The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > Wales > Property litigation

Blake Morgan LLP's five-strong team is well-versed at advising landowners, tenants, developers and property companies across the spectrum of disputes, including on the enforcement of covenants, lease renewal proceedings, dilapidation claims and adverse possession matters. The team has strong visibility for its work in the public sector, and has recently defended the central government in numerous compulsory purchase order claims brought in relation to a new road scheme. Team head Sian Jones' diverse workload includes portfolio management for several large property companies (including contentious advice regarding break notices and the forfeiture of leases), social housing-related disputes and advice in relation to development overage litigation.

Led by Kathryn Cook, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP's seven-strong team provides 'direct and effective advice' across a range of strategic risk management and contentious matters, for corporates, developers and public sector entities. As well as cultivating its own work, the team also forms a vital part of the firm's UK-wide offering servicing the strategic needs of institutional infrastructure and transport clients (including Thames Water Utilities and The Forestry Commission) in relation to their extensive property portfolios. The team also excels at handling property-related matters in the financial services space, including for SIPP providers.

Led by the 'very sensible' Ed Meggitt, Geldards LLP's two-partner team has 'great depth and strength in all aspects of property litigation', encompassing matters relating to easements, restrictive covenants, and landlord and tenant issues. As well as handling ad-hoc property disputes for existing and standalone clients of the firm, the team also handles a considerable amount of portfolio management work, including on behalf of several large national retailers. The team has also developed niche expertise advising utility companies on property-related issues, and is particularly strong advising on issues arising in the water industry, including the protection of assets and infrastructure either using common law remedies or under the Water Industry Act 1991. Praised for her 'empathetic approach', Nicola Lawrence has an 'excellent grasp of the law and practice of real estate litigation' and has recently handled some important cases on rights of way and licences to occupy land.      

The 'rounded and well-resourced' two-partner team at Hugh James represents private and public sector entities across a range of pure disputes work (including as it relates to rights of way and landlord and tenant law), in addition to strategic land management matters. 'Very sensible and thoughtful' team head Robert  Phillips is pivotal to the firm's success in the area, as a result of his vast experience across core property litigation, including residential leasehold disputes, as well as in more niche areas, including the defence of landowners in relation to the growing area of contested mineral rights ownership. The 'extremely hardworking' Jo Brown is the other partner in the team, and has particular experience advising telecoms and hospitality clients on property disputes.

Despite the departure in March 2020 of former team head Clare Tregoning    to Llanelli-based firm Gomer Williams & Co, Acuity Law remains a presence in the market, chiefly as a result of its recruitment in May 2019 of the 'wonderful' Neil Morgan  from Darwin Gray LLP. Although he handles a fairly broad spread of property litigation matters, Morgan's true strength lies in relation to social housing-related disputes, and his arrival has led to an influx of work from a number of major housing associations. Hugh Hitchcock heads up the firm's overarching dispute resolution group.    

At Capital Law Limited, Stephen Meade is a 'very experienced and skilful litigator', and regularly handles property disputes as part of his broad-ranging litigation practice. Meade regularly handles work for BMA members on property-related matters, including his ongoing representation for it and five test claimant GP practices, in a High Court claim against NHS Property Services Ltd challenging the basis of the calculation of their service charges.

Spearheaded by the 'very helpful' Jason Williams , from within the firm's wider commercial litigation group, Morgan LaRoche has a strong following among local businesses, private individuals and public/quasi public sector entities across a range of property disputes. Williams has developed a particularly strong reputation in relation to landlord and tenant disputes, including his involvement in a high-profile Supreme Court case regarding the interpretation of service charge clauses.