Overview
Chris joined the Business and Property Group at Nine Chambers in May 2022 having completed pupillage in 2020. Prior to pupillage Chris was employed by a Legal 500 ranked firm of solicitors initially in private client work before transitioning into commercial litigation specialising in property disputes.
Through this experience Chris understands fully the pressure solicitors are under and aims to alleviate that rather than add to it. He is prompt in his turnaround of papers and is recognised as being extremely client focused and friendly.
Chris prides himself on taking a grounded approach to matters and is able to break issues down into simple terms for the lay client.
Away from Chambers Chris can be found at Deepdale, supporting his beloved Preston North End with his son.
Landlord & Tenant
Including leases, forfeiture, possession proceedings, dilapidations and trusts.
- Advising on leaseholders right to manage pursuant to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
- Advising a large pub chain on misrepresentations made by a tenant prior to being granted a lease
- Forfeiture of a Manchester restaurant due to breaches of the lease
- Advising on unauthorised alterations to a property subject to a commercial lease
- 3 day trial involving possession of a residential property and a counterclaim for rent deposit and disrepair
- Claim for a declaration relating to a property purportedly held on trust
- Advising on commercial rent review
- Advising on the validity of a Section 25 notice
Property
Including boundary disputes, party wall act awards, nuisance, neighbour disputes and transfer/registration of land.
Recent experience includes:
- Claim for misrepresentation and recission of a contract for sale due to the positioning of drainage on a plot of land
- Advising on the validity of a property transfer based on a false signature
- Advising on the positioning of boundaries
- Advising on limitation and the merits of an application for a party wall award
Commercial
Including contractual disputes, supply of goods and services and debt. Recent experience includes.
- Advising on an agreement for the supply of business support, immigration visas and advertisement
- Claim for loss of profit relating to the sale of a business
- Defending a claim for the return of a vehicle subject to a hire purchase agreement
- Misrepresentation claim relating to the sale of goods
Construction
Including acting for both builders and homeowners in a variety of disputes involving contracts and allegations of poor workmanship. Recent experience includes:
- Mediation relating to the cost of piling for a block of flats
- Dispute relating to the quality of work on an extension
- Dispute relating to the works required to be done under the terms of an oral contract
- Advising on prospects of success relating to damage caused to a neighbouring property by a builder
Company
Including bankruptcy petitions, applications to set aside statutory demands and advising on procedure. Recent experience includes:
- Appearing at hearings to set aside Statutory Demands
- Advising on the validity of a Statutory Demand and procedure
Notable Cases
He acted for companies and high net worth individuals in a wide variety of disputes including:
- Dispute relating to several London properties held on trust with a value of circa £3,000,000 which included allegations of fraud, injunctions and a worldwide freezing order
- Advising on the contamination of farmland by a major energy supplier
- Forfeiture of leases by peaceable re-entry and via Section 146 notice
- Defending a claim for negligence against a Chartered Surveyor following flooding of a property
- Advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants relating to a block of flats
- Claim for professional negligence against an insurance broker
- Advising on the validity of a notice to quit relating to a farm business tenancy
- Defending proceedings for the breach of improvement notices
- Advising on anticipated breaches of a lease relating to the removal of solar panels
- Advising on dilapidations, section 25 notices and service charge disputes
- Advising on residential possession claims
Education
BA International Business, University of Central Lancashire
Bar Course, MMU
