Tanfield Chambers

Property litigation

Robert Bowker has over 20 years’ experience in property-related work.

Robert was called to the Bar in 1995 and completed pupillage in Chambers in 1997. From 1997 to 2007, he practised in Chambers exclusively in property litigation. Between 2007 and 2012, he practised as a solicitor and barrister in Australia primarily in construction litigation (he qualified in England/Wales and

Robert Bowker has over 20 years’ experience in property-related work.

Robert was called to the Bar in 1995 and completed pupillage in Chambers in 1997. From 1997 to 2007, he practised in Chambers exclusively in property litigation. Between 2007 and 2012, he practised as a solicitor and barrister in Australia primarily in construction litigation (he qualified in England/Wales and Australia). In 2012 he returned to Chambers and resumed his practice exclusively in property litigation.

A significant aspect of Robert’s practice is dilapidations and major works (residential and commercial). He has worked with a wide range of expert witnesses including surveyors, structural engineers and M&E and fire safety experts. He works mainly for developers, investors and private and local authority landlords, but also for individuals including leaseholders.

His experience in recent years has included a substantial amount of work in relation to fire safety including liability for and the cost of replacing ACM and other forms of cladding. He is currently advising in relation to a significant number of buildings that have fire safety and cladding issues. A large amount of his current workload involves the Building Safety Act 2022 – leaseholder protections, landlord’s and leaseholder deeds of certificates, remediation contribution orders, and the effect of PAS 9980 and EWS1. etc. He acts for developers, landlords and leaseholders.  He has been instructed in over 90 fire safety related cases, many since the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force.

He regularly speaks at conferences, more recently on issues relating to fire safety and replacement cladding.

In addition to building safety, Robert’s practice covers all aspects of residential, commercial and real property disputes including development, mortgages and a substantial amount of boundary and land registration work.

Solicitor & Barrister – High Court of Australia (2009) Solicitor & Barrister – Supreme Court of Western Australia (2008) Barrister – England & Wales (1995)

Property Bar Association

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Barrister (England & Wales) - 1995

Solicitor and barrister (Supreme Court of Western Australia) - 2008

Solicitor and barrister (High Court of Australia) - 2009