Hall Of Fame

Rising Stars

Property litigation in East Midlands

Flint Bishop LLP

Flint Bishop LLP works on a range of complex property litigation matters on behalf of landowners, developers and commercial landlords. The team has a particular specialism in litigation within the licensed trade industry. Nick Wells deals with all forms of commercial property disputes with a particular focus on landlord and tenant and property-related insolvency disputes. Since becoming Chief Executive, Qamer Ghafoor has continued to represent landlords, tenants and property developers in a range of disputes. Jo Milward is an expert in all types of trade property litigation.

Practice head(s):

Nick Wells


Other key lawyers:

Qamer Ghafoor; Jo Milward; Kelly Savage; Sundeep Sandhu


Testimonials

‘The team of people that I work with are all very personable and knowledgeable.’

‘Jo Milward is always very pleasant and efficient. I am made to feel that my instruction matters and that I am not just another number.’

Key clients

Bowmer & Kirkland


Marston’s PLC


Peveril Securities


National Trust


Food Standards Agency


Haven Insurance Company


Costcutter Supermarkets Group


Henry Boot Developments


Ward Recycling


Methodist Homes


Work highlights


  • Acting for the development arm of a major PLC in a multi-million-pound TCC claim for losses deriving from a huge grade A office development.
  • Acting for the National Trust on numerous property litigation matters arising out of the substantial National Trust estate across the UK.
  • Acting for a huge national developer in High Court declaration proceedings concerning expert determination jurisdiction and a £2m+ overage claim.

Freeths LLP

The property litigation team at Freeths LLP works on a wide range of disputes, including those surrounding business leases, dilapidation, covenants possession claims and forfeitures. Paul Tomkins leads the national team and has extensive experience in lease renewals, dilapidation claims and break clause issues. Simon Baigent is an expert in restructuring and insolvency matters for clients with property portfolios, while also supporting landlords with insolvent tenants. Managing associate Beth Jenkins regularly handles trespass and possession claims, service charge disputes and forfeiture and termination matters.

Practice head(s):

Paul Tomkins


Other key lawyers:

Simon Baigent; Edward Pickard; Beth Jenkins


Testimonials

‘A cohesive and effective team, with good communication ensuring that nothing gets missed.’

‘Paul Tomkins is excellent. Pragmatic, decisive and adaptable.’

‘The strength of the Freeths litigation team is their collective knowledge and experience. It is evident that the team work closely together and collaborate on matters.

‘Paul Tomkins – A great client manager, always open to feedback and genuinely interested in the needs of our business and what matters to us.

‘Edward Pickard – encyclopaedic in litigation know-how and gives prompt, reasoned advice and recommendations which enable us to make commercial decisions and pace and keep up with the needs of the business.’

‘Probably, the best regional firm in England for prop lit.’

‘Paul Tomkins is an industry legend. Clever, canny and client focused.’

‘Edward Pickard is bright, solid and dependable.’

Key clients

Chancerygate Asset Management and Development


City Plumbing


Dreams


Euro Garages


Halfords


Poundstretcher


Tarmac


Timpson


Travis Perkins Group including Toolstation


Wickes


Work highlights


  • Advising Poundstretcher on all property litigation issues arising following its Company Voluntary Arrangement, which compromised claims with a value of £396 million
  • Acting on a dispute relating to a joint venture agreement, which was settled shortly before a 7-day trial was due to commence
  • Acting on a complex residential possession claim involving an individual shareholder of the landlord who had been occupying the property without any written tenancy agreement for several years.

Howes Percival LLP

Howes Percival LLP acts predominantly for large companies, investment funds, developers and institutional landlords across a wide array of contentious matters. In particular, the team supports both landlords and tenants on lease renewals, while also handling contentious break clauses and dilapidation claims. The team also has a particular expertise in insolvency work. Geraint Davies leads the team with extensive experience in complex and high value property and land disputes. Satnam Chayra deals primarily with landlord and tenant issues, particularly portfolio management work like dilapidations, lease renewals and rent recovery.

Practice head(s):

Geraint Davies


Other key lawyers:

Satnam Chayra; Leanne Davis


Testimonials

‘The Team I have been involved with have always acted professionally but alongside this are very personable. They are prompt and efficient and the advice has always been clear and extremely useful.’

‘Satnam Chayra – very experienced litigator. Commercially pragmatic but, if necessary, can see the client through to trial. A winner.’

‘Great communication and a feeling that as a client one feels both professionally and personally cared for.’

‘Having dealt with Satnam Chayra and her team on many legal issues over the years, I can thoroughly recommend them and Satnam’s knowledge and expertise.’

‘Howes Percival seem to combine hard-edged litigation tactics with a really personable, community-focussed approach. In doing so, their Property Litigation team is able to combine the strengths of a boutique or regional outfit with the assurance of a national commercial firm.’

‘Satnam Chayra is formidable; good on the law; aggressive on litigation tactics; and never one to back down unnecessarily. She’s also very responsive.’

‘The team is excellent. They come with my strongest recommendation. Always available, always excellent advice.’

‘They’re just a fantastic group of individuals. One of the things I like the most is that the quality is always excellent no matter who I deal with.’

Key clients

C Brewer & Sons Limited


Renewi UK Services Limited


Spar (UK) Limited


De Montfort University


Hughes Electrical Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising a trust and various family members in relation to a dispute concerning ownership and claims over valuable land with development potential.
  • Advising in relation to the potential defective construction of an anaerobic digestion plant.
  • Acting for a national supermarket chain on the 1954 Act renewal of its head office lease.

Browne Jacobson LLP

Browne Jacobson LLP handles complex disputes for prominent clients across the retail, health insurance, private and public sectors. The team focuses on development and landlord and tenant matters, both commercial and residential. This includes lease renewals, covenant obligations, dilapidation and overage disputes. James Coles is the national head of real estate disputes, supporting major national clients in the retail, logistics and healthcare sectors.

Practice head(s):

James Coles


Other key lawyers:

Emma Stafford; Sarah Ward; Christopher Devereux


Testimonials

Hannah Carter is a great asset to the Browne Jacobson team. She is efficient, reliable and gives practical advice. Her case management skills are excellent as is her strategic advice.

Key clients

Canal & River Trust


Deliveroo SP Ltd


Avon Capital Estates


Highpeak Borough Council


Havering Council


Benchmark Drinks Ltd


Vision Express Ltd


Walgreens Boots Alliance


DPD Group UK Limited


Pure Gym Limited


AGCO Limited


Scrivens Limited


Aggregate Industries UK Limited


Select Service Partner (UK) Limited


Paperchase Products Limited


Nelsons Solicitors Limited

The property litigation team at Nelsons Solicitors Limited regularly handles complex, high value property disputes such as boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, compulsory purchases and private and public right of way disputes. Simon Waterfield is experienced in all landlord and tenant issues, including forfeitures and dilapidation, while also acting for leading regional and national property developers. Promoted to director in June 2022, Oliver Maxwell has a strong track record in commercial lease renewals and termination claims.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Brumpton; Simon Waterfield


Other key lawyers:

Oliver Maxwell


Testimonials

‘I found Nelsons team to be helpful and always quick to respond, giving clear prespectives and strong advise whist highlighting the any risks areas.’

‘I found Oliver Maxwell to be personable and professional, he gave excellent direction at the same time highlighting risks I would definitely recommend Nelsons and Oliver Maxwell personally.’

‘Simon Waterfield is always pleasant, accessible and fantastically commercial.’

‘My experience of working with Oliver Maxwell has been exceptional. He has been engaging and provided timely advice on a number of lease related issues. What makes him stand out is that he has a very concise and pragmatic approach will helps when I have multiple demands on my time.’

‘Nelsons are a very personable practice, they endevour to keep all parties updated on all matters.

‘Nelsons has knowledgable and approachable litigators. They seem to offer good value for the service they provide. They are accustomed to dealing with a broad range of property matters, and so are well-placed to deal with complex property litigation.’

‘Nelsons have a standout regional property team with strength in depth across a number of offices in the East Midlands.’

‘Simon Waterfield leaves no stone unturned in seeking out the best result for his clients.’

Work highlights


  • Represented clients at a public enquiry successfully defending an application to have a public footpath added to the definitive map which would have gone through their back garden.
  • Representing clients on a multi- million-pound dilapidations claim involving significant asbestos contamination.
  • Representing clients on a multimillion pound dilapidations claim in regard to a grade II listed building.

Wilkin Chapman LLP

Wilkin Chapman LLP‘s dispute resolution team are particularly skilled at handling disputes for clients in the agricultural sector, while also being experienced in housing, development and social housing disputes. In addition, the firm is active in disputes concerning portfolio management, commercial property and landlord and tenant issues. Joshua Briggs leads the team with a strong track record in commercial property disputes. Tom Hickingbottom is another key name with particular experience in agricultural disputes.

Practice head(s):

Joshua Briggs


Other key lawyers:

Tom Hickingbottom; Siobhan Sylvester; Alison Boffey; Hannah Loft


Testimonials

‘The varied services provided and professionalism, even when our claims have become quite challenging at times’

‘We have worked very close with Alison Boffey who has throughout our claim kept honesty and integrity. Keeping us on the right path to succeed’

‘The team I used where excellent, whilst using two departments they worked for me exceptionally well.’

Key clients

T W Logistics Ltd


Beal Developments Limited


Burton Waters Management Company Limited


Canal & River Trust


Ongo Partnership Ltd


Lincolnshire Housing Partnership Ltd


Court Enforcement Services Ltd


National Farmers Union


MSL Legal Expenses Ltd


Work highlights


  • Represented a high net worth individual in respect of the termination of a lease of a residential property in Belgravia, London.
  • Represented the applicant to a succession application pursuant to Section 39 Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 which was opposed by the landlord charity.
  • Successfully represented the Claimants in a High Court claim concerning beneficial interests in a high value property.

Actons

The property litigation team at Actons handles a wide array of property litigation matters for a diverse client base comprised of individuals, businesses and charities. Gordon Monaghan leads the team with considerable experience in dilapidation claims, tenancy renewal disputes and property possession claims. Daniel Harley is particularly active in commercial landlord and tenant disputes.

Practice head(s):

Gordon Monaghan


Other key lawyers:

Daniel Harley


Smith Partnership

In addition to general property litigation work, Smith Partnership specialises in handling residential possession claims, as well as rent arrears claims and lease renewal disputes. The team is led by Russell Davies, who specialises in disputes concerning the leases and tenancies of pubs.

Practice head(s):

Russell Davies


Key clients

Elite Office Furniture Limited


Stonegate Group


Luke Evans Bakery Limited


Littler Investments Limited


PMJ Management Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised Littler Investments Limited in relation to multi million pound development near Stafford. Advised on the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding agreement which avoided the threat of compulsory purchase by the Local Authority.
  • Advised Stonegate Pubs in relation to more than 30 actions during the course of 2022.
  • Advised client in relation to a lease renewal under the 1954 Act involving complex issues of rent valuation.