Practice Areas
John specialises in Business and Property litigation with a particular interest in contentious probate, trusts, real property, commercial litigation and insolvency. He is often instructed on cases which require expertise across multiple areas of chancery law.
He is instructed by a wide spectrum of clients including lending institutions, local government departments, trustees and executors, beneficiaries, landlords, tenants, receivers, shareholders, landowners in dispute with their neighbours and insolvency office holders of all types.
Notable recent cases include:
Oyston v Blackpool Council [2024] EWHC 1224 (Admin), acting for Blackpool Council, concerning the jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court to entertain certain defences in relation to a summons for the non-payment of Council Tax.
(1) The Office of The Bankruptcy Adjudicator (2) The Secretary of State For Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy v Shaw [2022] BPIR 807, acting for the Bankruptcy Adjudicator and the Secretary of State. The case clarified the test and burden of proof in relation to an appeal of a decision of the bankruptcy adjudicator, as well as considering the costs regime for such an appeal.
Professional Memberships
Professional Memberships
• Chancery Bar Association
• Property Bar Association
• Northern Business and Property Bar Association
• Northern Circuit