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Index of tables

  1. Property litigation – Leading Sets
  2. Property litigation – Leading Silks
  3. Property litigation – New Silks
  4. Property litigation – Leading Juniors

Property litigation – Leading Silks

Property litigation – New Silks

Property litigation – Leading Juniors

Falcon Chambers is an ‘extremely strong set’ with an ‘impressive reputation’ for landlord and tenant disputes. The ‘tremendous’ Nicholas Dowding QC is an ‘absolute star’ and is ‘excellent’ for rent review cases. Timothy Fancourt QC is held in ‘the very highest regard’ for his reputation as a ‘skilful advocate’ and his ability to ‘unearth weak points in arguments with unerring accuracy’. Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC is ‘at the top of his game’ and is noted for his ‘clearly written opinions’ and ‘impressive advocacy’. The ‘learned’ Jonathan Gaunt QC is an ‘impressive’ performer, and recently acted in London Tara Hotel v Kensington Close Hotel. Clients seek out Wayne Clark for ‘QC-level advice’, and look to Anthony Radevsky for ‘leading advice’, on enfranchisement cases. Other recommended juniors include the ‘exceptionally bright’ Mark Sefton, the ‘commercially minded’ Gary Cowen, who exhibits an ‘exceptional understanding of property law’, the ‘able’ and ‘assertive’ Emily Windsor, ‘extremely reliable’ commercial leasehold renewal specialist Adam Rosenthal, and ‘fearsome fighter’ Janet Bignell.

Landmark Chambers has earned a ‘superb reputation’ for its planning and property capabilities. Leading silks include the ‘utterly brilliant’ John Male QC, whose ‘superb mind’ and client- friendly approach make him an ‘absolute delight to work with’; and ‘fierce advocate’ Katharine Holland QC, who has attracted significant acclaim for her role in obtaining injunctions and possession orders relating to the Occupy London protests. Nicholas Taggart possesses a ‘formidable intellect’, and acted in the high-profile case of K/S Victoria v House of Fraser. Camilla Lamont is ‘user friendly’, and Myriam Stacey is ‘persuasive in court’.

Maitland Chambers is a growing force at the property Bar and is home to a plethora of ‘seasoned’ juniors. For complex rights of light case, clients turn to the ‘determined’ Edwin Johnson QC and ‘straight-talking’ John McGhee QC. Christopher Pymont QC is ‘lethal in court’, and acted in Woodford Land Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd. The ‘first-class’ Mark Wonnacott acted in the Supreme Court case Berrisford v Mexfield Housing Co-Operative; he is ‘creative’, ‘commercial’ and provides a ‘very high standard of service’. Other key juniors include the ‘extremely responsive’ Timothy Dutton, ‘real star for the future’ Alan Johns and the ‘proactive’ Timothy Harry, who ‘goes the extra mile’ when working with instructing solicitors.

Wilberforce Chambers’ clients benefit from ‘extremely high-quality’ practitioners who have a breadth of expertise beyond pure property. Heavyweight QCs include the ‘excellent’ Michael Barnes QC, who is a ‘kind’ and ‘impressive’ advocate; Jonathan Karas QC, a ‘devastating’ cross-examiner who is ‘outstanding in his field’; and the ‘exceptionally client-friendly’ Jonathan Seitler QC, who recently acted in K/S Victoria v House of Fraser. Among its juniors, Julian Greenhill is a ‘star of the future’, Tiffany Scott is ‘very approachable’, and Rupert Reed is ‘an impressive performer’.

Enterprise Chambers is regularly instructed by the UK’s leading social housing solicitors and registered social landlords. Zia Bhaloo QC has the ‘perfect combination of intellect, integrity, advocacy and personal skills’; and senior property advocate Caroline Hutton provides a ‘swift, effective service’ and frequently handles cases under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. Geoffrey Zelin is a ‘highly effective communicator’, and James Barker combines ‘intellectual know-how’ with a ‘strong commercial sense’.

Selborne Chambers’ ‘very strong’ reputation for property is due in part to ‘superb cross-examiner’ Romie Tager QC and ‘complete strategist’ Mark Warwick, who exhibits an ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of property law’. Clients regularly turn to the ‘unflappable’ and ‘user-friendly’ Gary Blaker in a crisis, and Philip Kremen is considered ‘a great alternative to a silk’. The ‘extraordinarily authoritative’ Ian Clarke is a leader on land registration issues.

Serle Court has forged an ‘excellent reputation’ through the work of silks such as Frank Hinks QC, who recently acted in Roberts v Swangrove Estates Ltd. Clients also praise Philip Jones QC, for his ability to ‘cut through the bluster that others may create’, and Christopher Stoner QC is ‘academically brilliant’ and ‘extremely approachable’. Recommended juniors include the ‘particularly strong’ Andrew Bruce and land covenants specialist Andrew Francis, who is a ‘persuasive’ and ‘compelling’ advocate with a ‘natural gift for explaining complex areas of law to the lay client’.

Tanfield Chambers houses a particularly strong residential practice with expertise in enfranchisement and service charge disputes. ‘Standout’ advocate Philip Rainey QC is ‘highly effective’ in complex enfranchisement claims. Leading juniors include Michael Buckpitt, whose written advocacy ‘stands up very well’; the ‘very bright’ James Fieldsend; and Christopher Heather, who is ‘solid’ and ‘clear’ in his advice and has a ‘good manner in front of the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal’.

Arden Chambers is a leading name for social housing, an area in which Andrew Arden QC is a widely published authority. Arden frequently represents both applicants and local authorities, and recently acted for the latter in Oxford CC v Bull. Andrew Dymond and founding member Christopher Baker are also recommended.

Garden Court Chambers is a widely respected leader in housing law. Lead silk Stephen Knafler QC is a ‘superb advocate’ with ‘great judgement’ whose approach to tactical and structured case progression is ‘invaluable’. Team head Jan Luba QC has appeared in several Supreme Court cases, including Hounslow LBC v Powell. Liz Davies and Beatrice Prevatt combine a ‘robust approach’ with ‘an excellent command of housing law’.

Hardwicke’s property and housing specialists include the ‘hardworking’ and ‘conscientious’ Michelle Stevens-Hoare, who is ‘forensic on facts’ and ‘bullish in court’. Other juniors of note include the ‘outstanding’ Andrew Lane and John de Waal, a ‘solid performer’ who has gone from ‘strength to strength’. Alexander Bastin is ‘a solicitor’s dream’. Kerry Bretherton left for Tanfield Chambers in 2011.

Lead juniors at Henderson Chambers include the ‘tenacious’ and ‘pragmatic’ Jonathan Steinert and Andrew Davies, who has a ‘wealth of knowledge’, and is ‘very client focused’. Instructing solicitors hold Adam Heppinstall in ‘high regard’; and Malcolm Sheehan is noted for his ability to see the bigger picture, and ‘provides clear, straightforward guidance’.

At New Square Chambers, George Laurence QC has earned a reputation as the ‘leading silk’ on public property and rights of light cases. James Thom QC regularly appears in commercial landlord and tenant disputes, and recently acted in Lorey and another v Llewellyn. The ‘impressive’ Kenneth Munro (a specialist in leasehold enfranchisement) is ‘very efficient’ and deals with matters in a ‘forensically sound way’. Stephen Schaw Miller is ‘efficient’, ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘helpful’.

Radcliffe Chambers is steadily building its reputation in the area, and fields a number of ‘skilful’ and ‘extremely persuasive’ advocates. Standout silks include Peter Crampin QC, who is ‘intellectual’ and ‘analytical in approach’, and the ‘highly incisive’ Keith Rowley QC, who is ‘superb’ at cross-examination. The ‘thorough’ and ‘practical’ Marie-Claire Bleasdale is recommended, as is David di Mambro.

Doughty Street Chambers is the ‘chambers of choice’ for housing and public law, thanks to the ‘quality of its members’ and the ‘efficiency of its administration’. ‘Tenacious’ and ‘assertive’ litigator Robert Latham has ‘a fine eye for detail’, and recently acted in Ravichandran v Lewisham LBC. The ‘extremely thorough’ Tracey Bloom ‘will always go the extra mile’.

At Ten Old Square, Jonathan Gavaghan provides an ‘exceptional service’ and is ‘thorough’ and ‘user friendly’. Evan Price has an ‘excellent grasp’ of property litigation and ‘quickly gets to the heart of the problem’.

Also recommended are: Vivian Chapman QC (‘the ultimate professional’) at 9 Stone Buildings; the ‘very able’ David Halpern QC of Four New Square; ‘extremely impressive’ new silk Ranjit Bhose QC at Cornerstone Barristers; the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Paul Letman of 3 Hare Court; Patrick Rolfe at 5 Stone Buildings, who provides an ‘exemplary standard of service’; Jeremy Cousins QC of 11 Stone Buildings; and Field Court Chambers’ Adrian Davis, who is singled out for his ‘attention to detail’ and ‘excellent presentation in court’.

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