England - London • Real estate

Stephenson Harwood

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Stephenson Harwood offers a ‘committed, efficient service’ for clients involved in any aspect of property litigation. The team is led by Andrew Myers, who is regarded as 'one of the best in the business' and has decades of experience supporting clients with dilapidation claims, tenant insolvency, restrictive covenants and vacant possession strategies. Sophie Schultz acts on some of the largest professional negligence claims in the market, while also specialising in rights of light and development matters. Andrew Bambury is another key name, regularly advising on lease renewals, dilapidations and enfranchisement matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Sophie Schultz has been able to give clear and pragmatic advice on all aspects of our dispute so that they can easily be understood by individuals not accustomed to dealing with lawyers in a protracted dispute.’

  • ‘The team are experts in their field with readily available knowledge. Sophie Schultz and Andrew Bambury were excellent in their approach to a sensitive subject and provided calm and reasoned reassurance throughout the workstream to a good conclusion.’

  • ‘Sophie Schultz and Andrew Bambury are a great team and provided clear effective advice on a complex legal matter for us.’

  • ‘Andrew Bambury is an absolute pleasure to deal with. Not unnecessarily combative but assertive when necessary. Clear, pragmatic and sensible advice is provided in a timely manner and on budget.’

  • ‘Andrew Myers is one of the best in the business: super bright, resourceful and experienced.'

  • ‘This team packs a punch. They only have quality lawyers; each and every one of them has star quality. I know for a fact that the reputation of Andrew Myers precedes him and a receipt of a letter with his name on it leaves the other side with a sense of foreboding.’

  • ‘Stephenson Harwood are strong players in this field, offering clients a committed, efficient service with all-round legal expertise.’

  • ‘Andrew Myers leads the property litigation team. He brings years of experience and an ability to approach cases from every angle.'

Key clients

  • Schroders Capital UK Real Estate Fund and Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust
  • HSBC Bank Pension Trust (UK) Limited
  • Langham Estate
  • Mercia Real Estate
  • Natwest Pension Trustee Limited
  • Lothbury Property Trust Company Limited
  • c2c
  • Capital Industrial LLP
  • Westbrook Partners
  • Longmead Capital
  • London Metric plc
  • Firethorn Trust

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Andrew Myers

Andrew Myers

Stephenson Harwood

Andrew is well known as a tenacious litigator who "knows when to turn on the pressure" and get results. His “no nonsense” approach cuts to the chase and gets his clients results. His clients have described him as a rottweiler. Andrew frequently takes on cases where other lawyers have floundered and turns them around. The directories have described Andrew as a "red hot litigator" and someone who "fights hard but fair". Andrew has particular expertise in property-related disputes. Andrew has 30 years' experience specialising in property disputes, contract disputes and professional negligence claims. His property litigation experience spans the full range and includes, forfeiture, dilapidations claims, enforcing covenants, tenant insolvency, restrictive covenants, lease renewals and suing other solicitors who have drafted property documents negligently. Andrew has also deals with contracts which have gone wrong, and joint ventures which fall apart. Andrew is an experienced tactician, and a solicitor advocate. He recently won a Court of Appeal case, as sole advocate, successfully arguing against the QC on the other side. Andrew regularly takes on cases on a “no win no fee” basis. Andrew is acted on one of the first rent arbitrations under the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022 addressing a 7-figure level of arrears on a trophy asset. He has already got the arbitrator to order the tenant to produce a lot of additional accounting documentation to ensure that the tenant does not falsely claim impecuniosity. Andrew acted for the successful tenants in the largest ever enfranchisement claim -Westbrook Dolphin Square Limited v Friends Life Ltd. He acted for the successful defendants in a dispute concerning a failed joint venture to build a shopping centre in Wolverhampton. Andrew’s clients were sued for £56 million. The judge ordered them to pay just £2 (and made their opponents reimburse Andrew’s clients' legal costs).

Next Generation Partners

Sophie Schultz

Sophie Schultz

Stephenson Harwood

A specialist property litigator with over 15 years' experience, Sophie helps clients navigate the complexities of property law and resolve disputes quickly and cost-effectively. She advises property investors, developers, lenders, corporate occupiers and individuals on every manner of property dispute. Sophie has particular expertise in rights of light and disputes relating to property development. She is renowned for her legal knowledge and ability to get to the bottom of a tricky issue.  Sources quoted in Chambers UK have praised her "phenomenal" knowledge (2015) and described her as a "walking brain" (2014) that is "able to tie the opposition up in knots" (2011). Sophie regularly acts on a wide range of landlord and tenant disputes, representing both landlords and tenants, including lease renewals, forfeiture, dilapidations, service charge and agreement for lease disputes. She also has extensive experience in the development sphere, advising both developers and neighbours on claims (including injunctions) relating to nuisance, rights of light, trespass and party wall matters, restrictive covenants and easements. She is equally at home using her experience to help developers navigate and pre-empt claims as assisting neighbours assert their rights. Other experience includes adverse possession, boundaries, easements, insolvency-related issues, joint ventures, leasehold enfranchisement, professional negligence, residential property and sale and purchase disputes. Sophie gives practical advice which goes straight to the heart of an issue. She deploys her expertise in the law and strategy to secure the best result for her client at the earliest possible stage.  Clients express their appreciation of having her in their corner to fight their side.  She has a track record of achieving excellent results.  She aims to resolve disputes without court proceedings wherever possible.  Often straightforward 'without prejudice negotiations' are most effective but she also has experience of mediation, arbitration and expert determination. She is a solicitor advocate and member of the Property Litigation Association. Sophie has written for Property Week, Estates Gazette, Landlord & Tenant Review and FM World.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Andrew Myers

Other key lawyers

Sophie Schultz, Andrew Bambury