Julie is the national head of the property litigation team. Having trained and qualified in London, Julie has dealt exclusively with property litigation since 1991. Julie specialises in all forms of real estate litigation including dilapidations, complex lease renewals, rent review, rights of way disputes, insolvency and general property management work and acts for most of the firm’s real estate clients including Threadneedle, British land and Sainsburys. She frequently delivers seminars and training sessions, both internally and to external contacts and clients. She has particular experience of the wide range of legal issues that arise when managing large property portfolios including shopping centres. She also advisies key developers on the interpretation of agreements and their obligations under such agreements. A key aspect of Julie’s work is managing risk for these clients. Recent reported cases involve acting for Jolan Limited a landlord/developer in a complex and contested lease renewal and disputed exercise of a break clause at a prominent building in Manchester which involved a successful seven week trial in the high court, the decision from which was also upheld on appeal. The potential development includes a hotel and three retail units. Crosso No 4 Unlimited and Others v Jolan Limited and Others [2011] EWCA Civ 1619 and also John Bemoley & Others v Philip Noble [2014] EWHC 2657 (CH).
England - Yorkshire And The Humber • Real estate
AG Service Company Limited
The property litigation team at Addleshaw Goddard continues to provide leading advice on a wide array of contentious matters, standing out in particular for its ‘excellent understanding’ of property insolvency issues and for its ability to provide contentious support to real estate developers and investors. The team regularly provides strategic advice relating to possessions claims, rights of way issues, boundary disputes, and dilapidation claims in the context of large-scale commercial real estate undertakings. Julie Middlemass leads the practice and offers investors and corporate occupiers ‘top-quality advice’ regarding insolvency claims and vacant possession strategies. In the landlord and tenant space, Elizabeth Cape is highly recommended for her work on dilapidations and break notice disputes, while Chris McGrath is well regarded for his advice on lease renewals.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Julie Middlemass provides top-quality advice. Elizabeth Cape is a rising star.’
‘Sarah Greenwood is very responsive and efficient. Carole Franklin is equally efficient, and has a commercial view which I appreciate.’
‘AG have advised us on a number of contentious property matters. Their advice is pragmatic and commercial and provided within the context of an excellent understanding of the issues that are important to us.’
‘We have worked closely with Carole Franklin over a long period. She has an excellent understanding of our business drivers and priorities. She is very responsive and commercial and provides excellent advice.’
‘Elizabeth Cape and Emily Russell are both extremely responsive and ensure they stay in touch in order to fully understand our business and the challenges we have and could face.’
‘Elizabeth Cape is unbelievably responsive and commercially aware. She quickly gets to the root of an issue and works out the most advantageous commercial solution. She is also a pleasure to work with: fun, enthusiastic and a real team player.’
‘The property litigation team provide us with useful commercial advice, which has aided our decision-making. They have communicated effectively throughout the process and been happy to work with us and other stakeholders to achieve the best outcomes.’
‘Chris McGrath and Emily Russell have been brilliant in guiding us through some complex legal points. They have been able to have commercial conversations with counterparts to move forward issues allowing us to reach positive settlements.’
Key clients
- Asda Stores Limited
- Associated British Foods
- Associated British Ports
- Aviva Investors
- British Land plc
- British Telecommunications plc
- Columbia Threadneedle Investments
- Federated Hermes Investment Management
- Harworth Estate Investments Limited
- National Grid
- Primark Stores
- Travelodge Hotels Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for the liquidators of MSOLD1 LTD (previously known as Maker&Son Limited), which had previously been appointed as administrators, on obtaining possession of two properties.
- Acted for several CTI funds, including the £2bn Threadneedle Pensions Property Fund, on more than 20 sales concurrently for a combined value of several hundred million pounds, unlocking long-standing dilapidations claims and advising on various complex queries raised by buyers in respect of rights of way issues, adverse possession claims and boundary queries to avoid significant price chips.
- Advised Kirklees on the vacant possession strategy for Queensgate market hall in relation to its £200m+ ten-year phased culture and leisure-led regeneration of Huddersfield town centre.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Rising stars
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Julie Middlemass