James Coles > Browne Jacobson LLP > Birmingham, England > Lawyer Profile

Browne Jacobson LLP
15th Floor
103 Colmore Row
Birmingham
B3 3AG
England

Work Department

Real Estate

Career

James is Head of our Property Litigation Department and has a wealth of experience assisting clients manage and resolve their property related disputes enabling them to focus on their core business.

James acts for a diverse range of clients including large international corporates, well-known national retailers, housebuilders, public and private sector landlords, large educational establishments and developers.

James has experience of all contentious matters involving commercial property including claims under leases for unpaid rent, forfeiture, dilapidations, rent reviews and service charge disputes. He has a particular interest in opposed business lease renewals, trespass claims and break notice disputes.

James also deals with property related professional negligence claims. He recently acted for one of the UK’s largest Building Societies in a portfolio of claims against surveyors for negligently undervaluing commercial properties.

Where appropriate, James advocates the use of alternative methods of dispute resolution (including mediation and expert determination) as a means of minimising the cost and wasted management time that can be involved in taking a property dispute to Court.

Lawyer Rankings

West Midlands > Real estate > Property litigation

Browne Jacobson LLP is noted in particular for its experience in the retail sector, but advises a wide selection of well-known corporates, as well as an increasing number of public sector clients on matters including landlord and tenant disputes, both commercial and residential, rights of way, covenants and adverse possession. Other sectors of expertise include health and education. Experienced practitioner James Coles leads the practice, splitting his time between Birmingham and Nottingham. In Birmingham, senior associates Hannah Carter and Katie Briggs bring deep property disputes experience to the team, particularly relating to landlord and tenant matters.

East Midlands > Real estate > Property litigation

Browne Jacobson LLP handles complex disputes for prominent clients across the retail, health insurance, private and public sectors. The team focuses on development and landlord and tenant matters, both commercial and residential. This includes lease renewals, covenant obligations, dilapidation and overage disputes. James Coles is the national head of real estate disputes, supporting major national clients in the retail, logistics and healthcare sectors.