The ‘fiercely efficient and capable team’ at TLT advises on a strong pipeline of tenant and landlord matters, rent reviews, and lease renewals across a broad range of sectors. Retail leases and leisure, food and drink mandates, including for large pubs and brewers, count among their areas of expertise, with disrepair claims for housing associations being another growing area. Based in Bristol, practice head Mark Routley is ’very commercially astute and always looks at the bigger picture’. Kane Kirkbride specialises in handling disputes for registered providers, with Emma Cork advising on portfolio and individual landlord and tenant work. Managing associate Rob Whitaker has experience handling property and land disputes, including issues relating to the Electronic Communications Code, and Kate Hillman is particularly experienced in residential property issues, while Maria Carrington covers a blend of retail, leisure and energy mandates.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Fiercely efficient and capable team.'

  • ‘Mark Routley is incredible – he is not only one of the kindest people with whom I have ever worked but also very bright and has serious gravitas.'

  • 'They are exceedingly good at what they do, with a first-rate knowledge of their practice area. They understand their clients’ commercial objectives and are easy to work with.’
  • ‘Mark Routley is the standout leader of a very fine team of competent and friendly individuals.’

  • ‘The team is very nice to work with: they are human beings, who bring a personal touch, without detracting in any way from the quality of the legal advice.’

  • ‘Rob Whitaker is excellent. Very pragmatic and he gets things done for clients.’

  • ‘Kane Kirkbride: Huge experience and knowledge; lots of common sense; commercial approach; very personable and sensitive with clients.'

  • 'Danielle Ferguson: calm; highly intelligent; very good legal instincts.'

Key clients

  • Greene King
  • SHAL Housing Ltd
  • The Guinness Partnership Limited
  • Network Homes

Work highlights

  • Instructed to act on behalf of the local authority in defending a large number of claims brought under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Condition Claims (England) and litigated disrepair claims.
  • Acting in judicial review proceedings against the Scottish Government in a legal challenge to the lawfulness of the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Act 2021.
  • Acted on behalf of a major manufacturer in a terminal claim for dilapidations brought against it in relation to a large warehouse building of which it had been the tenant.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Mark Routley

Other key lawyers

Kane Kirkbride, Emma Cork, Rob Whitaker, Kate Hillman, Maria Carrington, Danielle Ferguson