Natasha Dzameh - Real Estate

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 those linked with Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989).

Natasha knows the law inside out and uses that to her advantage to build a fantastic result. She builds a great rapport with clients with her grounded approach and ability to explain complex legal principles.

She has dealt with numerous cases concerning disputes over beneficial interests in property which involve arguments regarding: constructive trusts, duress, proprietary estoppel, resulting trusts, unconscionability, undue influence and unjust enrichment. She is regularly instructed on mediations and joint settlement meetings in these cases.

Natasha has been instructed on a wide range of agricultural, commercial and residential property matters with her experience including the First-tier Tribunal (Land Registration and Residential Property Divisions) and the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal. She also has a particular interest in and is instructed in relation to:

• Contracts for the sale of land
• Mortgage actions
• Professional negligence (see Natasha’s professional negligence CV for further details)
• Property damage (see Natasha’s property damage & insurance CV for further details)

Her experience includes:

• A dispute concerning beneficial interests in several investment properties in multiple jurisdictions involving argument as to constructive trusts, resulting trusts and sham trusts.
• A claim to set aside a conveyance of property to a third party on the basis of duress and/or undue influence as a result of coercive control.
• Acting for the trustee in bankruptcy in proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Land Registration Division. An application had been made to register a restriction against a property shortly prior to its sale with the bankrupt being adjudged bankrupt after the sale. Neither the bankrupt nor the purchaser were aware of the sale. Applicant claimed a beneficial interest arising out of a resulting or constructive trust or proprietary estoppel.
• Claim for possession and sale of property by way of enforcement of a charge involving the estates of a deceased couple and their son who was in occupation.
• A claim by an estate regarding beneficial interests in a property and whether it constituted partnership property in circumstances where there had been a change of partners.
• Dispute involving partnership and the estate of a deceased partner as to ownership of property in circumstances where the mortgage broker involved was banned by the FSA due to involvement in a £1.5m fraud.
• Nuisance and negligence claim regarding extensive damage to a Grade II listed building.
• A claim to set aside an express declaration of trust on the basis of duress and/or undue influence due to coercive control and physical violence.
• A Pallant v Morgan equity dispute between companies regarding the purchase of a £1.6m plot of land.
• A claim involving a tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 in respect of 123 acres of land, an option agreement granted to a developer and a family will trust.
• A claim for specific performance of an agreement for the sale of land pursuant to the expedited summary judgment procedure as between vendors.
• A nuisance and negligence claim resulting from a fire which caused extensive damage to a range of commercial buildings.
• A claim involving breach of contract, negligence and breach of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 regarding allegedly defective sofas which were said to have resulted in a total loss of a property.
• A claim for rent arrears against a large British retailer subject to a CVA. Concerned arguments over insurance coverage, operation of a cesser clause and frustration due to COVID in respect of non-payment of rent. Advised prior to Bank of New York Mellon (International) Ltd v Cine-UK Ltd [2021] EWHC 1013 (QB), similar arguments involved. The other side capitulated and settled the dispute upon the filing of Natasha’s skeleton argument referencing Mellon.

Publications and Podcasts

• “TOLATA claims: Practical tips and complexities” – The Real Estate Pod from St John’s Chambers with Roskilly & Mills, Episode 1.
• “Proprietary estoppel remedies: expectation and acceleration”, Trusts and Estates Law & Tax Journal, Vol 240, 2023, pp. 13-20