Luke practises in the demanding area where Chancery meets Family. His expertise encompasses competing property interests, the subtle and complex issues surrounding trusts of land, and a wide range of family property disputes – frequently in the shadow of separation, divorce, bankruptcy or death.
Best known for his work concerning the establishment and quantification of beneficial interests in real property in TLATA and Intervenor claims, Luke often applies his incisive approach to related issues which may arise in such cases or independently, such as proprietary estoppel, capacity, undue influence, illegality, mistake, entitlement to funds in joint bank accounts, and the equity of exoneration.
A genuine specialist, very experienced in civil and family litigation and equally at home providing persuasive advocacy or carefully reasoned advice, he frequently gives seminars and contributes articles to legal publications.
Luke is qualified to accept instructions under the Bar Council Public Access scheme.
Luke offers Private Neutral Evaluation and Financial Dispute Resolution Appointments in all areas of his practice, both before and after the issue of proceedings. Click here to see his specimen “PNE&FDR” letter.
Reported Cases
Springall v Paice E10CL911 Widely reported in the regional and national press in 2019
Complex cohabitants’ property dispute involving the family home and three development properties. Total value over £3m.
Griffiths v Cork [2009] WTLR 955 (Ch)
Capacity to execute disposition of beneficial interest – burden of proof where disponor suffering from mental illness
Babar v Anis [2005] 3 FCR 216 (Ch)
Promissory estoppel as a defence to possession proceedings brought by former 'husband' against former 'wife' following decree of nullity (case cited in Snell's Equity 32nd Ed at 12-015)
Fluent French
Some Arabic
