Asa Tolson

Practice Areas

Asa is a specialist chancery/commercial practitioner and one of the founder members of the 23ES Business & Property Team. He undertakes work in all aspects of those fields but with specialisms in banking/financial services, contract, insolvency, and property.

A significant proportion of Asa's practice comprises disputes relating to real estate. He is regularly instructed in leasehold matters both residential and under the 1954 Act and has particular experience in that area and of service charge disputes. In addition to landlord and tenant matters, Asa acts in cases concerning all aspects of real property law, including e.g. boundary disputes, mortgage claims, disputed rights of way, and trespass claims. He appeared successfully without a leader in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning easements and the alleged abandonment or loss of such rights by estoppel.

In the field of commercial dispute resolution, Asa has acted for many of the UK's largest banking and financial institutions, companies, football and rugby clubs, a variety of media and sporting personalities, world champions, and high net worth individuals, dealing with claims worth from a few hundred thousand pounds to in excess of £50m. He represented the successful claimant in AMT Vehicle Rental Ltd v Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Ltd [2022] EWHC 2934 (Comm), a 7-figure claim concerning the proper construction of a contract to supply replacement hire vehicles and the correct approach to the assessment of damages for breach of an obligation to engage the claimant.

Career

Asa was called to the Bar in 2012 and practises from 23 Essex Street Chambers. In addition to appearing regularly in the Business and Property Courts of the High Court, he has also appeared successfully in the Court of Appeal.

A qualified arbitrator (MCIArb in International Arbitration), Asa has been appointed to the Rugby Football League's Operational Rules Tribunal. He frequently chairs disciplinary hearings concerning alleged misconduct both on and off the rugby field.

Professional Memberships

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Rugby Football League Operational Rules Tribunal

Northern Business and Property Bar Association

British Irish Commercial Bar Association

Northern Circuit

Lincoln's Inn

Director, The Manchester Incorporated Law Library

Personal

Outside of work, Asa enjoys playing squash, running, and literature. He has been a passionate rugby league fan since the age of 8 and can frequently be heard delivering impromptu lectures on the merits of rugby league, whether requested or not!

Work Highlights

Poxon & And v Wejo Ltd [2025] EWHC 135 (Ch), dealing with a previously undecided point on administrators' remuneration.

City Gardens Ltd v Dok82 Ltd [2023] EWHC 1149 (Ch), concerning exclusive jurisdiction clauses and their relation to winding-up petitions.

AMT Vehicle Rental Ltd v Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Ltd [2022] EWHC 2934 (Comm), a 7-figure claim concerning the proper construction of a contract to supply replacement hire vehicles and the correct approach to the assessment of damages for breach of an obligation to engage the claimant.

McGrath v London Borough of Camden [2020] EWHC 369 (Admin), on the proper construction of BID levy regulations.

Watt v Dignan [2017] EWCA Civ 1390, a case concerning easements and the pleading of estoppel.

Bataillon v Shone [2016] EWHC 1174 (QB), a claim under section 423 Insolvency Act 1986 involving Panamanian foundations.

Education

Awards