Tanfield Chambers

Tanfield Chambers

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Richard Alford

Richard Alford

Richard Alford has an established and growing practice focusing on property and landlord and tenant work. He is delighted to accept instructions in any property law matter, as well as a wide range of commercial disputes. Richard enjoys technical matters and thrives on difficult cases and tricky points of law. He regularly appears in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), the County Court and the High Court. Areas of expertise Real Property Richard is regularly instructed to advise and/or to act in a wide range of property disputes. He has extensive experience of: \tLeasehold enfranchisement and right to manage \tService charges disputes \tForfeiture and breach of covenant \tCommercial lease renewal and termination \tMortgages and repossession \tBoundaries and easements \tParty walls \tTrusts of land and ownership disputes \tResidential possession proceedings Richard’s recent property work  has included: \tA county court determination of costs due under a lease in circumstances where damages for disrepair fell to be set off against service charges found to be due. \tRepresenting a number of property guardianship companies in disputed possession proceedings. \tAdvising on several cases involving imperfect securities and subrogation. \tAchieving an excellent settlement for a tenant challenging unreasonable service charges. \tAdvising a tenant in a case of alleged widespread fraud by freeholder and managing agent. \tObtaining an order for specific performance from the High Court in a sale and purchase dispute. \tAppearing in a high value central London lease extension application. \tRepresenting the tenant in a complex landlord and tenant dispute combining issues of enfranchisement and historic alleged breaches of lease. \tAppearing in numerous court applications relating to the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993. Commercial Disputes Richard regularly appears in commercial disputes in both the High Court and the County Court. He has acted in a range of matters, from straightforward breach of contract claims to high-value partnership and shareholder disputes. He is often called upon to advise on company law matters, particularly in relation to landlord and tenant issues. Richard also has experience in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings and drafting commercial agreements. Commercial work this year has included: \tAppearing in factually complex joint-venture / shareholder dispute \tSuccessful obtaining judgment in a case involving a contract to import commodities \tAdvising on a high-value construction breach of contract claim \tRepresenting the claimant in factually complex whistle-blowing dispute
Will Beetson

Will Beetson

Having established a busy practice at another leading set, Will was recruited to Tanfield in 2017.  Will is a property specialist and practises in Chambers’ core areas, with a particular emphasis on service charges and traditional landlord and tenant litigation, both in the residential and commercial context.  He is perceived as a trusted practitioner and has been instructed in a number of complex and high-value matters.  He has appeared against silk on several occasions. Given the nature of his practice at his former set, Will possesses trial experience significantly beyond that of most juniors at the Property Bar and is already the veteran of several hundred trials as well as many other appearances in the High Court, County Court and First-Tier Tribunal.  He is therefore favoured by clients for his relaxed yet robust courtroom manner.  He combines this trial experience with a deep academic interest in his chosen fields of practice. Will is a contributor to Service Charges & Management (Sweet & Maxwell, 4th Ed) produces articles for the Landlord & Tenant Review. Will is licensed to accept direct access instructions.
Robert Bowker

Robert Bowker

Robert Bowker has over 20 years’ experience in property-related work. Robert was called to the Bar in 1995 and completed pupillage in Chambers in 1997. From 1997 to 2007, he practised in Chambers exclusively in property litigation. Between 2007 and 2012, he practised as a solicitor and barrister in Australia primarily in construction litigation (he qualified in England/Wales and Robert Bowker has over 20 years’ experience in property-related work. Robert was called to the Bar in 1995 and completed pupillage in Chambers in 1997. From 1997 to 2007, he practised in Chambers exclusively in property litigation. Between 2007 and 2012, he practised as a solicitor and barrister in Australia primarily in construction litigation (he qualified in England/Wales and Australia). In 2012 he returned to Chambers and resumed his practice exclusively in property litigation. A significant aspect of Robert’s practice is dilapidations and major works (residential and commercial). He has worked with a wide range of expert witnesses including surveyors, structural engineers and M&E and fire safety experts. He works mainly for developers, investors and private and local authority landlords, but also for individuals including leaseholders. His experience in recent years has included a substantial amount of work in relation to fire safety including liability for and the cost of replacing ACM and other forms of cladding. He is currently advising in relation to a significant number of buildings that have fire safety and cladding issues. A large amount of his current workload involves the Building Safety Act 2022 – leaseholder protections, landlord’s and leaseholder deeds of certificates, remediation contribution orders, and the effect of PAS 9980 and EWS1. etc. He acts for developers, landlords and leaseholders.  He has been instructed in over 90 fire safety related cases, many since the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force. He regularly speaks at conferences, more recently on issues relating to fire safety and replacement cladding. In addition to building safety, Robert’s practice covers all aspects of residential, commercial and real property disputes including development, mortgages and a substantial amount of boundary and land registration work.
Philip Brown

Philip Brown

Philip is a property and commercial lawyer with a wide ranging practice. He is ranked in the Legal 500 as a Leading Junior for Property Litigation which states that “Philip is extremely methodical, offers depth in the advice provided and adopts an astute tactical approach.” He has extensive experience of most aspects of property law including commercial and residential landlord and tenant, enfranchisement, forfeiture, restrictive covenants, rights of way and other easements, estoppel, issues arising out of joint ownership of land, adverse possession, claims involving rectification of the Land Register, mortgages, LPA receivers and construction of covenants. Philip also regularly deals with commercial and business disputes and applications arising out of corporate and personal insolvency. He regularly appears in the Business and Property Courts and Queens Bench Division of the High Court , the County Court and before more specialised tribunals such as the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). He is equally adept at dealing with advisory work both contentious and non-contentious. Philip accepts instructions through the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme in appropriate cases.
Andrew Butler KC

Andrew Butler KC

‘Incredibly impressive on the detail – commercial in his approach, with superb drafting skills. He gets on very well with clients. Robust and calls it as he sees it – he doesn’t sit on the fence but gives clear, definitive and reasoned advice.‘ – Legal 500 2022. Andrew Butler KC practises in the areas of Property and Business & Commercial, and is Head of Chambers’ Business & Commercial Group. While he accepts instructions across the full spectrum of commercial and property work, he particularly specialises in development disputes and professional negligence matters, with company law issues also forming an increasing part of his caseload. Andrew is a qualified mediator and a member of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the London Court of International Arbitration. He is an adjudicator on the panel of the Professional Negligence Bar Association. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2018 and his silk practice has gone from strength to strength, involving an appearance in the Supreme Court, and regular appearances in the Court of Appeal, as well as the Commercial and Business and Property Courts. Andrew was short-listed for Barrister of the Year in the Lawyer Awards 2020.
Graham Callard

Graham Callard

Graham is a tax lawyer with over 40 years of experience. Graham started in the accountancy profession, then moved to the insurance industry and prior to practice at the independent Bar in 2013 spent 10 years as an employed barrister providing tax advice for clients of two firms of solicitors. Graham joined Tanfield Chambers in September 2024 after 11 years at the independent Bar. Graham combines his experience in taxation and private client work to advise and represent clients before the tax tribunals in disputes with HMRC. Graham also advises clients on the full range of taxes to ensure transactions are as tax efficient as possible and is registered as a public access practitioner.
Tom Carpenter-Leitch

Tom Carpenter-Leitch

Tom Carpenter-Leitch practices within most areas of property law, with a particular emphasis on real property and landlord & tenant negotiations. This includes TOLATA claims, adverse possession, easements, covenants and conveyancing issues and, in the landlord & tenant sphere, lease renewals and service charge disputes. A particular area of interest is the point of intersection of property law with insolvency or company law. Examples include: all aspects of bona vacantia, disclaimer and vesting orders; fractional property ownership collective investment schemes; the workings of residents’ management companies and tenant owned freehold companies following enfranchisement – with or without a shareholder participation agreement. Tom has built-up a niche area of expertise within insolvency law, relating to both corporate and personal matters. He has a wide knowledge in the field and regularly acts in relation to administrations, liquidations, bankruptcies, directors disqualification proceedings, administrative or other receiverships, individual or company voluntary arrangements, and partnership insolvencies. He is equally comfortable advising insolvency office-holders and creditors as he is with directors and debtors. Linked to this, Tom advises on charges and their priorities and company law. In addition to these core specialisms, Tom also has a varied business, commercial and modern chancery practice (including trusts and probate). Tom had a previous career as a chartered accountant. Having worked for two of the top five international accountancy firms and qualified as an insolvency practitioner, he brings over ten years of prior experience to his practice at the Bar. He also advises in professional negligence cases involving accountants and solicitors. Tom has lectured on insolvency and data protection law. He is a contributor to all editions of the book Service Charges & Management (Sweet & Maxwell – 2009 onwards)
James Castle

James Castle

James accepts instructions in all areas of property law, and specialises in each landlord & tenant and real property litigation. In his landlord & tenant practice, James deals with both residential and commercial properties, acting for both landlords and tenants across both the Court and Tribunal systems. His expertise spans the full range of leasehold disputes, from possession (including forfeiture) claims, to business lease renewals, dilapidations, service charges, leasehold enfranchisement, and the right to manage. James is uncommonly practiced for his year of call in cross-examining expert surveyors regarding valuation evidence in (for example) leasehold enfranchisement disputes and interim rent claims under the 1954 Act. And even fewer junior members of the Property Bar have James’s extensive experience in dealing with property guardianship disputes; James is the go-to junior counsel for a number of major property guardianship companies. Further, James has a busy real property practice dealing with boundary disputes, adverse possession, encroachment, easements, restrictive covenants and matters arising under the new Electronic Communications Code. James is the co-author (with Kerry Bretherton QC) of A Practical Guide to the New Electronic Communications Code for Property Lawyers (1st ed. 2022), and a contributor to Service Charges & Management (4th ed. 2018). James is licensed to accept direct access instructions. Areas of Expertise Landlord & Tenant James is currently representing a settlement trust in a complex residential forfeiture dispute concerning a former ambassadorial residence. In 2021, James acted for a major property guardianship company in a four-day multi-track possession trial. From 2019 to 2021, James represented a critically acclaimed London cocoa house in a long-running dispute with its landlord involving proprietary estoppel. James also appeared unled before the Deputy President of the Upper Tribunal (Property Chamber) in Robert Court RTM Company Limited v The Lough’s Property Management Limited [2019] UKUT 0105 (LC). Real Property In 2021, James represented a professional footballer and his wife in a four-day multi-track trial concerning freehold covenants, harassment and nuisance. Across 2020 and 2021, James acted for a professional landlord and property investor in a five-day multi-track misrepresentation trial related to the sale of a property. Across 2017 and 2018, James appeared a number of times before Masters in the Chancery Division of the High Court acting for a homeowner in a case where his equitable chargee had obtained possession of his home pursuant to an order for sale, and then failed to sell the property for the better part of a decade, permitting it to fall into substantial disrepair in the meantime. Commercial Disputes In 2017, James represented the daughter of a property developer in a high value multi-track trial that involved undue influence and unfair relationships under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. James is currently representing a property investor in a dispute with a development company related to the sale of a number of flats at a substantial undervalue.
Robyn Cunningham

Robyn Cunningham

Robyn’s practice covers all areas of property litigation as well as probate and company law. Particular areas of expertise include: easements, landlord and tenant, service charges and leasehold enfranchisement. Robyn has represented clients at hearings in the County Court, First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), the High Court and Court of Appeal. She is also a regular contributor to the Landlord and Tenant Review and PropertyLaw UK. She acts regularly in cases concerning the follow areas: \tRights of Way; \tTrespass; \tService charge disputes; \tLeasehold enfranchisement; \tOpposed leasehold renewals (Landlord and Tenant Act 1954); \tPossession proceedings (Housing Act 1988); \tRight to Manage (Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002); \tContentious and non-contentious probate; \tTrusts of land; \tOrders for sale (Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996); \tLand registration; \tCommercial contracts. Robyn completed pupillage at Tanfield Chambers under the supervision of Adrian Carr, Piers Harrison and Nicola Muir. She obtained an LLB from King’s College London, where she was awarded the university prize for top first in land law and the Dechert Land Law Scholarship. She undertook the BPTC at City Law School as Middle Temple’s Brick Court Scholar. Prior to coming to the Bar, Robyn worked as a Projects Officer in the business and commercial team of the International Bar Association. She also gained experience as a consultant, providing legal services to members of the Bar, solicitors’ firms and HM Government.
Thomas Dawson

Thomas Dawson

Thomas commenced practice at Tanfield Chambers in October 2024 and accepts instructions across the full range of chambers’ practice areas including private client, insolvency, commercial and property disputes. Having undertaken a commercial chancery pupillage with a practising second six, Thomas has gained experience across a broad cross-section of work during pupillage including but not limited to: \tContentious trusts and probate; \tBankruptcy and winding up petitions; \tResidential and commercial landlord and tenant; \tReal property; \tCompany/commercial.
Diane Doliveux

Diane Doliveux

Diane joined Tanfield in September 2015 on successful completion of her pupillage. She accepts instructions in all areas of Chambers’ work, with a particular focus on property law and public law work. Diane frequently appears in the County Court, including in fast-track and multi-track trials. She has a busy landlord and tenant practice acting for both claimants and defendants and dealing with diverse matters including possession, forfeiture and disrepair. Diane also has experience representing secure tenants in possession claims which have involved issues of succession, estoppel, and proportionality under the Human Rights Act. Prior to coming to the Bar, Diane graduated from King’s College, Cambridge with a first class degree in Social and Political Sciences. She has received a number of prizes and scholarships including the Peter Duffy Human Rights Award from Lincoln’s Inn in 2013, following receipt of which she undertook a three-month internship at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Daniel Dovar

Daniel Dovar

Daniel’s commercial practice includes business lease renewal claims, property joint venture disputes, rent reviews and forfeiture cases. He advises regularly on development issues such as restrictive covenants, building restrictions, rights of way and easements. On the residential side, Daniel deals with service charge disputes and right to manage claims. He receives regular instructions on enfranchisement and transactional matters as well as litigation and professional negligence issues.
Ceri Edmonds

Ceri Edmonds

Ceri Edmonds joined Chambers in September 2019 on successful completion of her pupillage.  During pupillage she was supervised by Nicola Muir, Mark Loveday and Carl Fain. Ceri experienced a wide range of work including leasehold enfranchisement, service charges, rights of first refusal, forfeiture, mortgages, possessions and real property. Since April 2019, Ceri has been undertaking her own cases, including both advisory and court work. She has been instructed to appear in the First Tier Tribunal, county courts and the High Court on a range of matters, and is looking to build her practice in all areas of Chambers’ core practice, with a particular focus on landlord and tenant disputes, service charges and enfranchisement. Before coming to the Bar, Ceri enjoyed a successful career as a civil servant working in the UK and abroad. She has extensive experience in advising ministers and senior officials and in drafting reports and submissions on complex and sensitive issues.
Carl Fain

Carl Fain

Carl Fain has a specialist property and chancery practice, with a focus on landlord and tenant. His work includes all aspects of commercial and residential landlord and tenant including dilapidations claims, business tenancy renewals, enfranchisement, rights of first refusal, RTM, appointment of managers and service charge disputes. Carl has been ranked as a leading Junior in Property Litigation / Real Estate Litigation in the legal directories for a number of years and has recently been described by the directories as “a fantastic advocate”,”pragmatic, incredibly user-friendly and has an excellent manner” and as a “bright, proactive and an extremely tenacious and effective advocate.” As well as appearing frequently in the County Court and the High Court, Carl has represented clients in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and the Court of Appeal. Carl regularly presents seminars on property related matters. He has been a speaker at a SJ Live event, and has presented Webinars for LexisNexis and seminars for the Council of Mortgage Lenders. Carl is also an author of LexisNexis Question and Answer series. As a former Management Consultant, solicitors and clients appreciate the commercial eye that he brings to his legal practice.
James Fieldsend

James Fieldsend

James Fieldsend is a specialist property practitioner. James is ranked as a leading junior for real estate / property litigation by both Chambers UK and Legal 500. He has represented clients in a number of reported cases that are of significance in his field of specialism. These include cases in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). As well as appearing in the courts, James provides advice to a wide range of clients including advising developers on how to structure both the physical aspects and legal ownership of developments so as to prevent the difficulties that are inherent in the ownership and management of mixed-use properties.
Elizabeth Fisher

Elizabeth Fisher

Elizabeth is regularly instructed in a variety of Property and Commercial Disputes. Elizabeth provides a range of legal services to landlords, tenants, local authorities, housing associations, and charities. She has a strong track record of advising and representing clients in court proceedings and in negotiations. Elizabeth is dedicated to providing practical solutions to complex legal issues. Elizabeth’s exceptional analytical ability, advocacy, and communication skills make her an invaluable asset to clients seeking legal advice and representation in property and commercial matters. Elizabeth is regularly instructed to advise and provide advocacy at all stages of litigation, including: applications for strike out, summary judgment, to set aside judgment, and cost and case management hearings.
Stan Gallagher

Stan Gallagher

Stan Gallagher’s practice is exclusively in the field of real property and related areas, with an emphasis on landlord & tenant, particularly leasehold enfranchisement, breaches of covenant, the legal issues that concern developers and recovering possession of commercial premises. He is particularly well known for his Property Tribunal work. He frequently appears in the Upper Tribunal, as well as in the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the County Court. He is also good at solving problems and achieving favourable outcomes for clients at mediations, settlement meetings and all other forms of ADR. Stan is regularly instructed on behalf of a wide range of landlords and other property owners, though he frequently acts for tenants. In addition, Stan often works directly with surveyors under the Bar’s professional access arrangements. He is currently involved in a number of high-profile leasehold disputes, including Assethold v Eveline Road RTM Company Limited [2023] UKUT 26 (LC) (qualifying premises for RTM) that is on appeal to the Court of Appeal and  Aneesh Limited  v Hinchliffe & Others [2023] UKUT 82 (LC)) (compensation payable on a collective enfranchisement) that is also being appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Marc Glover

Marc Glover

Marc Glover has a successful chancery practice, covering the areas of property, trusts, company / insolvency and commercial / business law. In 2020 Marc was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a Deputy Chancery Master of the High Court sitting in the Rolls Building, London. In 2021 Marc was appointed as a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) Residential Property and Land Registration Divisions. Marc Glover has been ranked in the legal guides Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for a number of years.  He is ranked as a leading junior in the Chamber UK Bar Guide 2021 (Real Estate Litigation) and in Legal 500 2021 (Property Litigation, Tier 2). Marc has developed a sub-specialty in excise & tax, trespass (including boundary disputes and adverse possession) and land registration, in respect of which Marc has successfully appeared in a number of leading cases. Marc’s practice is primarily in the High Court. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal on numerous occasions and in the Supreme Court on three cases in recent years. Marc’s cases often feature in the law reports and leading practitioner texts. Marc is qualified to accept Direct Access clients.
Amanda Gourlay

Amanda Gourlay

Amanda Gourlay’s practice focuses on property matters. Amanda came to the Bar after ten years in the travel industry, where her employment included negotiating contracts for a programme of holiday rental properties in Corsica. She brings enthusiasm and commitment to her court and paper work. As is to be expected of a former linguist, Amanda thinks quickly on her feet. She is an articulate and experienced advocate. Her research is always thorough, and she aims to produce written work, which is clear and user-friendly for court, solicitor and lay client.
Richard Granby

Richard Granby

Richard Granby’s practice encompasses all of Chambers’ core practice areas spanning the full range of real property and landlord and tenant disputes. Richard appears in all levels of the Court and Tribunal system, whether alone or led, and accepts instructions from freeholders, LPA receivers and mortgagees as well as management companies, leaseholders and borrowers. Where appropriate, Richard appears as sole counsel in the High Court and has appeared without a leader in the Court of Appeal. Prior to pupillage, Richard read History at Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge and is a Denning, Hardwick & Eastham Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn. Areas of Expertise: Landlord & Tenant Richard appears in the full range of disputes arising from commercial property including contested and uncontested lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and proceedings following forfeiture. Richard represents leaseholders, freeholders and management companies in service charge disputes in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and advises on obligations and liabilities, and costs recovery, under the terms of long leases. Richard has experience of bringing and defending challenges to the reasonableness of service charges, the entitlement to recover identified costs against leaseholders and the enforcement of the costs of major works following s.20 consultation. Richard frequently appears in proceedings for forfeiture of residential long leases and relief from forfeiture. Richard provides advice and representation in matters relating to statutory security including under the Rent Act 1977. Richard frequently acts in claims relating to disrepair in commercial and residential property as well as claims for Rent Repayment Orders and proceedings relating to property licensing offences. Real Property Richard advises and acts for clients in all areas of property law including: \tAdverse possession \tAlteration and rectification of the land register \tBoundary disputes \tClaims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 \tConstructive / resulting trusts \tEasements \tMortgages \tOrders for sale \tProprietary estoppel \tRestrictive and positive covenants \tRentcharges Richard had a particular interest in mortgages and the powers and duties of receivers and frequently provides advice and representation to both receivers and mortgagees as well as residential and commercial borrowers. Richard undertakes a substantial amount of work concerning rights over land including easements and rights of way as well as boundary and registration disputes in both courts and the First Tier Tribunal (Land Registration Division). Richard is regularly instructed in trials concerning beneficial ownership of property and other claims under the provisions of the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.
Katie Gray

Katie Gray

Katie Gray is a barrister with specialist expertise in real property and landlord and tenant litigation. Her practice encompasses all areas of real property and landlord and tenant disputes, with a particular focus on restrictive covenants, boundaries and easements, agricultural land, party walls, and leasehold covenants. Katie is frequently instructed in landlord and tenant and mortgage possession matters. She is experienced in commercial and residential forfeiture, contested 1954 Act lease renewals and leasehold covenant disputes relating to alterations, consent and the like. She is often asked to advise in matters related to the right of first refusal. Katie also has a successful real property practice in which she frequently advises on restrictive covenants (and the modification and discharge thereof), rights of way, rights to light,  boundary disputes, proprietary estoppel and agricultural land. She is often instructed to act in cases relating to trusts of land, including constructive and resulting trusts and orders for sale under TOLATA 1996. Katie is one of a handful of property litigators with specialist expertise in party wall disputes. She has acted in many party wall appeals, both led and in her own right"
David Guy

David Guy

Every type of commercial and common law case in the High Court and before arbitrators. Many commercial disputes concerning design and implementation of business computer systems and professional negligence heard in Technology and Construction Court. Extensively concerned in technical computer issues and the computation of losses, licensing, distribution agreements, commercial agents and all issues affecting the internet, telecoms and outsourcing including competition and consumer aspects. Financial services both compensatory and regulatory; case in European Court of Human Rights concerning Article 5 of Convention on Human Rights. Earlier practice was wide ranging including crime, both defence and prosecution, two cases in House of Lords; employment – many employment tribunals and EAT; acted for HM Coroners in several high-profile inquests; property – all aspects including residential, commercial, leasehold reform, construction and building and professional misconduct tribunals. Cases include: Rooks Rider v JR Steel (solicitors undertaking); [1993] 4 AER 716; Barret v Ducket (company derivative action and minority shareholder) [1995] BCC 362; Gretton v British Millerain (computer supply, professional negligence) BLR 2001; Winter Brown v Anglo Group [2000] 72 Con LR 118, [2000] ITCLR 559, [2000] Masons CLR 13, [2000] 144 SJLB 197 (concerning supplier and customers liability under a computer supply contract); Puolitaival and Pirttiaho v Finland, case number 54857/00 23/11/2004 (Art 6 of HR Convention); Collymore v Francis, 20 October 2008 (footballer awarded damages for poor financial advice); Hall v Cable & Wireless [2009] EWHC 1793 (Comm) (company’s liability to shareholders for listing particulars); Gaetano v Obertor [2009] 2653 (Ch) (transfer of shares under ‘exit’ clause).
Tim Hammond

Tim Hammond

Tim Hammond has a predominantly real property and landlord and tenant practice. He has experience of the Court of Appeal, the Chancery Division, the Queen’s Bench Division, the Companies Court, the Bankruptcy Court, the Upper Tribunal, the First-tier Tribunal, and the County Court. His cases have taken him from Croydon to Kazakhstan, and many places in between. Tim recently appeared for the management company that obtained an injunction removing Vinnie the terrier from a £1.5 million penthouse flat in Limehouse. The County Court case was widely reported in the national press and covered on the BBC. Tim (led by Christopher Heather QC) later succeeded in defeating the tenants’ appeal: Victory Place Management Co Ltd v (1) Florian Kuehn (2) Gabrielle Kuehn [2018] EWHC 132 (Ch). The appeal, which was heard by the Chancellor of the High Court, raised interesting questions about the exercise of discretions contained in lease covenants, the application of long-adopted policies and the implication of terms. Tim also recently appeared in the Court of Appeal acting for the successful Respondents in the matter of Kingley Developments Ltd v Brudenell and others [2016] EWCA Civ 980, a case involving the relative weight to be given to lay and expert evidence in circumstances of alleged forgery and wider frauds. The appeal followed an eight day trial at which Tim was also successful. Tim drafts pleadings, opinions and skeleton arguments. He advises in conference on legal and tactical matters. He undertakes advocacy for trials, appeals and applications. He finds practical solutions to problems, focusses upon strategy, and gives realistic and commercial advice. He is a persuasive advocate. He has experience of being led by QCs and senior junior barristers. He has considerable experience of mediation and arbitration. His clients have included the Crown, the Duchy of Lancaster, the Church of England, the Attorney General, multi-national businesses, billionaire businessmen, mid-sized companies, commercial landlords, charities, housing trusts, local councils, management companies, small businesses as well as private individuals.
Piers Harrison

Piers Harrison

Piers Harrison’s practice covers all areas of property law. He enjoys litigation. He is particularly experienced in leasehold enfranchisement. Piers is also often called upon to offer advice in non-contentious property cases where there is a development afoot. Piers has a number of direct access clients, mainly property developers and is happy to accept direct instructions in most cases. He is on the editorial board of Landlord and Tenant Review and PropertyLawUk and writes a periodic update on leasehold enfranchisement.
Nicholas Isaac KC

Nicholas Isaac KC

Nicholas Isaac KC is described by Chambers and Partners as “utterly brilliant… and incredibly knowledgeable,” “a compelling advocate” who is “fantastic with clients”. He has extensive experience in all aspects of property litigation, and relishes the challenge of difficult cases, last-minute instructions and novel points. In addition to party walls, boundaries and easement cases, for which Nick is particularly sought after, Nick has recently acted and advised in cases involving: fraud and breach of trust, commercial lease renewal, restrictive covenants, terminal dilapidations, service charges, relief from forfeiture, houses in multiple occupation, property damage and professional negligence, nuisance (including construction and noise nuisance) and trespass. Nick’s practice also includes commercial work in which regard recent instructions include a partnership claim on dissolution of the partnership, an unfair prejudice petition and breach of contract by a bank in relation to its customer. As well as lecturing regularly on various aspects of property law, including party walls and boundary disputes, Nick has written several books, including “The Law and Practice of Party Walls” (now in its 2nd edition) “Where is my boundary?”, “The New Party Wall Casebook“ and, most recently in August 2022, “The Rights of Light Casebook”. Nick also sat on and provided legal input to the RICS sub-committees writing the most recent editions of the RICS’s guidance notes on both party walls and boundaries Nick has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, and is happy to accept instructions to act as a mediator or arbitrator. He also accepts direct access instructions.
Sara Jabbari

Sara Jabbari

Sara has a busy practice spanning all areas of property and landlord and tenant matters. She has a particular interest in rights affecting land, and the development of land for mixed commercial and residential use. She has acted in relation to disputes involving issues around restrictive covenants, adverse possession, the construction of leases, leasehold enfranchisement and lease extensions, rights of first refusal,  service charges and rights to manage; often in relation to large-scale mixed use developments and residential schemes. Sara has also advised in relation to real estate finance schemes, where landlord and tenant issues have impacted on the structure and operation of the schemes, and she has experience in relation to property related professional indemnity claims. During the course of her career, Sara has spent time as an employed barrister, practising in a top ranked City Real Estate Disputes team. Sara’s experience working within a law firm has given her a unique insight into the requirements and preferences of solicitors when instructing counsel. She has extensive experience in providing advisory and advocacy support to contentious and transactional real estate lawyers, as well as directly to clients, property and fund managers, and surveyors. Sara brings a pragmatic, commercial approach to her practice and is experienced in advising on strategic as well as complex legal issues. Sara has a wealth of advocacy experience at all levels of the court system, and relishes appearing in court. Before coming to the Bar, Sara was an Associate Lecturer at the University of Manchester. She holds a doctorate in law (her PhD thesis compared Courts’ approach to the construction of terms in patent claims with other legal documents, such as leases and contracts). She brings to her career at the Bar her love of making arguments about legal and technical details. Outside of court, Sara is a fitness enthusiast much to the dismay of her lazy goldendoodle who has the privilege of keeping her company on long runs. Sara accepts instructions across all areas of property law, including in following areas: Real Property Sara acts in respect of a range of real property disputes, including actions in relation to development land; compulsory purchase; adverse possession claims; restrictive covenants; easements (including rights to light); profits-a-prendre; land registration; rectification claims; boundary disputes; and claims in restitution (e.g. for the return of a deposit upon failure to complete contract for sale). Commercial Landlord & Tenant Sara acts in connection with commercial landlord and tenant disputes and accepts instructions across all related matters, including: opposed and unopposed lease renewals; interim and terminal dilapidations; landlord and tenant issues arising out of insolvency; enforceability of leasehold covenants; service charge disputes; enforceability of break clauses; validity of notices. Residential Landlord & Tenant Sara acts in relation to a broad range of residential landlord and tenant disputes including: rights of first refusal; enfranchisement; service charge disputes; rights to manage and appointment of manager claims; actions relating to breach and enforcement and of lease covenants; possession claims, including claims under the Rent Act 1977; rent review; right to rent (Immigration Act 2014); construction of leases; service of notices. Professional Negligence Sara acts in relation to professional negligence claims relating to a range of property matters. Sara has advised in relation to negligence claims arising out of advice and service of enfranchisement notices; claims relating to overriding interests (and the failure to investigate/procure waivers in respect thereof); and claims against architects/surveyors.
Karen Jones

Karen Jones

Karen Jones is well versed on a wide range of property matters associated with the ownership and management of land – as former Chief Legal Adviser to the Country Land and Business Association (CLA). She has particular experience of public access to land issues, often associated with claims to public rights of way and village greens and is a member of DEFRA’s Stakeholder Working Group advising on public rights of way legislation. Having worked for a solicitors for several years (partner status), Karen is experienced in running cases from beginning to conclusion and can provide detailed guidance at all stages of this specialist litigation. Her clients have included individual landowners and their agents, developers, estates and parish councils as well as landowning organisations. Her knowledge has been sharpened by her extensive lobbying experience, which has included drafting amendments to Bills such as the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill and the recent Deregulation Bill. In addition she has acted as advocate for pressure groups during the passage of legislation in the UK and in Europe. Karen lectures extensively including for CLT and The Agricultural Law Association (ALA) and provides in-house seminars for solicitors and agents.
Estelle Lear

Estelle Lear

Estelle has experience in all areas of family law and has appeared at all levels of court from the Family Proceedings Court to the High Court. Estelle’s family practice includes – financial provision: on divorce, including complex businesses, trusts, third party claims against matrimonial property, bankruptcy, nuptial agreements, cases with an international element and enforcement proceedings; property disputes between cohabitees, financial provision for children of unmarried parents, civil partnerships and Inheritance Act claims. Private law children: including residence, shared residence and contact, applications for leave to remove from the jurisdiction and other specific issue orders. Experience of complex and intractable disputes, alleged domestic violence and fact-find hearings, and allegations of child abuse within the private law context. Family Law Act cases: including domestic violence and occupation of the home. Child abduction: including Convention and non-Convention abduction cases and applications for permanent leave to remove from the jurisdiction. Care proceedings: Estelle has acted for local authorities, parents, family members and children in applications for care orders, supervision orders, special guardianship and adoption.
Lorenzo Loeni

Lorenzo Loeni

Lorenzo joined chambers in September 2024 and accepts instructions across the full range of chambers’ practice areas. Having had an exclusively practising second six, Lorenzo has already appeared frequently in the county courts and first-tier tribunal and is familiar with the procedure which governs both. He has also drafted and provided advice on a wide array of matters. Together, his courtroom and paperwork practices have enabled him to gain broad experience including but not limited to: \tReal Property; \tCommercial L&T; \tResidential L&T; \tCompany and commercial disputes; \tBuilding Safety \tPrivate client Outside of law, Lorenzo enjoys long-distance walking at home and abroad and keeps a keen eye on the fortunes of Accrington Stanley FC.
Mark Loveday

Mark Loveday

Mark is a specialist residential property barrister, with his entire practice in this area. His work includes service charges and management, the Right to Manage, leasehold enfranchisement and building safety. He recently appeared in the Supreme Court in A1 Properties v Tudor Studios (2024) and FirstPort v Settlers Court RTM (2022). He has represented clients in contested hearings at every other level including the First-tier Tribunal, County Court, High Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and the Court of Appeal. Work largely relates to long leasehold service charge/management disputes and leasehold enfranchisement. He is General Editor of Service Charges & Management (Sweet & Maxwell, 5th Ed). He is regularly instructed by the major London estates and leaseholders in high-value contested management and enfranchisement cases. Marks' weekly column on residential property matters appears in the Times newspaper every Friday. Mark is a judge of the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and a member of the rule-setting Tribunal Procedure Committee. He was legal advisor to the joint working group that drafted the ICAEW Technical Release on Residential Service Charge Accounts ("TECH/03/11"), the leading professional guidance for service charge accounting in England. He is one of a handful of barrister Fellows of the Institute of Residential Property Management. Numerous awards include: "Barrister of the Year" at the Residential Management Awards 2011. "Barrister of the Year" at the Enfranchisement & Right to Manage Awards 2022. Mark has extensive experience in arbitration and expert determination. He accepts appointments as a mediator and as an arbitrator in property disputes. For a list of reported cases in the Upper Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, please see the section below.
Sam Madge-Wyld

Sam Madge-Wyld

All aspects of residential and commercial landlord and tenant and real property law, with particular expertise in service charge and management disputes, social housing and the regulation of the private rented sector. Noteworthy cases include Newham LBC v Harris [2017] UKUT 264 (LC) (rent repayment orders); Southwark LBC v Akhtar and Stel LLC [2017] UKUT 150 (LC) (service charges / waiver); Southwark LBC v Various Lessees of St Saviours Estate [2017] UKUT 10 (LC) (recovery of fire safety works as service charge); Mohamoud v RBKC [2015] EWCA Civ 780; [2016] PTSR 289 (Application of s.11, Children Act 2004 to possession claims); Birmingham City Council v Merali & others [2015] EWCA Civ 49; [2015] 2 C.M.L.R. 27 (Eligibility / homelessness / Zambrano carers); Birmingham City Council v Lloyd [2012] EWCA Civ 969; [2012] H.L.R. 44 (Article 8 defence / trespassers).
Nigel Meares

Nigel Meares

Nigel works in the mainstream of traditional Chancery Bar work, specialities including trust and real property advisory work and litigation; contentious and non contentious probate and estate administration; drafting trusts wills and ancillary documents; mortgage advisory work and litigation, drafting and advising in relation to large scale commercial and residential property schemes; family provision and Court of Protection work. His practice also encompasses commercial litigation; deceit and breach of warranty claims; and professional negligence.
Birgitta Meyer

Birgitta Meyer

Birgitta is very experienced in the field of chancery/commercial, with long-standing particular expertise in insolvency. Usually acting as sole counsel, comfortable acting for professional clients, individuals and/or companies, Birgitta is a “safe pair of hands”, a persuasive advocate, an excellent and thorough barrister, with a great manner with clients and enjoyable to work with. She is a good choice for complex cases and is qualified to accept instructions on a direct access basis. Birgitta’s practice covers all aspects of company and personal insolvency, including administrations, asset recovery, liquidation, receivership, CVAs, IVAs, proceedings brought by officeholders to set aside transactions at an undervalue and/or preferences, wrongful trading and misfeasance against former directors, directors’ disqualification proceedings and claims against office-holders. She also regularly deals with disputes between shareholders and issues regarding the duties of directors of companies.
Iain Mitchell KC

Iain Mitchell KC

Iain G Mitchell QC, was called to the Scottish Bar in 1976, and took silk in 1992. He was called to the English Bar and commenced practice in England in 2012. He was accredited as a mediator by the Mediation Bureau (Scotland) in 1997 and by Mediation Forum Ireland in 2007. He is a member of the Scottish Council for International Arbitration and sat on the bench as a Temporary Sheriff from 1992 to 1997. Iain is an experienced litigator with a wide and varied civil practice, with strengths in Business and Banking law, European Law, Public Procurement Law, Employment Law and Public Law, as well as being rated by Chambers Directory in Band 1 for both Information Technology and Public Procurement law and the only Scottish Silk recommended by the Legal 500 for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law. He has appeared in over 60 reported cases, including two in the House of Lords: Moncrieff v Jamieson [2007] 1WLR 2620 (the leading modern case on easements) where he succeeded in definitively establishing the existence of an easement of parking in the laws of both Scotland and of England and Clarke v Fennoscandia Ltd 2008 SC (HL) 122, a case concerning the enforcement of foreign decree allegedly obtained fraudulently in the US Third Circuit, and involving issues of Scots, English, French, European, United States, and Colorado law. He is currently heavily engaged in litigations in both England and Scotland seeking redress for bank customers in cases of alleged mis-selling of Interest Rate Swap Agreements, having acted for the claimants in Grant Estates Ltd v Royal Bank of Scotland Ltd [2012] CSOH 133, the first of such cases to be decided. He is also a leading member of QA legal, an international grouping of barristers, solicitors, financial experts and others who are pre-eminent in this field. His work is informed by extensive practical experience in business, the charitable and voluntary sectors, politics, and his keen interest in the arts and heritage. His sensitivity to commercial realities has frequently been commented upon and this, together with his substantial experience, enables him to develop innovative solutions, giving holistic advice which places the needs of clients in a wider commercial setting.
Nicola Muir

Nicola Muir

Nicola Muir specialises in all aspects of landlord and tenant and real property litigation both residential and commercial. Nicola is recommended by both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 which says “Nicola provides straight-forward yet accomplished advice which is hugely beneficial to both her instructing solicitors and their clients”. Nicola was shortlisted by the Legal 500 as Junior of the Year 2022 for Real Estate, Environment and Planning. Nicola has recently been appointed as a Judge in the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in the Land Registration division and is an Associate Member of the Civil Mediation Council. Nicola regularly appears in Court and in both the First Tier and Upper Tribunals of the Property Chamber. She is well known for her enfranchisement, service charge and land registration claims. Nicola also has a thriving commercial property practice and has been involved in a number of high profile boundary, adverse possession and beneficial interest disputes. Notable cases in which she has appeared include Eastern Pyramid Group Corp SA v Spire House RTM Co. Ltd (Court of Appeal), Tibber v Buckley (Court of Appeal), Leaseholders of Foundling Court and others v Camden LBC, Allied London (Brunswick) Ltd and others (Upper Tribunal), Westminster City Council v CH2006 Ltd (Upper Tribunal), Corvan (Properties) Ltd v Abdel-Mahmoud (Court of Appeal ) and LM Homes Ltd v Queen Court Freehold Co. Ltd (First Tier Tribunal). Nicola is a former solicitor and gives lectures on a variety of land law related topics as well as being regular contributor to the Estates Gazette. Publications: Regular column in the Estates Gazette on residential property law called – “Residential View”.  Co-author (with other members of Tanfield Chambers) of “Service Charges and Management" (Sweet & Maxwell 5th Ed.)    
Philip Rainey KC

Philip Rainey KC

Philip is joint head of chambers. Philip is a specialist in property litigation/real estate litigation.  His practice straddles the commercial/residential divide; it encompasses all aspects of real property, commercial landlord and tenant, as well as the residential landlord and tenant (particularly enfranchisement and service charges) in which Philip made his name. He has a wealth of experience at the highest level; he has appeared in eight cases to the Lords/Supreme Court, most recently the much-anticipated A1 Ground Rents v Tudor Studios RTM Co; and numerous others to the Court of Appeal. Philip has considerable experience acting for and against developers, in respect of options, overage disputes, establishing service charges, offplan sales, social and affordable housing aspects and the problems of mixed use among others. Philip has appeared in many leading cases in the property field, including Aviva v Williams [2023] AC 855 (service charges), the Annington Property judicial review [2024] 1 WLR 365, Sequent Nominees v Hautford [2020] AC 28 (consents) Kumarasamy v Edwards [2016] UKSC 40 [2016] AC 1334 (dilapidations), Menelaou v Bank of Cyprus [2016] AC 176 (mortgagee’s subrogation rights), and the “squatters rights” judicial review in R(Best) v Chief Land Registrar [2016] QB 23. Philip earlier appeared in Cadogan v Sportelli [2010] 1 AC 226 and Howard de Walden v Aggio [2009] 1 AC 39 in the House of Lords and Daejan Investments v Benson [2013] 1 WLR 854 in the Supreme Court. Philip has extensive experience in mortgage and guarantee claims, rent review, dilapidations, easements, restrictive covenants, boundary disputes, property-insolvency and contracts for sale. He knows his way around a party wall and the 1996 Act. Philip is experienced in arbitration and expert determination, both as advocate before the third party and in challenging the award or determination in court. He also undertakes a range of work which shades into the commercial arena, including overage and clawback, profit sharing, aspects of banking law, economic torts, fiduciary duty claims, freezing injunctions etc. His clients range from landed estates, listed property companies and banks to individual tenants. Philip has a keen, apolitical interest in law reform in the field of landlord and tenant law. He has presented papers to the All Party Parliamentary Group on leasehold reform, and he assisted the Law Commission with its project on “Event Fees” in the retirement housing sector. He is a regular speaker on property law issues.
Sebastian Reid

Sebastian Reid

Sebastian Reid is an established member of Tanfield Chambers, practising mainly in Property and Family matters. He enjoys the wide experience of having learnt the many different aspects and types of advocacy and forensic skills that must be mastered as a barrister, having originally practiced as a criminal and general common law lawyer. Sebastian believes that many of the cases of which he has special experience (commercial, business and property disputes) are well suited to the Bar’s Public Access scheme. As a result he is qualified to take on such cases from businesses and the general public. Sebastian has a very personable attitude to his clients and they often comment on his sensible yet robust approach to his work.
Hugh Rowan

Hugh Rowan

Hugh Rowan joined Tanfield Chambers after successful completion of his pupillage in September 2022. During his pupillage Hugh gained a wide experience of Chambers’ practice areas through his supervisors: Piers Harrison, Daniel Dovar, and Carl Fain. Hugh accepts instructions in all areas of real property, commercial law, and residential and commercial landlord and tenant law. Hugh has appeared a sole counsel in the High Court, the County Court, and the First Tier Tribunal in multi-track, fast/intermediate track, and small claims track cases. Hugh is also involved a number of high-profile cases in Chambers, and was recently instructed as a Junior to Andrew Butler KC in a two-and-a-half-week High Court commercial trial, and is due to appear in the Court of Appeal twice this year. Hugh is Direct Access qualified and happy to accept instructions on a Direct Access basis in suitable circumstances. A regular contributor to the Practical Law Dispute Resolution Blog and to the Landlord & Tenant Review, Hugh often writes the Case Digest for these publications as well as topical articles and case commentaries. He is also a co-author of the recent authored ‘Building Safety Act 2022; A Guide for Property Lawyers’, and regularly travels to give talks on this topic. Prior to joining Chambers Hugh undertook his GDL and BPTC (LLM) at City University, during which time he volunteered as a caseworker at the Free Representation Unit where he conducted a number of successful employment cases in the First-Tier Tribunal. Hugh was also a volunteer with Blackfriars Settlement Advice Clinic. Hugh is also a freelance bagpipe player and an amateur beekeeper.
Chloe Sheridan

Chloe Sheridan

Chloe Sheridan is a barrister with broad expertise covering all aspects of real property and landlord and tenant litigation. Chloe has appeared led and unled in the High Court (Chancery Division), county courts as well as the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Specific areas of interest include: \tTrusts of Land \tProprietary estoppel \tAdverse Possession \tEasements and covenants \tTrespass \tMortgages \tOrders for sale \tService Charge disputes \tEnfranchisement \tLease Renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 \tClaims under the provisions of the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 \tBuilding Safety Act 2022 Chloe also has experience in contentious and non-contentious probate matters and broader commercial law, typically with a property element.  
Nora Wannagat

Nora Wannagat

Since qualifying in October 2019, Nora has developed a broad chancery practice. Her experience is wide-ranging and includes insolvency, company, property and contentious probate disputes. She also regularly advises on and acts in purely commercial cases, often concerning the interpretation of international commercial contracts. In addition to regularly appearing in trials and applications across these areas, both in the County Court and in the High Court, she has on several occasions acted as sole counsel in appeals.