United Kingdom > London > Real estate > Property litigation
Index of tables
Property litigation
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Leading individuals
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- Marcus Barclay Olswang
- Matthew Bonye Herbert Smith LLP
- Katie Bradford Linklaters LLP
- Ian Brierly DLA Piper UK LLP
- Nicholas Cheffings Hogan Lovells International LLP
- Roger Cohen Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- David Cox Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Michele Freyne Howard Kennedy
- Kerry Glanville Pemberton Greenish
- Robert Highmore Charles Russell LLP
- Jason Juden SJ Berwin LLP
- Brian Kilcoyne Lewis Silkin LLP
- Joanna Lampert Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Daniel Levy Mishcon de Reya
- Graham Ling Speechly Bircham LLP
- Michael Madden Ashurst LLP
- Michael Metliss Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Wendy Miller Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Natasha Rees Forsters LLP
- Jennifer Rickard Nabarro LLP
- Jonathan Ross Forsters LLP
- Martin Thomas Dundas & Wilson LLP
- Iain Travers Nabarro LLP
- Beverley Vara Allen & Overy LLP
- Andrew Walker CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
- Anne Waltham Wragge & Co LLP
- Lesley Webber OBE Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
- Stuart Wortley Pinsent Masons LLP
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s top-end team is ‘friendly and approachable with a sound commercial understanding’. Roger Cohen and Wendy Miller co-head the practice, which recently advised Korn/Ferry International on a break option for its London headquarters. Joanna Lampert has a ‘good understanding of the technicalities’, and David Cox is also recommended. Michael Metliss joined from SJ Berwin LLP.
Nabarro LLP’s blue-chip property clients include Land Securities, Hammerson and British Land. The team recently advised Great Portland Estate and Brookfield on a vacant possession strategy for the £800m redevelopment of 100 Bishopsgate in the City. Jennifer Rickard and practice head Iain Travers are recommended.
Ashurst LLP recently advised British Land on a rights of light issue. Other clients include Canary Wharf and Berkeley Homes. The experienced and tough Michael Madden leads the practice, in which of counsel Mark Race is also recommended, and which has a strong level of associate support.
Hogan Lovells International LLP’s efficient team recently advised Barclays in a series of professional negligence claims relating to advice given by solicitors that led to loans being issued to mortgage fraudsters. The ‘very engaging’ and ever-popular Nicholas Cheffings heads the practice, and ‘inspires confidence’. Newly promoted partner Mathew Ditchburn is also recommended, along with ‘capable and tenacious’ of counsel Dellah Gilbert and the ‘highly talented’ Paul Tonkin.
Linklaters LLP’s small team recently advised Woolworths’ administrators regarding rent liabilities, gaining a High Court order that helped clarify the company’s liabilities. Katie Bradford is a ‘class act’ and is admired across the market for her expertise in rent reviews and complex, big-ticket litigation.
Allen & Overy LLP advises on standalone pieces of litigation and recently represented a large landlord in a rights of light dispute with a developer neighbour. Beverley Vara is ‘very capable’ and commercially aware. Senior associate Akhil Markanday is also recommended.
Charles Russell LLP is building a credible commercial practice alongside its traditionally strong residential expertise. The ‘meticulous’ Robert Highmore heads the practice, which ‘goes the extra mile’ for clients and has some excellent institutional clients including the Church Commissioners for England and the Dulwich Estate. Emma Humphreys is well regarded.
Clifford Chance’s small but skilled team focuses on complex, one-off property litigation. The practice remains well regarded across the market, despite the retirement of former practice head John Pickston in 2010. Senior associates Ben Hatton (who ‘brings real enthusiasm and commitment to the job’) and Bryan Johnston (who ‘gives an intelligent and informed steer’) are recommended.
DLA Piper UK LLP recently advised Humber Oil Terminal Trustees in a lease renewal action, one of the first such cases to consider competition law. The team also has good experience in dilapidations and international litigation. Ian Brierley heads the practice.
Eversheds LLP ‘leaves no stone unturned’ for clients, and recently advised EDF in the first-ever private noise claim brought against a UK wind farm. Will Densham heads the practice, and is recommended along with solicitor Kate Poole, who can ‘master a wealth of technical detail’.
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP’s ‘responsive’ practice is ‘value for money’. Lesley Webber OBE, who is recommended for rent reviews, in 2010 led advice to the Department for Transport in a West End rent review arbitration. Practice head Antony Phillips is also recommended, as is Joe Payne for insolvency disputes and professional negligence issues.
Real estate is a core practice for Forsters LLP, which receives high praise from clients for its commercial awareness. Unusually, the property litigation practice has expertise in residential as well as commercial disputes, and represents clients including Invista Real Estate and Fujitsu Services. Practice head Jonathan Ross is recommended for his ‘straightforward and prompt advice’. Natasha Rees is noted for her enfranchisement experience.
Herbert Smith LLP’s team leverages the wider firm’s reputation in disputes to attract some excellent mandates. It recently advised Standard Life in a high-profile civil fraud claim against the property developer Topland. Martin Dawbney and practice head Matthew Bonye are recommended. Senior associate Frances Edwards is ‘clearly very bright’.
Lawrence Graham LLP’s top-notch institutional investor client base includes AXA Sun Life and Hermes Property. The ‘very competent and trustworthy’ Jane Fox-Edwards heads the practice, which is particularly strong in telecoms matters and recently represented Geo Networks in a High Court dispute regarding the laying of fibre-optic cables.
Mishcon de Reya’s ‘superb’ and assertive litigation team has developed a strong client base of entrepreneurial property magnates, including Jon Hunt and John de Stefano. The team also has notable expertise regarding dilapidations. Practice head Daniel Levy shows ‘enthusiasm and drive’, Richard Gerstein is ‘calm and steady’, and legal director Emma Macintyre shows ‘perseverance and intelligence’.
Olswang handles high volumes of property litigation for clients such as UBS and Legal & General. The ‘excellent’ team recently successfully represented Goldacre in a claim against its administrators. Marcus Barclay and Cameron Lawes are recommended.
‘A breath of fresh air’, Pinsent Masons LLP’s practice is developing strong expertise in rights of light matters, and recently advised Lloyds in various dilapidations claims. Stuart Wortley has an ‘instant grasp of everything and consistent accuracy, which make him a pleasure to instruct’.
SJ Berwin LLP’s lawyers ‘worry away at a problem until they find the answer, and don ’t take anything for granted’. The practice’s excellent pedigree is reflected in blue-chip clients such as the Crown Estate, Axa and British Land. The group took a hit with the move of practice head Michael Metliss to Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. However, new practice head Jason Juden is ‘always on the ball’, and senior associate Natalie Johnston is the ‘definition of grace under fire – cool, calm and confident’.
Speechly Bircham LLP receives a substantial flow of work from RBS, and also recently advised Telular Corporation on lease termination and break clauses. Practice head Graham Ling specialises in landlord and tenant work, and ‘instils confidence in clients’. Jeremy Hudson is ‘a delight to work with’, and is recommended for enfranchisement matters.
Wragge & Co LLP continues to advise Global Switch, a former landlord of Lehman Brothers, in forfeiture proceedings. The team also has good experience acting for major retailers such as HMV, John Lewis and B&Q on property litigation nationally. Practice head Anne Waltham is well respected.
At Addleshaw Goddard LLP, ‘queries are answered quickly, precisely and professionally’. The team remains busy on asset management work for institutional landlords and retailers such as Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Primark and Travelodge, and has seen an increase in litigation arising from break notices. Practice head Andrew Blower is ‘personable and knowledgeable’.
Beachcroft handles asset management matters for public sector clients such as Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation, UCL and HM Courts Services, and has seen an increase in service charges litigation. Andrew Chesser is the main contact.
Bircham Dyson Bell LLP has built up excellent knowledge of leasehold reform and compulsory purchases. It advises Network Rail on compulsory purchase orders and related litigation for the Thameslink programme. Simon Painter and Andy Couch are recommended.
Boodle Hatfield’s team is ‘extremely conscientious and looks after clients’. It won a leasehold reform dispute for a tenant in 2010. The team represents numerous large estates, such as Grosvenor, on dilapidations matters. Colin Young heads the practice.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP ‘gives sensible and realistic advice, and is very successful at looking for alternative ways of resolving disputes’. The team continued to act for O&H Properties in a large coverage dispute. Andrew Walker is ‘friendly and down to earth’. Caroline DeLaney left the firm in April 2011.
Collyer Bristow LLP is ‘a pleasant firm to work with’, and recently advised New Century Reversions in litigation resulting from the sale of its offices. Matthew Marsh is ‘canny and a master of detail’.
Cripps Harries Hall LLP’s high-calibre team in Tunbridge Wells provides a fixed-fee service to property managers and commercial and residential landlords. It has been busy with compulsory purchase orders and related compensation for the HS1 rail project. Mike Scott and Carol Wakeford are recommended.
Davies Arnold Cooper LLP represented Met Quarter Shopping Centre in successfully challenging the owners of the Miss Sixty chain on a CVA. Caroline Howard, Thekla Fellas and practice head Ken Smith are recommended.
Dundas & Wilson LLP handles the full range of property litigation from asset management to complex one-off disputes. The team benefits from the firm’s relationships with Scottish institutions such as RBS and Scottish Widows. Highlight work in 2010 included representing Land Securities in litigation relating to two shopping centres. Martin Thomas is ‘always able to see a route through the thorniest issues’.
At Howard Kennedy, Michele Freyne is the driving force behind a practice that is gaining market credibility, and acts for major West End developers and wealthy families. In 2010, the team advised several Galliard Group subsidiaries in various large disputes.
Jones Day is developing its reputation in development and insolvency disputes, and acts for Hermes, Hilton Hotels and CBRE. Practice head Richard Anyamene ‘resolves problems practically and to a budget’.
Lewis Silkin LLP mixes residential and commercial instructions, and in 2010 was busy representing longstanding client Pizza Express. Brian Kilcoyne heads the practice, and Paul Hayes is a housing expert.
Maples Teesdale LLP is commercial, ‘good value for money’ and ‘absolutely first rate’. It won a £5m dilapidation claim for RSA. Practice head David Stevens is ‘able to drill down through a mass of facts to get to the essential points. He is bright, thoughtful and articulate’.
The small team at Mayer Brown International LLP recently advised JPMorgan on insolvency issues arising from the former Lehman Brothers HQ in Canary Wharf. ‘Very bright’ senior associate Simon Hartley is the main contact.
Osborne Clarke provides ‘succinct advice that is well measured, and always looks to suggest alternative options’. Clients include Gazeley and Unite. Gary Lawrenson, Patricia Mellody and Bristol-based Leona Briggs are recommended.
Pemberton Greenish is highly rated for leasehold enfranchisement in London. Kerry Glanville is the pre-eminent name in the City in this niche area.
Reed Smith’s ‘commercially savvy’ team is ‘pleasingly competitive with fees’. The practice is increasingly handling big-ticket disputes, and recently advised Commercial Estates Group on a CVA settlement. Practice head Andrew Jenkinson ‘combines a litigator’s eye with the commercial acumen of a transactional lawyer’.
Russell-Cooke LLP is ‘professional and easy to work with’, and regularly receives referrals from big City firms. Jason Hunter heads the team, which has an excellent client roster in the not-for-profit sector.
Highlights for SNR Denton in 2010 included advising Sainsbury’s in a claim for possession against Waitrose in Marlow town centre store. Julian Cridge is recommended.
Simmons & Simmons recently advised a major lender in a professional negligence case relating to mortgage fraud. Carol Hewson is the main contact.
Stephenson Harwood receives a steady stream of high-quality instructions from wealthy individuals, and saw an uptick in professional negligence and dilapidations claims, particularly from major banks. The ‘outstanding’ Sean Fitzgerald is ‘the billionaire’s friend; they come from every part of the globe to avail themselves of his services’.
Taylor Wessing LLP advised new client HSBC European Active Real Estate Fund regarding disputes concerning its UK portfolio. Saleem Fazal ‘exudes a steady confidence’, and Jill Carey is ‘client focused and down to earth’.
Thomas Eggar LLP provides ‘service with the personal touch and charges very reasonable fees’. In 2010, the team was busy advising on leases and break clauses. Richard Brown heads the practice, and Jacqui Joyce is recommended for mediation.
Travers Smith LLP recently advised London Underground in a rights of light dispute at Hammersmith station. The practice saw an upturn in planning agreement disputes. Andrew Ross heads the group.
Trowers & Hamlins LLP mainly represents institutional investors and public sector bodies. The practice, led by Michael Donnellan, advised Nuffield Health in a rent review for one of its private hospitals.
Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is developing a name in the professional negligence field, leveraging the firm’s great reputation in insurance. Neil Jamieson recently acted for a law firm and its insurers in a £12m credit claim made by Regional Investments.
Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP’s small but top-flight practice enjoys an excellent reputation with charities and public sector clients; ‘much larger firms do not compare with the attention to detail that the firm provides’. The team ‘takes a real interest in the individual needs of clients’. Lesley Robinson and William Scott are recommended.
Burges Salmon LLP’s ‘quality’ team recently advised FirstGroup in a landslide damages dispute. Richard Bedford is ‘commercially astute’, and Vivienne Williams is ‘a good negotiator’.
Davenport Lyons recently advised the Berkeley Group on off-plan recovery work and litigation relating to developments in Caspian Wharf and Chelsea Bridge Wharf. Practice head Janet Ayres is recommended, and Janice Northover is ‘a real fighter’, particularly for LVT proceedings.
Jeremy Grose leads Dechert LLP’s team, which recently advised ING on various property matters including dilapidations.
Finers Stephens Innocent LLP saw a rise in residential work and disputes resulting from insolvencies in 2010. Amanda McNeil is ‘ready to fight for clients but conciliatory when needed’.
Fladgate LLP’s ‘pragmatic’ team acted for a tenant restaurateur against its freeholder regarding major damage caused by redevelopment. Alison Mould and Janet Keeley are recommended.
Glovers Solicitors LLP was particularly active advising LPA receivers in 2010. It also advised the owners of Pizza Express in disputes relating to restaurants. The tenacious Edward Vaughan leads the practice.
Macfarlanes LLP has a pedigree practice advising landlords and wealthy families in property disputes. In 2010, the team continued to advise Castle House Developments on its new Strata building in Elephant & Castle. Practice head Willie Manners is recommended.
Manches LLP has a good reputation with occupiers, particularly in the retail sector. It recently advised WHSmith in disputes regarding its shops in several Network Rail stations. Richard Marshall and Siobhan Jones are recommended.
At Norton Rose LLP, new partner Charlotte Bijlani is developing a name for herself as a litigator, with clients praising her ‘calm authority’ and commercialism. The team recently represented a property manager in winning an under-letting claim.
Highlights for Payne Hicks Beach in 2010 included advising Saga in litigation concerning its UK property portfolio. Practice head Andrew Tugwell is recommended.
Penningtons Solicitors LLP is recommended for landlord and tenant advice. Donald Lambert heads the team and is noted for his experience advising institutional landlords. Jenny Reid is ‘quick to grasp requirements and goals’.
Andrew Darwin is the main contact at property boutique RLS Solicitors, which recently advised Clear Channel in a claim against Qatar Airways relating to a restrictive covenant.
RadcliffesLeBrasseur acts for residential and estate property managers. The practice recently acted in a proprietary estoppel case against the Crown Estate.
The team at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP provides ‘calm, strong advice’ and ‘punches above its weight’. It is increasingly focusing on developer clients and mid-sized property companies, and recently acted for Bellway Homes in a neighbourhood dispute. Tim Fogarty and senior associate Chhavie Kapoor are recommended.
Paul Dunbar heads the practice at Rochman Landau, which advises several Japanese corporations, such as Chubu Electric Power, on landlord and tenant issues. Alan Langleben is an ‘impressive mediator’.
Squire Sanders Hammonds recently advised Close Invoice Finance Limited in a professional negligence action against former solicitors following a failure to exercise a lease break. William Lawrence ‘has the personal touch, and is a proactive team player’.
Wallace LLP’s ‘highly responsive’ and focused team is best known for its leasehold enfranchisement work. It recently advised Westbrook Partners in a collective enfranchisement dispute relating to its Dolphin Square housing block. Simon Serota is recommended.