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

St John’s Chambers has a highly specialised Real Estate team. We advise commercial, agricultural, private and public sector clients throughout the UK. Its members have an enviable reputation for their legal expertise in dealing with commercial problems concerning the sale and development of land.

We advise on a range of projects from the sale or development of single plots/buildings to large-scale residential, commercial and industrial estates and multi-phased development schemes. We have the skill and advocacy experience to deliver commercial solutions to commercial problems involving land.

We represent a wide range of clients including developers (from national, regional and local housebuilders to private individuals), wholesale/retail operators, distributors, rural estates, housing associations, local authorities and private individuals.

Areas of expertise:

  • Contracts (including conditional contracts) for the sale of land, such as their enforceability, interpretation, termination, etc
  • Misrepresentation claims arising from answers to pre-contract inquiries
  • Sale and lease-back agreements
  • Leases and subleases of development land
  • Land swaps
  • Overage clauses
  • Option and rights of pre-emption
  • Barriers to development, such as restrictive covenants, rights of way, rights to light, mineral rights, etc
  • Financing the purchase and development of land
  • Land registration issues, such as the relative priorities of competing interests

In cases with a public law element (e.g. planning conditions, s106 agreements, environmental impact, public rights of way, and procurement issues) we can work in conjunction with our Public and Administrative Law team to provide a comprehensive service.

Mediation

We are committed to alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, with a number of our barristers being qualified mediators. Our mediation team is on hand to help, by providing the advocates, mediators or both. Our facilities are specifically designed to meet clients’ needs. 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.

Commercial Property & Development Team

alex-troup

Alex Troup KC

  • Call: 1998
  • Silk: 2023

Alex is a chancery barrister who is often instructed in property litigation cases. Some of his property cases overlap with his trust and contentious probate practice, such as proprietary estoppel claims, disputes over the beneficial ownership of property,...

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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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James Pearce Smith

James Pearce-Smith

  • Call: 2002

James, a former solicitor, is an experienced litigator specialising in commercial and real estate matters. He regularly advises in relation to property disputes, often with a commercial flavour, including claims relating to commercial leases. He has acted in numerous claims relating to...

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John Dickinson

John Dickinson

  • Call: 1995

John is a barrister specialising in real estate work including conveyancing disputes, boundaries and easements, in particular disputes over parking and rights of way in both civil and tribunal proceedings and representation in tribunals in relation to adverse...

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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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Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke

  • Call: 2009

Michael regularly acts and advises in real estate matters including the disputed ownership of land, boundary disputes, adverse possession, easements and restrictive covenants. In addition Michael advises upon torts in relation to land, in particular trespass, nuisance and...

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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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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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Annie Sampson

Annie Sampson

  • Call: 2015

Annie has experience across the breadth of property and real estate matters, including TOLATA claims, trespass, nuisance, residential landlord and tenant and mortgage possession proceedings, boundary disputes, adverse possession, commercial tenancies and the renewal of business tenancies under...

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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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Kayleigh Bloomfield

  • Call: 2021

Instructions in this field are commonplace for Kayleigh. She also has experience of property matters which overlap with other areas of law, such as trusts / estates. Her practice includes advising, drafting and / or appearing in: Landlord...

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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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Guy Adams

Guy Adams

  • Call: 1989

Guy is an experienced chancery practitioner with a strong focus on real estate work. His expertise covers commercial and residential landlord and tenant matters as well as development issues. He represents clients at all levels of the court...

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Directory Quotes

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

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)

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)

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 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

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