Gatehouse Chambers

Philip specialises in Property, Construction, Commercial, and related Professional Negligence. Philip is in court regularly, for both applications and trials, appearing in the High Court, County Court, and FTT (Property Chamber). He also has a busy paperwork practice, both advising and settling pleadings.

Recent instructions as sole counsel have included:

• A two-day TOLATA trial involving issues of resulting and constructive trusts.
• Advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants on a high value private estate.
• Advising a landlord in a commercial service charge dispute following significant capital expenditure.
• Representing clients in several consumer construction disputes.
• Advising on a complex possession claim following the death of a resident landlord.
• Representing a local authority in a residential service charge dispute before the FTT.
• Advising on a final account dispute involving questions of delay, adequacy of notices, and defective work.

Recent instructions as junior counsel have included:

• Assisting Brie Stevens-Hoare KC on a boundary dispute with background allegations of harassment and professional misconduct.
• Acting as junior (led by Michael Wheater KC) in a construction dispute concerning the defective renovation of a school hall roof.
• Advising on a claim based on adverse possession following expiry of a grazing licence.

During pupillage, Philip’s work included:

• Assisting on FM Conway Ltd v The Rugby Football Union & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 418, the leading authority on the operation of the co-insurance defence.
• Assisting on an application regarding service by alternative means of a claim form out of the jurisdiction.
• Assisting on a high profile, 3-day trial in the FTT (General Regulatory Chamber) concerning disqualification of a charity trustee.

Philip has experience in Non-Domestic Rates litigation, having assisted with Ludgate House Limited v Andrew Ricketts (VO) and London Borough of Southwark [2023] UKUT 36 during pupillage and appearing in the Magistrate’s Court in an application to set aside a Liability Order.

Philip is also committed to pro bono work, appearing in the winding up court via the COIN scheme and representing a tenant in a possession trial where he was able to achieve a favourable settlement shortly before court. Philip also completed Advocate’s ‘Pupil Pledge’ during pupillage.

Philip accepts instructions through the Fixed Fee Adjudication Scheme.

Philip studied Law at Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he received the Thomson Reuters and David Gottlieb Prizes for academic performance after coming first overall in his year, as well as the Land Law Prize, and passed the BCL with Distinction at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Call: 2022

Property Bar Association London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association

MA – University of Cambridge, Law, Double First

BCL – Oxford, Distinction

BPC – University of Law, Outstanding

Outside of the law, Philip enjoys playing hockey and watching cricket.