Property disputes expert known for practical solutions and clear advice
Richard a partner in our Real Estate Disputes team. He is passionate about finding solutions for clients.
A sought-after speaker for training and seminars, Richard enjoys presenting the technical elements of property litigation in a simple and straightforward way. Richard has written articles for Property Week and other publications and is a regular speaker for RICS and other training providers.
Richard was chair of the Property Litigation Association’s Northern Region for several years and was a key part of the foundation of the PLA Northern Training Day. He recently took part in an expert discussion of Land Registration for the Property Bar Association’s Northern Conference and he has presented to the Business & Property Court Forum with eminent Judge, Sir Timothy Fancourt VC, on rent in hard times, following the Covid pandemic.
Richard is an expert in all areas of property law, including dilapidations, lease regears (renewal and review), consent to alienation and alterations, insolvency (including CVAs), service charges, easements/rights, land registration, enfranchisement, telecoms and agriculture.
His experience includes:
- Cairns & Moore v Committee Painshawfield Estate [2023] UKUT 119 (LC) – application to modify an unusual restrictive covenant - ground (aa)
- Burras Otley v Johnson & others [2023] EWHC 2022 (Ch) – appeal as to the interpretation of a reservations and grants of rights of way in 1930s and 1940s conveyances and the application of the rule against perpetuities
- Newman v Clarke [2016] EWHC 2959 (Ch) – trusts of property and the “self-dealing” rule
- Advice on various key retail CVAs, both for landlord and tenants
- 3-week trial over termination of complex pipeline store agreements for a major retailer
- Various successful trials and declarations defeating landlords unreasonably withholding consent
- Trial over periodic tenancy v tenancy at will of large depot
- Multi-million pound dilapidations claim following termination of significant warehouse lease
- Successfully resisting relief from forfeiture application
- Right of way dispute relating to key housebuilding site
- Rights to light dispute over property in Mayfair
- Expert determination regarding interpretation of affordable housing deductions in variable purchase price in contract for sale of development land
