Dispute resolution
Gatehouse Chambers undertakes a variety of complex and high profile professional negligence disputes across the legal, construction, property, insurance and financial sectors. Catherine Piercy KC acts for the external wall contractor in the Grenfell Tower litigation and is leading Helena White and Kort Egan. John de Waal KC represents the defendant solicitors in University for the Creative Arts v Eversheds Sutherland International, a solicitors claim which centres around the allegedly negligent operation of a break clause. Daniel Gatty represented the defendant in Trio Property Investment v The Foster Partnership Ltd, an action against a group of licensed conveyancers – at issue was if the limitation period continued to run against a company being wound up if the claim would be met out of the defendant’s insurance.
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Profile
Work Department
Property litigation, professional indemnity, professional indemnity insurance, mediation
Position
John de Waal KC divides his time between practising as a barrister at Gatehouse Chambers and as a mediator with The Property Mediators.
The directories say that he “is able to see through the confusion and noise created, guiding you to a strong commercial resolution. He is knowledgeable, measured and good with clients” (Legal 500, 2024”) and is “a go-to mediation Silk for property and professional negligence matters” (Legal 500, 2024).
He is regularly instructed in complex property-related litigation in the Chancery Division and the Court of Appeal. In 2015 John appeared in the Supreme Court in Cavendish v Makdessi [2016] AC 1172, the decision that is now the leading case on the law of penalties.
John is the editor of the title “Risk and Negligence in Property Transactions” published by the Law Society in October 2018.
John was a recent winner of Real Estate, Environment and Planning Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards.
Mediation
John particularly enjoys working as mediator and conducts about 40-50 mediations every year. For more information about his mediation practice, please go to www.thepropertymediators.co.uk.
Career
Called 1992; joined Gatehouse Chambers 2009; KC 2013.
Memberships
- British Insurance Law Association
- Property Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
Education
Cantab (1986 MA Hons); accredited mediator (2001 CEDR).
Content supplied by Gatehouse Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Adam Macdonald provides a really efficient and friendly service with speedy provision of fee quotes, availability and fee notes.'
- 'The clerks are always helpful and usually respond quickly.'
- 'The clerks at Gatehouse are great! They are so friendly, approachable and helpful it makes it a pleasure to instruct counsel from this set.'
- 'The set as a whole is very efficient and often offers regular seminars on topical legal updates.'
- 'The clerks are always able to recommend suitable counsel.'
- 'Gatehouse Chambers is an incredible set with some of the best barristers in the country.'
- 'An all-round excellent chambers that punches well above its weight.'
- 'Gatehouse Chambers is an excellent technical set, with particularly impressive offerings in professional negligence and also in property.'