Deka Chambers

Maurice Rifat is an experienced litigator with particular expertise in wills & probate, trusts, property law, construction, professional negligence and commercial litigation.

His practice spans most arears of property law with particular expertise in land registration, disputes arising from the sale of land, restrictive covenants, easements, boundary disputes, access to neighbouring land and landlord and tenant disputes (both residential and commercial).  He recently represented the successful defendant in N3 Living Limited -v- Burgess [2020] EWHC 1711 which confirmed that the appointment of a second trustee was a proper and conventional way of overreaching and Form A restriction in order to complete a sale.

In the field of professional negligence he particularly specialises in property related negligence including disputes arising from conveyancing. He represented the successful respondent in in the Supreme Court in Stoffel v Grondona [2020] UKSC 42 in the which the court upheld her claim for damages for a negligent conveyance despite her former solicitors alleging illegality against her. Maurice has recently settled a claim for over £600k against solicitors who had negligently dealt with a failed property option agreement and the ensuing litigation.

Maurice’s construction practice is made up of adjudications, arbitrations and enforcement of arbitration awards.  He also deals with the usual court claims for payment and counterclaims for defects and incomplete works.  He represented the successful claimants in various payment claims arising from oral contracts in a large-scale project where the employer gave direct payment assurance to sub-contractors.

Maurice specialises in dealing with disputes arising from a broad range of property transactions where there are allegations of fraud, from cases involving mortgages, land registration and conveyancing.  He also has a number of ongoing contested probate cases involving allegations of fraud, forgery of wills, duress and undue influence.

He is approachable, efficient and technically excellent.  He is known for his direct and aggressive approach in court with an established reputation as a successful and sought-after barrister.