Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Real Estate Litigation - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Wilberforce Chambers acts on a wide range of property matters, including both residential and commercial landlord and tenant cases, development disputes, title disputes and agricultural property cases. Members appear frequently in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. This year, members of the set have appeared on both sides of Iya Patarkatsishivili & anor v William Woodward-Fisher, the high-profile 'moths' case which has made headline news. A source reports: "Wilberforce Chambers is the go-to set for property litigation. The skillset at all levels is unrivalled and they will always be a first choice for any high value, complex property dispute." Another interviewee adds: "Wilberforce is the best of the best in our real estate disputes area and its roster of barristers is top tier."

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

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Joanne Wicks
Star Individuals

Joanne Wicks KC has a fine reputation as a top real estate silk, and has a practice centred on commercial and residential property transactions and professional negligence. She regularly appears in the Supreme Court. She also undertakes arbitration and expert determination work.

Jo is one of the top, if not the top, silks for real estate litigation.

Her real strength is she is totally unflappable. I can pose any question or call her in a panic and she will answer calmly and confidently.

Jo is a marvellous advocate - understated but always wins.

Jonathan Seitler
Star Individuals

Jonathan Seitler KC continues to be considered one of the top property litigation silks at the Bar. He frequently handles a broad caseload of high-profile, complex real estate disputes. He is particularly prized for his superior level of expertise in tricky appellate cases and is often at the forefront of establishing new points of law in the area.

Jonathan has a brilliant advocacy style - clear, concise and to the point.

Jonathan is a leading character at the Bar. His reputation is well deserved and clients love him.

He is creative, user-friendly and nobody fact checks on a case like he does. He is also a true showman and trial lawyer.

1
John McGhee
1
Band 1

John McGhee KC is a leading property silk whose practice takes in property-related professional negligence matters as well as general real estate cases. He is admired for his tactical approach and his knowledge of equitable remedies, including rectification and specific performance in a real estate context. Right to light is one area in which he has particular expertise.

He is prized for his undisputed skill and ability to grapple with any issue, no matter how thorny.

John is an exceptional advocate, brilliant with clients and his charm is phenomenal.

John exudes confidence and reassures colleagues and clients alike in even the trickiest of situations.

1
Martin Hutchings
1
Band 1

Martin Hutchings KC is noted for his impressive property practice spanning contentious and non-contentious matters and professional liability. His areas of specialism include landlord and tenant matters, dilapidations and lease issues. He is also regularly instructed in relation to restrictive covenants and development agreements.

Martin is the authority on complex property disputes and he leaves no stone unturned.

He is truly a class act, with a depth and breadth of experience that is unrivalled.

Martin has provided excellent leadership in a very complex and high-value claim.

2
Benjamin Faulkner
2
Band 2

Benjamin Faulkner focuses on high-profile, complex property litigation. He is noted for his user-friendly approach and attention to detail. His expertise extends to tenancy agreements and property statutes. He also handles cases relating to town and village greens as well as land registration issues.

Benjamin is great with clients, very commercial and his enthusiasm for the law is infectious.

He is intellectually very strong and tactically very bright.

He is all over the detail, is incredibly thorough and his advocacy has been exceptional.

2
Emer Murphy
2
Band 2

Emer Murphy is a respected junior attracting notable instructions in commercial and residential landlord and tenant matters. She also acts in development disputes and property contract cases, among other matters.

She is a real star of the bar - frighteningly intelligent but extremely engaging, collaborative and commercial.

Emer is a tour de force. She is thorough in her analysis, extremely robust as an advocate and able to hold her own in difficult circumstances and against heavyweight opposition.

She is technically excellent, knows her way around complex aspects of property law and produces beautiful written work.

2
Jonathan Chew
2
Band 2

Jonathan Chew has a robust real estate litigation practice and is highly experienced in the High Court. He frequently handles high-value landlord and tenant disputes. He is also able to handle complex cases involving property-related fraud.

He is the bee's knees for matters regarding finance and property.

Jonathan is very commercial and strategic in his approach.

Even when led by a senior silk, you feel Jonathan is adding unique insights and value to the matter.

3
Harriet Holmes
3
Band 3

Harriet Holmes frequently appears in the High Court and County Courts, taking on a diverse range of matters, including adverse possession, enfranchisement and party wall issues. She has particular knowledge of niche areas of law, including mines and minerals and telecoms. She is noted for her dedication to her clients.

She thinks issues through thoroughly and provides holistic advice taking various potential risks and considerations into account.

Harriet's strategic thinking is always one step ahead of the opposition.

Harriet is a highly skilled advocate and her advice is always meticulous in its technical detail, whilst commercial and targeted to the client's needs.

3
James McCreath
3
Band 3

James McCreath acts on a broad range of real estate matters, such as forfeiture and sale agreement disputes. He works at all levels of court, including the Supreme Court. He has significant expertise in restrictive covenant cases.

Clients were particularly impressed with his judgement and advocacy and were extremely pleased to have had him on board.

He is a superstar of the future with an incredible breadth and strength of knowledge.

James is very intelligent, a strategic thinker and came up with clever ideas nobody else had thought about.

3
Julian Greenhill
3
Band 3

Julian Greenhill KC is a major player at the property Bar known for his expertise in handling real property and landlord and tenant cases, among his wider chancery and commercial law practice. He is noted by market sources for his excellent advocacy and client skills.

Julian is a courageous advocate who fights his client's corner and provides robust advice and advocacy.

Julian is my go-to for knotty interpretation instructions.

He is very measured, incredibly detailed and has an amazing legal brain.

3
Thomas Grant
3
Band 3

Thomas Grant KC is a respected property silk with a focus on landlord and tenant matters. His practice specialises in chancery litigation and he regularly appears in the Court of Appeal. He is a general editor of Lender Claims, a leading text in the area.

Thomas is mega clever and very personable.

His advocacy is just brilliant - really entertaining but also effective.

3
Tiffany Scott
3
Band 3

Tiffany Scott KC has a highly visible practice in the property litigation sector. She has become known for her work in the full spectrum of real estate cases and has handled matters relating to rights of light, trespass and adverse possession. In addition, she also regularly tackles development disputes, and has contributed to and edited a number of prominent texts on real estate law.

Tiffany is very meticulous in her preparation and leaves no stone unturned.

She is very clever and writes really helpful opinions; she will actually give an opinion rather than sitting on the fence.

4
Alice Hawker
4
Band 4

Alice Hawker acts on a wide range of matters across the property law practice area. She has significant expertise in dealing with trespass and harassment, service charge and boundary disputes, among a whole host of other issues.

She is diligent, thoughtful, committed and completely unflappable.

Alice is great, easy to work with, very personable, commercial and recommends sensible and holistic solutions.

4
Jonathan Davey
4
Band 4

Jonathan Davey KC has extensive experience working in the Court of Appeal. He is an expert in real property and landlord and tenant disputes for clients including government departments and corporate entities. He is editor of Butterworths Property Law Handbook.

His advocacy is compelling, he commands huge respect from clients and he has a quicksilver mind.

Jonathan is a highly impressive advocate, who has a clear vision for delivering a case from start to finish.

4
Zoë Barton
4
Band 4

Zoë Barton KC has a practice that combines property, trusts and estates with other chancery work. She is known for taking on cases with elements of fraud and for acting for high street retailers. Barton is further noted for her work in property-related professional negligence claims.

Zoë is very cerebral, a very articulate advocate and my first choice for anything property related.

Zoë is a real fighter and a capable advocate.

She is technically strong, clear in her advice and commercially aware.

5
Daniel Petrides
5
Band 5

Daniel Petrides is a very impressive junior who is regularly instructed in high-profile property litigation mandates. He has expertise in a broad range of issues including dilapidations, lease renewals, rights of way and enfranchisements.

Daniel is very intelligent and personable.

Daniel has a great grasp on the law and how things will play out in front of judges.

5
Joseph Steadman
5
Band 5

Joseph Steadman regularly acts across a wide range of property law matters. He has experience in high-profile rent arrears cases, right of way actions and leaseholder disputes. He has appeared in the County Court, tribunals and the Court of Appeal.

Joseph is easy to get along with but at the same time he persuades and has a commanding presence in court.

Joseph is diligent, extraordinarily competent and a credit to his profession.

He is an outstanding performer, a consummate barrister and a silk in waiting.

5
Mark Galtrey
5
Band 5

Mark Galtrey is relied upon by clients for his property law advice. He has experience in Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 matters, including contested lease renewal cases, as well as enfranchisement and agricultural issues. He has a growing appellate practice.

Mark has provided very focused and helpful advice and pleadings.

Mark is making a name for himself in the 1954 Act sphere; he is a commercially astute lawyer who is also extremely strong on the black letter law.

Mark is great to work with, with experience and commerciality far beyond his call.

5
Simon Atkinson
5
Band 5

Simon Atkinson is regularly instructed in high-value real estate cases. He handles everything from disputes regarding property titles to rights of way cases and possession claims.

Simon is a promising junior and a very able advocate. I have no doubt he will be in silk before very long.

He is absolutely fantastic and knows the law inside out.

5
Tom Roscoe
5
Band 5

Tom Roscoe has a strong property practice with a particular focus on commercial matters. He has impressive experience advising clients in the public and private sectors on trespass and adverse possession issues.

Tom has a calm but commanding style which I think sits well with most judges.

He is always very quick to get up to speed on knotty fact patterns and home in on the key issues, and he is a really powerful advocate.

Ranked Barristers at
Wilberforce Chambers

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Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Real Estate Litigation

Joanne Wicks KC
Star Individuals
Jonathan Seitler KC
Star Individuals
1
John McGhee KC
1
Band 1
1
Martin Hutchings KC
1
Band 1
3
Julian Greenhill KC
3
Band 3
3
Thomas Grant KC
3
Band 3
3
Tiffany Scott KC
3
Band 3
4
Jonathan Davey KC
4
Band 4
4
Zoë Barton KC
4
Band 4

Juniors

London (Bar)

Real Estate Litigation

2
Benjamin Faulkner
2
Band 2
2
Emer Murphy
2
Band 2
2
Jonathan Chew
2
Band 2
3
Harriet Holmes
3
Band 3
3
James McCreath
3
Band 3
4
Alice Hawker
4
Band 4
5
Daniel Petrides
5
Band 5
5
Joseph Steadman
5
Band 5
5
Mark Galtrey
5
Band 5
5
Simon Atkinson
5
Band 5
5
Tom Roscoe
5
Band 5