Charles Russell Speechlys LLP is well equipped to handle property litigation for high-net-worth individuals and landed estate clients. Among other areas, the team frequently advises on residential and agricultural premises, with recent mandates including possession of land disputes, surrenders, and compensation payment claims. The team is led jointly by Emma Humphreys, who handles break rights, insolvency matters, arrears, forfeiture, dilapidations, and business tenancy renewals, while David Haines assists with break notices and easements as well as covenant disputes and property-related professional negligence claims. Emma Preece advises on a range of landlord and tenant disputes such as lease renewals, arrears, and service charges.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘High quality team.’
‘David Haines and Emma Preece are excellent.’
‘Emma Preece is an exceptionally capable, organised and intelligent senior associate. She is the 'ideal solicitor' in terms of being someone who you can place total confidence in at all times to be calm, professional, across the detail, and sound in her judgement in all respects. She really is one to watch in the property litigation world, in my view.’
‘Emma Humphreys is our partner lead. Emma is an exceptional lawyer; commercial, responsive and pragmatic. She cares about our business, understands it well, and is excellent at providing value-added services such as training sessions. The team is well supervised.’
‘The team has significant expertise and excellence in real estate litigation, in both residential and commercial sectors, led by David Haines.’
‘I have mainly worked with Emma Preece and David Haines. Both have a steely determination and excellent client care skills. Emma was able to plot a course through difficult litigation, which was ultimately successful.’
Key clients
- Ballymore Group
- Church Commissioners for England
- Willkie Farr Gallagher
- SPL Real Estate Limited
- Hackney Joint Estate Charity
- West Bay Holdings Limited
- Timothy Watkins
- Vanni Properties Limited
- LCP Group
Work highlights
Assisted Willkie Farr Gallagher LLP acting for a lender in liquidation in seeking to enforce a $multimillion security under a loan contract by obtaining an order for possession of the property, which acts as security for the loan, including against family members of the borrowing company.
Acted on behalf of a self-storage facility in a commercial boundary dispute, which resulted in a successful determination of the boundary in the client’s favour, together with an injunction against the adjoining hotel, and an order it pays the client’s costs on the indemnity basis.
Advising SPL Real Estate Limited on a claim brought by an adjoining owner in relation to the neighbour’s ability to remove infrastructure serving SPL’s land.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
David Haines; Emma Humphreys
Other key lawyers
Emma Preece