St John’s Chambers is the premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield.”

Chambers UK 2024, Real Estate Litigation

As the leading Real Estate set in the South West, we pride ourselves in the comprehensive and professional legal service we provide to our clients. Our barristers advise major insurers, brokers, policyholders and claimants on property insurance disputes, and appear in courts and tribunals at all levels throughout the UK.

Areas of expertise:

  • Explosion
  • Fire
  • Flood
  • Impact (from falling trees and vehicles)
  • Nuisance claims, particularly those involving invasive species
  • Structural damage from subsidence due to construction activities, tree roots and landslip etc

Those with backgrounds in insurance law also advise on and conduct cases involving issues of insurance coverage, claims avoidance and fraud.

We act for a variety of local authorities, statutory undertakers and insurers (both in defending claims and in pursuing recovery from others by way of subrogated actions), and private clients.

Matthew White successfully represented the defendant in the Supreme Court decision in a Japanese knotweed case (Davies v Bridgend County Borough Council [2024] UKSC 15). You can read the full case summary here.

Mediation

We are committed to alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, with a number of our barristers being qualified mediators. Our facilities are specifically designed to meet with clients’ needs for a mediation venue. Read more.

Public Access

Some members of the team are also available to act, where appropriate, for members of the public, as well as commercial and non-commercial organisations, under the Public Access scheme. Read more.

Training

The team delivers workshops and seminars in Chambers and regional centres. We also provide training on behalf of local Law Societies and in conjunction with solicitors’ firms. In addition we can give tailored in-house training for particular firms. If you would like any further information please contact Paul Nuttall on 0117 923 4742 or email: [email protected] 

View our Real Estate digital book here for further details about how we can help you.

Property Damage & Insurance Disputes Team

Richard Stead

  • Call: 1979

Richard has considerable experience in property damage cases arising from fire, flooding, tree root induced subsidence, land slip etc, and in insurance coverage matters. Throughout Richard’s time at the Bar, he has undertaken civil jury trials and trials...

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Charles Auld

  • Call: 1980

Charles has considerable experience dealing with matters including boundary disputes, landlord and tenant work, rights of way, restrictive covenants and registration at HM Land Registry. His work includes: Disputes over land including traditional boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, rights...

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John Sharples

John Sharples

  • Call: 1992

John is very well versed in handling a variety of complex cases, and is frequently instructed on behalf of estates, developers, public authorities as well as private clients. He is ranked as a Star individual in Chambers UK...

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Andrew McLaughlin

Andrew McLaughlin

  • Call: 1993

Andrew is a leading junior in the field of property insurance disputes. He undertakes civil fraud and insurance-related work which includes dishonest claims for fire and other property damage, false claims for theft or loss of property, fraudulent critical...

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Julian Horne

Julian Horne

  • Call: 1998

Julian practises in all areas of property damage litigation and regularly represents local authorities and other landowners in cases of property damage caused by tree roots, fire and flood, in other nuisance claims, and in relation to claims...

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Christopher Jones

Christopher Jones

  • Call: 2004

Head of Real Estate, Christopher has extensive expertise in a wide variety of property issues. Real property Easements: rights of way, rights of support, rights to light and water rights Disputed ownership of land, adverse possession and boundary...

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James Marwick

James Marwick

  • Call: 2008

James has a busy practice acting in property damage claims, including in multi-party litigation and contribution proceedings. He is often instructed where there is an issue as to the extent of any tortious and/or contractual duty said to...

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Oliver Wooding

Oliver Wooding

  • Call: 2009

Oliver has a specialist practice that focuses on real estate matters, and is regularly instructed as an advocate, advisor, and mediator in a wide range of disputes. His expertise includes: Landlord & Tenant Oliver is experienced in both...

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Natasha Dzameh

Natasha Dzameh

  • Call: 2010

Natasha is ranked as a leading junior in property litigation by the Legal 500 and Chambers UK.  She specialises in advising and representing clients on proprietary estoppel and trust claims in relation to land, especially ToLATA claims (including...

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Charlie Newington Bridges

Charlie Newington-Bridges

  • Call: 2011

Charlie specialises in all areas of real property matters and can advise clients in the following matters: Conveyancing and registration Restrictive covenants and easements Customary rights Adverse possession Boundary disputes Co-ownership Estoppel Mortgages and charges Commercial landlord and...

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Adam Boyle

  • Call: 2012

Adam is a very experienced real estate practitioner and a “go to” barrister in relation to difficult property matters. He is frequently instructed in the full gamut of property cases, including everything from rights of way, to complicated...

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Joss Knight

  • Call: 2014

Joss acts in a wide variety of property matters with a particular focus on TOLATA claims, partnership disputes, easements and the intersection between real estate and professional negligence. He recently appeared for the defendants in Carter v Goldsworthy...

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Brittany Pearce

Brittany Pearce

  • Call: 2015

Brittany has acted for clients in a range of real property matters, including boundary disputes and adverse possession claims, the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the creation of and interference with easements. Brittany’s focus is on achieving a...

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Charlie Schwenn

Charles Shwenn

  • Call: 2017

Charles is instructed on all aspects of property law litigation and takes a particular interest in real property matters including those concerning: boundaries, easements, trusts of land, proprietary estoppel and restrictive covenants. He is experienced in leasehold-specific disputes...

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Nicole Hilton

Nicole Hilton

  • Call: 2021

Nicole is a barrister and trained mediator with a broad practice encompassing many areas of commercial and chancery law. Nicole accepts instructions in landlord and tenant disputes, contractual issues, consumer rights, property matters, building and construction disputes, professional...

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Ben Harwood

Ben Harwood

  • Call: 2022

Ben provides representation and advice in all main areas of commercial and chancery law. He frequently represents clients at small claims and fast-track trials, as well as for various interim, procedural and enforcement applications, including strike out, summary...

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Derek O'Sullivan KC

  • Call: 1990
  • Silk: 2006

Derek O’Sullivan KC’s practice concentrates on personal injury and he has significant experience in: catastrophic injury claims, employer’s liability claims, occupier’s liability claims, fatal accident claims and road traffic accidents. Derek is also regularly instructed in health and...

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Richard Gold

Richard Gold

  • Call: 2006

Richard specialises in real estate matters, and acts in both residential and commercial property disputes. His areas of expertise include: landlord and tenant disputes; freehold covenants; easements; adverse possession; boundary disputes; trespass/nuisance (including tree root damage); and claims...

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Directory Quotes

St John’s Chambers is a ‘first-class‘ set for property and construction law work, with ‘a range of experienced barristers and upcoming juniors‘. “

The Legal 500 2024, Property & Construction

St John’s Chambers is the premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield.”

Chambers UK 2024, Real Estate Litigation

The premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield. The set boasts a deep roster of barristers with specialist real estate litigation expertise who appear at all levels of the court system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

Chambers UK 2023, Real Estate Litigation

I am always impressed with the prompt responses received via both email and telephone. They are always happy to assist.”

Chambers UK 2023, Real Estate Litigation (Client Service)

High-quality set‘, St John’s houses a team with established strength in handling contentious property matters.’ ‘Top quality counsel with in-depth subject knowledge.’ ‘The barristers are approachable, talented and provide a first class service.’ “

Legal 500 2023, Property & Construction

St John’s Chambers is the premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield. As one instructing solicitor puts it, ‘the set is the biggest player in the South West and has a really good spread of expertise’.”

Chambers UK 2022, Real Estate

St John’s Chambers is the strongest chambers in the South West for property work.”

Legal 500 2022, Property and Construction

The team is probably one of the best I have dealt with – they cannot do enough for you and they go above and beyond to meet your needs.”

Chambers UK 2022, Real Estate (Client Service)

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