The Bar - Regional Bar • Western Circuit
Members of Guildhall Chambers have ‘wide-ranging expertise’ in property and construction disputes. William Batstone is ‘an effective advocate’ who regularly acts for landowners, farmers, and arbitrators in rural property disputes. In 2023 he acted for two farm owners in Chaplin v Morgan, which considered the proper method of terminating farm business tenancies and 1986 Act tenancies, as well as for the claimant in Williams v TG & HM Williams and Sons, which is significant for addressing the question of the correct approach to satisfaction of an equity following Guest v Guest, with the claimant having farmed a family farm for several decades in the belief he would inherit it. Jay Jagasia ‘quickly gets to grips with complex factual situations’ - he has recently been instructed, unled, for the defendants in Henwood v Copeland & McGaws, a High Court property dispute concerning an adverse possession claim against several valuable plots of land in Cornwall. Oliver Mitchell’s property practice includes cases concerning water, sewerage, and other utility assets as well as disputes over proprietary rights and boundaries.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
1‘William is always very thorough in his research and in the resulting advice. This linked with a good commercial awareness means that he knows what to focus on to get the best for clients. His advocacy is also excellent.'
1‘Jay is able to quickly get to grips with complex factual situations and provide thorough and commercial advice. On his feet he is fantastic, robust in cross-examinations and detailed when dealing with intervention and submissions.'
2‘Julian is an excellent all-rounder who is good with clients. He has great clarity on complex matters.’
2‘Oliver gives very thorough advice and builds a good rapport with lay clients as he is personable and approachable.'
2‘His attention to detail when working through legal complexities is excellent and his advice is always clear.'
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
1‘William is always very thorough in his research and in the resulting advice. This linked with a good commercial awareness means that he knows what to focus on to get the best for clients. His advocacy is also excellent.'
1‘Jay is able to quickly get to grips with complex factual situations and provide thorough and commercial advice. On his feet he is fantastic, robust in cross-examinations and detailed when dealing with intervention and submissions.'
2‘Julian is an excellent all-rounder who is good with clients. He has great clarity on complex matters.’
2‘Oliver gives very thorough advice and builds a good rapport with lay clients as he is personable and approachable.'
2‘His attention to detail when working through legal complexities is excellent and his advice is always clear.'