Julie Middlemass > Addleshaw Goddard > Leeds, England > Lawyer Profile

Addleshaw Goddard
3 SOVEREIGN SQUARE
SOVEREIGN STREET
LEEDS
LS1 4ER
England

Work Department

Property litigation

Position

Julie is the national head of the property litigation team. Having trained and qualified in London, Julie has dealt exclusively with property litigation since 1991. Julie specialises in all forms of real estate litigation including dilapidations, complex lease renewals, rent review, rights of way disputes, insolvency and general property management work and acts for most of the firm’s real estate clients including Threadneedle, British land and Sainsburys. She frequently delivers seminars and training sessions, both internally and to external contacts and clients. She has particular experience of the wide range of legal issues that arise when managing large property portfolios including shopping centres. She also advisies key developers on the interpretation of agreements and their obligations under such agreements. A key aspect of Julie’s work is managing risk for these clients. Recent reported cases involve acting for Jolan Limited a landlord/developer in a complex and contested lease renewal and disputed exercise of a break clause at a prominent building in Manchester which involved a successful seven week trial in the high court, the decision from which was also upheld on appeal. The potential development includes a hotel and three retail units. Crosso No 4 Unlimited and Others v Jolan Limited and Others [2011] EWCA Civ 1619 and also John Bemoley & Others v Philip Noble [2014] EWHC 2657 (CH).

Career

Trained Forsyte Kerman; qualified 1991; Forsyte Kerman 1991-92; CMS Cameron McKenna 1992-94; Booth & Co 1994-95; Addleshaw Goddard 2000 to date (formerly Addleshaw Booth & Co).

Education

Sheffield University (1988 LLB Hons); Trent Polytechnic (1989 LSF).

Leisure

Reading, walking.

Lawyer Rankings

Yorkshire and the Humber > Real estate > Property litigation

(Hall of Fame)

Julie MiddlemassAddleshaw Goddard

The property litigation team at Addleshaw Goddard continues to provide leading advice on a wide array of contentious matters, standing out in particular for its ‘excellent understanding‘ of property insolvency issues and for its ability to provide contentious support to real estate developers and investors. The team regularly provides strategic advice relating to possessions claims, rights of way issues, boundary disputes, and dilapidation claims in the context of large-scale commercial real estate undertakings. Julie Middlemass leads the practice and offers investors and corporate occupiers ‘top-quality advice‘ regarding insolvency claims and vacant possession strategies. In the landlord and tenant space, Elizabeth Cape is highly recommended for her work on dilapidations and break notice disputes, while Chris McGrath is well regarded for his advice on lease renewals.

North West > Real estate > Property litigation

The practice at Addleshaw Goddard, led by Leeds-based Julie Middlemass, is noted as ‘one of the best teams of property litigators in the country’. It is renowned for its ability to act for high-profile tenants and some of the UK’s largest institutional investors on the full range of high-value, complex matters, which reach High Court and Supreme Court level. ‘Reassuring person to have on your side’ Charles Jagger has expertise assisting on exit strategies and in complex dilapidation claims, as does Chris Perrin, regarded as ‘one of the leading lights in the property world’, in addition to his strengths in business rates and development work. The ‘exceptional’ Andy Feehan is another name to note for his focus on property management issues. ‘Completely brilliant’ managing associate Patricia Love stands out and the ‘fiercely intelligent’ Vicki Sandbrook is a standout associate . Legal director Joanne Mills joined from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP in May 2022.