Introduction
Simon is a specialist property practitioner. Described in The Legal 500 guide as an ‘excellent advocate’, Simon relishes all forms of advocacy and is a very experienced trial advocate. He is widely recognised as a leading specialist in leasehold management, forfeiture and service charge cases.
Simon is frequently instructed across the full range of real property disputes, including landlord and tenant issues of adverse possession, restrictive covenants, land registration and easements. He regularly advises on a wide range of issues arising out of development agreements, including joint venture agreements, options and overage, as well as on issues at the intersection of property and insolvency law. Simon has advised and appeared in numerous professional negligence claims connected to property transactions.
His clients include developers, land owners, financial institutions, leasehold management companies, ground rent investment companies, local authorities, Right to Manage companies, LPA receivers and surveyors.
Specialisms
Landlord & Tenant:
-Service charges / residential management
-Forfeiture
-Licensed premises
-Possession
-Breaches of covenant
-Renewal
-Dilapidations
Property:
-Easements
-Adverse Possession
-Restrictive covenants
-Trespass
-Development and Party Walls
Directory Recommendations
In The Legal 500 Simon is ranked as a Leading Junior in Property Litigation. He is also ranked in Real Estate Litigation in Chambers and Partners.
He is described by solicitors as being,
“One of the best barristers in the property field.”
(The Legal 500, 2020)
“Very clear and straightforward with clients and tenacious in how he deals with judges.”
“Very quick and commercially savvy and has a great manner with clients.”
“Extremely capable and a very good advocate.”
(Chambers and Partners, 2020)
“He has a very sharp intellect and a deep understanding of the property industry.”
“He has unquestionable knowledge regarding property matters, and is proactive and very user-friendly.”
“He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of residential landlord and tenant work.”
“An excellent advocate and especially able to provide succinct and commercially viable advice.”
(Legal 500, 2019)
Qualifications, Appointments
Secretary of the Property Bar Assocation 2017-2020
Treasurer of the Property Bar Association 2020-present
Publications
Is Commonhold really in the public interest?, Estates Gazette (29/9/20)
The burden of landlord's consent post-Duval, Estates Gazette (7/5/20)
Public pledge signals leasehold reform, Estates Gazette (16/4/19)
A treatise in defence of ground rents, Estates Gazette (24/5/18)
Costs recovery for Tribunal Claims, RICS Property Journal (May 2017)
Saving heartache and expense on leasehold repairs, Solicitors Journal (15 September 2014)
Treat landowners equally, Law Society Gazette (2013), September 16, 10 (squatting/ commercial property).