The real estate disputes team at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner handles complex lease disputes, restrictive covenant cases and landlord and tenant matters for a wide-range of blue-chip clients. ‘Expert in his field’ Akhil Markanday leads the team and is experienced in all aspects of contentious property work, including complex joint ventures and sale and purchase disputes. Roger Cohen advises investors, owners and occupiers on real estate disputes and transactional risks, whilst ’top-rate lawyer’ Rebecca Campbell handles complex disputes surrounding exit strategies, dilapidation claims and insolvency claims. The ‘brilliant’ Anna Iceton is also a key team member with strong abilities acting for a range of institutional clients in both commercial and residential contexts. Michael Metliss left the team to join Fladgate LLP in October 2022.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Victoria Blanchard is my go-to on rights of light queries for development projects. She is an astute tactician.’
‘Anna Iceton is always on point - her legal analysis is brilliant.'
'Rebecca Campbell is a top-rate lawyer and great at client management.'
‘Akhil Markanday is my go-to man. His opinions have steered us through litigation on a number of occasions, his analysis of matters is quick and robust. I can think of no one better in the industry. His advice is commercial and excellent at that. He's a subject matter expert and somewhere that we have always relied upon.’
‘Akhil Markanday is more than just an expert in his field. He is pragmatic, creative and commercial. Not just a black letter law practitioner - he considers the practical context which maximises the chances of an optimal outcome. He is personable, responsive and open to suggestions, which fosters a better client relationship dynamic.’
‘Roger Cohen is extremely experienced and it is very reassuring to have him in your corner when dealing with highly sensitive legal matters. He remains calm under pressure, stands his ground and responds accordingly. The quality of his legal letters is quite something; it fills you with confidence. Roger is very personable and easy to deal with which is important in a high-pressured situation.'
‘This is a team at the top of its game. Incredibly well-versed in the concerns of developer clients with fantastic, considered analysis of problems and constructive solutions.’
‘Akhil Markanday is brilliant with clients, calm and reassuring. Edward Gardner is one to watch - a star in the making.’

Key clients

Aviva
The Crown Estate
Grosvenor
Canary Wharf Group
Landsec
BlackRock
Heathrow Airport
Great Portland Estates
National Grid
Deliveroo
Tesco
Nike
Almacantar
BDO
Ballymore
Federated Hermes
Thames Water
Pembroke

Work highlights

Acted for the freeholders of high-end Fitzrovia development Fitzroy House, successfully defending a multi-million-pound High Court noise nuisance claim brought by a long leaseholder.
Advised Almacantar, owner of London’s iconic Centre Point development, in securing an injunction restraining Urban Explorers who trespass in order to scale (and sometimes even parachute off) the tallest parts of the development.
Acted for the landlords/site providers in a widely reported Telecoms lease renewal case of particular importance on the issue of rental valuation in new and renewed Telecoms Code agreements.

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