Ashfords LLP‘s practice stands out for its diverse workload for local authorities and London boroughs, in addition to its experience acting for a number of private sector clients that include retailers and property developers. Commercial landlord and tenant matters make up a key aspect of the practice, as do development and investment issues such as easements and overage disputes. Practice head and property insolvency expert James Hemsley leads the team from Plymouth. In Exeter, Sian Gibbon has specialist knowledge in telecoms and right of light claims, with Victoria Bonnet acting in a range of commercial and residential disputes as well as professional negligence claims. Dividing time between Exeter and Taunton, Robert Nicholson covers a range of commercial and residential property disputes, with Bristol’s Warren Reid being especially notable for his dilapidation expertise. Also noted is Sophie Michaelides, who is ’a very astute senior solicitor with a great eye for detail’, and Marjorie Batten, who focuses on social housing matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A good regional set that has an eye for detail and a willingness to push cases hard.’
‘One of the very best property litigation practices in the SW. Very large team with exceptional quality partners and associates in Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth. More than able to conduct heavyweight litigation. Great support from top to bottom and very nice lawyers to work with. Exceptional product.’
‘James Hemsley - a great partner who sees the bigger picture and follows the client's desires to fruition. Sophie Michaelides - a very astute senior solicitor with a great eye for detail.’
‘Very good client care and dedication. Will go out of their way to help clients as well as making sure procedural matters are organised efficiently. Excellent team collaboration.’
‘A market-leading practice in the South West region, with a wide client base (nationwide), able to offer the expertise needed in any area of property/real estate litigation, with a team of bright and highly experienced lawyers.’
‘Robert Nicholson is a very bright lawyer; active and thoughtful; a sensible litigator, with great commercial nous; very easy to work with; efficient; committed to his cases; great communication skills; has built up a wide range of expertise, particularly across the commercial property sector.'
'Warren Reid is another bright lawyer with a broad spectrum of experience in the sector and great ideas; a measured litigator, with great commercial nous; excellent client management and communication skills, including with less commercial clients in the public and housing sectors; very easy to work with.’
- 'Sian Gibbon is very experienced in a broad range of property disputes, very good to deal with.'
Key clients
- London Gateway (LG Park Leasehold Limited)
- Watford Borough Council
- Torbay Council
- London Borough of Southwark
- Bristol City Council
- The Guinness Partnership Limited
- London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond
- St Mungo
- Pinnacle Group Limited
- London Borough of Lambeth
Work highlights
- Advised LG Park Leasehold Limited on options for ending leases and the likely effect of the administration on the tenant’s obligations under the leases as well as the potential impact on LG’s likelihood of recovery in respect of unpaid rent, service charges, and dilapidations liabilities.
- Instructed by the London Borough of Southwark to assist in recovering possession of a telecoms site situated on top of Bromyard House which the council needed to demolish as a result of it being structurally unsound.
- Advised on a sizeable commercial service charge dispute relating to the reasonableness of sums demanded and liability to make payment.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
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
James Hemsley
Other key lawyers
Sian Gibbon; Victoria Bonnet; Robert Nicholson; Warren Reid; Sophie Michaelides; Marjorie Batten