Katherine Traynor > Chambers of David Holland KC and Jenny Wigley KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Kate is a specialist property barrister with particular expertise in interrelated areas, including tax, insolvency, and rating law. She frequently appears in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chambers), the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), the High Court and the County Court and has recently appeared unled before the Court of Appeal.

Prior to joining Chambers in December 2021, she practised in Manchester and Liverpool as a specialist business and property barrister. She continues to accept instructions and regularly appears as Counsel in Manchester and Liverpool. In early 2021, Kate established a social group for junior lawyers, she has recently grown the social group, now known as ‘the Junior Lawyers’ Social Group’.

Before coming to the Bar, Kate worked for two national law firms practising in the commercial and costs departments, respectively. In 2019, she worked for Bond Turner Limited as a costs negotiator, where she worked on a variety of cost litigation matters. Before that, she worked for DWF Costs as a costs advisor. In 2018 she worked for DWF LLP as a commercial paralegal, where she worked on a variety of commercial litigation matters. In 2017, she worked for a boutique law firm, Hodge Halsall Solicitors, where she assisted the Managing Partner on a range of legal issues.

Kate has a growing practice in planning, compulsory purchase, valuation, and rating law. She is currently undertaking her ATT and CTA exams, which offers a niche specialism in revenue law. Copies of her CV are available upon request.

Kate is often instructed as sole counsel, frequently appearing in the County Court, First-tier Tribunal and High Court, as well as acting on several cases as a junior. She has a busy trial practice but also appears in application hearings – especially for summary judgment and strike out, interlocutory applications and CCMC hearings.

Kate is a member of the editorial team for the Encyclopedia of Housing Law and Practice (Sweet & Maxwell).

Recent cases:

• Kate recently appeared unled for the Respondent in Smith v Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities [2023] EWCA Civ 514 on the principle of costs and successfully opposed the making of a costs order against the Respondent.
• Kate recently appeared (being led by Justin Bates) for the Appellant in Avon Ground Rents Limited v Canary Gateway (Block A) RTM Company Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 616; a case concerning the issue of whether a shared ownership lease where the tenant has not “staircased” to 100% interest but is a term more than 21 years was a “long lease” for the purpose of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
• In 2022, Kate assisted with an appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in Riverside CREM 3 Ltd v Unsdorfer and others [2022] UKUT 98 (LC) (led by Justin Bates), a case on whether a challenge to the FTT’s power to vary a management order could be raised for the first time on an appeal.
• Advising on and drafting an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal in the context of how the right to manage applies to a residential terrace and the interpretation of ‘premises’ for the purpose of s.72, Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (led by Justin Bates).
• Advising on and drafting the claim documents in the High Court, in respect of a debt action brought under regulation 20 of the Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989, in the context of an alleged rate avoidance scheme (led by David Forsdick KC).