![Leona Briggs](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/896_1243052.jpg)
Property litigation
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
![Leona Briggs](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/896_1243052.jpg)
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Clarke Willmott LLP
Graham is a Partner and Managing Director in our Property Litigation team and specialises in property portfolio management.
![Kate Stewart](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/820_1173638.jpg)
Lester Aldridge LLP
Kate is a Partner and heads the property litigation team. She advises on complex real estate litigation and dispute resolution.
Kate works closely with our real estate teams, providing guidance for the smooth procurement of property transactions and handling any property related matters which have become disputed or which are the subject of litigation both in the commercial and residential sectors.
Kate’s client base includes property developers, national house builders, national lenders and property investors. In addition Kate also advises on high end residential property related issues or disputes.
![James Sutherland](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/876_1146382.jpg)
Burges Salmon LLP
Head of Burges Salmon’s Real Estate Disputes team
Main Areas of Practice:
All areas of landlord/tenant disputes, with a particular focus on lease break, vacant possession and terminal dilapidations.
Commercial Rent Review.
Property related insolvency disputes.
![Patrick Wetherall](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/12/Wetherall_Patrick-_cropped.jpg)
Foot Anstey
atrick leads the firm’s developer sector and is Head of Real Estate Group. With expertise in all aspects of commercial property disputes, whether property or landlord and tenant, he has acted on several multi-million pound claims. These relate to development, dilapidations and disrepair, options, agreements to purchase, contractual loss of profits, restrictive covenants, injunctions and easements. Patrick also has extensive Court of Appeal, High Court trial and arbitration experience, and has successfully resolved over 25 matters at mediation.
Focused on taking a pragmatic approach to litigation and dispute resolution, Patrick always considers what the client wants and how to get results – whether that be through proactive and forthright litigation or a more conciliatory approach.
![James Rees](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/7971_1086461.jpg)
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
James is a partner and head of the firm’s property litigation team. He specialises in dispute resolution involving contentious commercial property matters, advising a broad range of clients (both landlords and tenants) in all aspects of contentious commercial property. Particular areas of expertise include dilapidations; service charges; restrictive covenants and easements; rent reviews; contractual and development disputes; nuisance claims; complex contested lease renewals; insolvency related disputes; contested rating appeals and boundary disputes. He has published articles and lectures to clients and property professionals on a wide variety of property litigation topics.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
![Rachel Gimson](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/820_1246758.jpg)
Lester Aldridge LLP
Rachel Gimson is a Partner in the Property Litigation team.
Rachel has considerable experience of a wide range of property dispute matters, including a variety of commercial and residential lease disputes such as contested lease renewals, break notices, breach of covenant, forfeiture, dilapidations and service charge disputes. Rachel also advises on land issues such as boundaries, restrictive covenants, rights of way and rights of light, acting for both companies and private individuals.
![Chris Preston](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/11/Chris-Preston-Type-A-CP23.jpg)
Burges Salmon LLP
Partner specialising in Real Estate Litigation and Risk Management. Advises clients across all sectors on contentious real estate issues with a focus on development projects, transport, retail and telecoms. Clients include St Modwen, The John Lewis Partnership, Severn Trent Water, Pennon Group, The Crown Estate, Greater London Authority, YTL and Transport for London.
![Emily Van Schalkwyk](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/896_1243274.jpg)
Osborne Clarke LLP
Please see full biography at osborneclarke.com/lawyers/emily-van-schalkwyk/
![Sasha Hinton](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/07/7971_1189282.jpg)
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Sasha is a partner in the property disputes team and specialises in dispute resolution involving all aspects of property management and general commercial property disputes. Sasha has particular expertise in commercial landlord and tenant disputes and strategic management of national portfolios (including complex 1954 Act opposed and non-opposed lease renewals, dilapidations, rent reviews, consents and termination). Other areas of specialism include development disputes, rights of way, restrictive covenants, rights of light, boundaries and title disputes and advising on the construction and implementation of option agreements and overage. Sasha acts for a wide range of household names in several sectors including retail, developers and investor, energy and transport. She also advises numerous public sector clients, acting for several local authorities and leading on property disputes work for the Ministry of Justices' national portfolio.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
![Rachel Small](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/12/Small_Rachel-_cropped.jpg)
Foot Anstey
Rachel is an experienced property and estates litigation expert at Foot Anstey. She provides clients with clear, concise, and accurate legal advice, with an appreciation of the nuances between their commercial constraints and desired outcomes.
Prior to joining Foot Anstey Rachel previously worked in-house at a large international retailer, so she’s well-placed to understand the difficulties faced internally by some clients.
Recently Rachel has advised a number of landowner clients on the effects of the new electronic communications code, dealing with a number of contentious claims with regards to termination, renewal, and modification of new and existing Code agreements. Rachel has also worked on multiple “test” cases under the new electronic communications code being heard at the Lands Chamber of the Upper Tribunal.