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Tanfield Chambers – Chambers UK 2020
Tanfield Chambers have confirmed their position amongst the top property sets, being recognised by Chambers UK 2019 as a leading set for real estate litigation, ranked in Band 2.
The directory which ranks the top UK sets and barristers in their area of specialism has reported:
Tanfield Chambers is best known for its well-developed expertise in a wide range of residential landlord and tenant disputes, including enfranchisement and service charge cases. Members have recently acted in complex cases concerning party wall issues, property damage, ownership claims, trespass, rights of way and other challenging matters. Barristers at Tanfield Chambers appear at all levels of the court system including First-tier Tribunals, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. This “forward-thinking” set is widely lauded for its excellent client service and user-friendly approach. “It is a highly respected chambers with well-qualified and very experienced members.”
They also highlighted the client service and senior practice managers, stating:
“Very personable and keen to build long-lasting relationships.”
“The clerks and barristers are a pleasure to work with.”
Full results can be found here or on the individual barrister profiles.
Real Estate Litigation
Ranked Senior Barristers
Continues to be regarded as one of the Bar’s finest property silks and has an excellent reputation for his enfranchisement work. His practice is also centred on expert determination, fraud claims and easements. He serves as head of Tanfield Chambers. He is experienced in all manner of landlord and tenant matters and is an advocate for reform of the law in this area.
Strengths: “He is excellent, has a good manner in court and is very good at presenting cases.”
“Excellent academically and commercially astute.”
“He offers clear and concise advice and is able to turn his hand to all kinds of complex issues.”
“Does not sit on the fence and gives excellent, pragmatic and assertive advice.”
Recent work: Acted in John Lyon’s Charity v London Sephardi Trust, a case regarding the meaning and effect of Section 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978 and its effect on the repeal and re-enactment of statutory provisions in enfranchisement cases.
Handles cases concerning easements, boundaries and a wide range of other property disputes. He is especially noted for his enfranchisement work, and he frequently works with leading instructing solicitors. His clients include property companies and both commercial and residential landlords and tenants.
Strengths: “He is extremely good at advising on knotty or unusual claims.”
“Wonderful to work with and very pragmatic.”
“He offers helpful advice and a fast turnaround.”
Recent work: Acted for a well-known businesswoman in three sets of proceedings – against the landlord, the Land Registry and her former solicitor – arising from the non-registration of a notice against a freehold title in 2011.
Particularly noted for his strong practice in matters relating to mortgage law and other securities over land. He also advises on service charge disputes, rights to light and party wall issues, among other cases.
Strengths: “He is ever so user-friendly – he’s a silk without pomposity.”
“He will leave no stone unturned and is very good in court.”
“He has great knowledge about anything property-related.”
An authority on the full range of issues arising in disputes involving party walls. He has authored an important legal textbook on the subject. His real estate practice also incorporates easement and boundary matters. He has recently appeared in the Court of Appeal.
Strengths: “Utterly brilliant in party wall disputes for high-end properties and incredibly knowledgeable.”
“Very tenacious in court.”
Recent work: Acted in Welter v McKeeve, a Party Wall Act appeal against a £200,000 award for remedial works to defective underpinning.
Ranked Junior Barristers
Best known as an expert in high-value enfranchisement matters. He has also acted on multiple dilapidations cases, as well as contentious rent reviews and forfeitures. He edits a textbook on the law surrounding service charges and readers of The Times will recognise his weekly property law column.
Strengths: “Thorough and approachable in all residential landlord and tenant matters.”
“Very experienced and able to give a well thought out and reasoned opinion on complex matters of property law.”
Recent work: Acted in a collective enfranchisement matter concerning three blocks of flats with development value issues of up to £5 million.
A prominent property junior with a practice that focuses on landlord and tenant law. He is further noted for his dedication to leasehold enfranchisement and his close relationship with London Estates. Buckpitt represents developer clients in relation to commercial property matters. He is also known for his work in non-contentious matters with a focus on development sites.
Strengths: “He is very commercial and solutions-oriented.”
“He is really good on leasehold enfranchisement and service charge issues – if you have a real fight, he’s your man.”
Recent work: Acted for Taylor Wimpey in a dispute over a substantial development contract.
Has a diverse commercial and residential property practice, specialising in contentious landlord and tenant matters. He is frequently sought out by clients for guidance on leasehold disputes, as well as conveyancing disputes and professional negligence matters. Daniel also has significant niche expertise in work relating to hotels and shopping centres.
Strengths: “An exceptionally nice guy who is rated highly.”
Recent work: Successfully represented the leaseholders in a challenge to the ability of an estate management company to assign its rights and obligations under 467 residential leases.
Offers pragmatic advice to his clients regarding service charge disputes and leasehold enfranchisement. He also handles matters relating to boundaries and easements. Fieldsend is a published author who is known for his work applying human rights conventions to property disputes. He has appeared in significant cases at the Court of Appeal.
Strengths: “He masters every detail and is very good with clients.”
“He is very impressive in front of judges.”
“A fantastic advocate with very strong technical ability.”
Recent work: Acted for a pension fund trustee in a case concerning the value of the ground rent of an apartment block in the context of a claim brought by the leaseholders to acquire the freehold.
Focuses her practice on residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes, and has significant experience in the Court of Appeal. She is known for her work on leasehold enfranchisement and service charge cases.
Strengths: “Very thorough and a good cross-examiner.”
“Her advice is clear, concise and provided in a timely fashion.”
Recent work: Acted in Queens Court Freehold v Greymax Reversions and Others. Muir represented the three lessees of the airspace, the boiler room and the subsoil of a building in a dispute with a purchaser who sought to compulsorily acquire these leases on the grounds that they were intermediate leases of common parts.
- Ellodie Gibbons
A widely respected property junior known for advising on commercial and residential landlord disputes. Her practice includes service and administration charge issues, right to manage cases and enfranchisement claims. She has co-authored a significant text on leasehold enfranchisement and regularly speaks at conferences on the topic.
Strengths: “She is extremely bright, commercial and very approachable. She offers invaluable quality.”
Recent work: Acted for the tenants in a collective enfranchisement claim in which the freeholder sought to have a development value of over £200,000 included in the premium payable, but the tenants’ valuer argued that this amount should be no more than £15,000.
Regularly handles cases involving easements, boundary disputes and property development, including those with many millions of pounds at stake. Glover has handled cases in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. His clients range from high net worth individuals to oil companies.
Strengths: “Diligent, tenacious and does a thorough job.”
“Very popular with clients.”
Recent work: Acted in Bennett v Bennett, a High Court trial concerning the ownership of East Thurrock United FC’s ground.
An established social housing junior with a growing reputation for residential and commercial real estate work. She is highly experienced in matters involving service charge disputes and dilapidations, and is very strong on the interrelationship of human rights with landlord and tenant law.
Strengths: “She has a very good manner, particularly with lay clients.”
“She is tough and tenacious, but firmly on your side and user-friendly.”
“She is very technical and evaluates literally every avenue.”
Recent work: Represented the freeholders of agricultural land in proceedings for possession against the deceased tenant’s wife who denied receipt of the notice to quit.
A talented property barrister with expertise in business tenancy renewals, service charge disputes and dilapidation claims. His practice also takes in landlord and tenant matters, mortgage-related claims and property-related professional negligence cases. He is a noted expert on party wall issues.
Strengths: “He brings a good sense of commerciality to a transaction and also expresses himself both pre-trial and during the hearing with concision and insight.”
“He is easy to work with and very keen to help you out.”
“A fantastic advocate.”
Recent work: Acted in Walcott v Jones, a case concerning whether Section 41 of the Deregulation Act 2015 applies to monthly periodic tenancies.
- Jonathan Upton
Regularly handles matters concerning high-value properties and is an expert in such areas as tenants’ rights of first refusal, right to manage and enfranchisement. Commentators note that he really comes into his own in cases concerning service charges. Of late, Upton has seen a notable increase in the volume of his appellate work.
Strengths: “A good choice for tricky cases, and someone who provides advice efficiently. He is both very commercial and good value for money.”
Recent work: Acted in CQN RTM Co v Broad Quay North Block Freehold, a landmark case on the meaning of ‘structurally detached’ in the Right to Manage legislation.
Particularly recognised for her expertise in the field of service charges, Gourlay is regularly instructed by lessees on a public access basis. She also regularly handles the full range of landlord and tenant law matters, as well as those relating to trusts of land and co-ownership disputes.
Strengths: “She has an encyclopaedic knowledge of residential service charge issues and is very practical and commercially-minded.”
Recent work: Acted for 50 lessees in the First-tier Tribunal in a case concerning the recoverability of recladding and waking watch costs.
Acts for landlords, developers, local government bodies and large institutional lenders in a broad range of property-related cases. He regularly handles matters concerning development issues, agricultural land and commercial property, and often acts in urgent hearings concerning the repossession of land. He is a visiting lecturer in property law at King’s College London.
Strengths: “Easy to work with and commercially minded.”
“He has developed particular skills in complex possession claims and protesters and he is user-friendly.”
Recent work: Acted in Trustees of GOLR Foundation v CLPD SC South, a challenging case involving interference with rights of way, trespass, party walls and boundaries. Walsh acted for the claimants and was successful in obtaining damages and a declaration of the location of a property boundary.
A technical and creative junior who is known for his exceptional command of leasehold matters, and enfranchisement in particular.
Strengths: “”He takes an innovative and creative approach to enfranchisement issues.”
“He is great with clients and manages to explain complicated law in a manner that is understandable.”
Recent work: Acted in a case which was leapfrogged to the Upper Tribunal and reached the Court of Appeal, concerning the interpretation of Section 1 of the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act.
Social Housing
Ranked Junior Barristers
A landlord and tenant specialist with an enviable understanding of the property aspects of social housing law, as well as anti-social behaviour and housing management issues. She has handled cases right up to the Supreme Court, and is further noted for her expertise in leasehold disputes.
Strengths: “A hard-working and passionate advocate who is very highly thought of for her anti-social behaviour work.”
Recent work: Represented the landlord of a housing co-operative tenant in a case arising from a mutual exchange between a local authority tenant and the housing co-operative tenant.
Regularly represents both tenants and landlords, including a variety of local authorities, housing associations and applicants. He acts in a wide range of social housing disputes, and has particular experience of appearing in judicial reviews. His considerable knowledge of immigration law complements his social housing work. Madge-Wyld also has notable experience of handling service charge disputes.
Strengths: “Very thorough, knowledgeable and able.”
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Ranked Junior Barristers
A well-known rights of way specialist with a rural focus to her practice. She regularly acts in town and village green applications for local authorities and landowners. Her clients also include agents, developers, estates and parish councils.
Strengths: “She is a very sound and astute tactician.”
Licensing
Ranked Junior Barristers
Has a strong advisory licensing practice, with special emphasis on the gaming and gambling sectors. Monkcom has an enviable reputation in this area and is widely known for his academic prowess. He is especially known for his role as a consulting editor to Smith & Monkcom “The Law of Gambling”.
Strengths: “An important player who is the guru on all matters gambling-related.”
Matrimonial Finance
Ranked Junior Barristers
Matrimonial finance junior who handles all manner of proceedings following relationship dissolution, including those relating to TOLATA and complex assets. She is committed to providing an affordable service to a wide range of clients with middle to high net worth.
Strengths: “Puts clients at ease and is good at cutting through a lot of the detail and getting to the nub of problems. She makes tenacious, well thought-through, considered arguments and is very well prepared.”
Focuses his practice on family and property law, and is a true expert on the financial aspects of relationship dissolution. His practice covers cases which have tax, asset and jurisdictional aspects to them. Wilson is particularly highly regarded for his expertise in matters involving same-sex couples.
Strengths: “Responsive, easy to work with and good on technically complicated cases.”
Recent work: Acted in Tinslay v Bryan & Britton, an application for a declaration of parentage in the High Court Family Division, ancillary to inheritance proceedings.
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