s dilapidations liability
