Real estate litigation

Our team looks after the interests of major institutional investors, property companies, developers, and large corporate and retail occupiers.

We advise regularly on a full spectrum of potentially contentious property issues - from rent reviews, dilapidations and service charge disputes through to clearing development sites of occupiers and third party rights. 

We have a reputation amongst real estate professional for delivering the highest standards of pragmatic, commercial advice.

Whilst our team can boast an impressive number of the most significant property litigation cases of the past 10 years, we are best known for our pursuit of solution – led strategies which are often more cost effective and better achieve our clients' long term goals.

Real estate litigation

We act for anyone with a property concern whether landlords, lenders, developers, property companies, retailers, corporate occupiers, hotel and leisure companies, insolvency practitioners or telecoms operators. 

We advise on:

• Any landlord and tenant issues including dilapidations, service charge disputes, rent reviews (and arbitration procedures), tenant default including tenant insolvency, contested break notices, 54 Act lease renewals, forfeiture and possession, contested applications for landlord's consent
• Landowner and development issues including disputes over options, development agreements, JV's and overage; rights to light and other third party claims; site clearance issues including contested lease renewals and removal of restrictive covenants via Lands Tribunal
• Original tenant liability issues following tenant insolvency
• Telecoms Code issues
• For banks and insolvency practitioners, advising on property intensive insolvencies and realising security
• Professional negligence and valuation disputes. 

 
We are familiar with all dispute resolution procedures, from full blown litigation including injunctive action through to arbitration and mediation.

Real estate litigation

Clients include:

• Institutional investors such as Friends Life, BMW, L&G, Zurich, LV, USS, NFU
  Mutual, Crown Estates and Canada Life.
• Retailers, hotels and corporate occupiers including Sainsburys, Whitbread, Debenhams, House of Fraser and Blenheim/Mariott.
• Telecoms and network operators including Geo Networks Ltd, Virgin Media and Airwave Solutions Ltd.
• Developers such as Bracknell Regeneration Limited Partnership, Development Securities Plc and Salmon Harvester.

Real estate litigation

Recommended by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a leading law firm for property litigation.

"This firm is instructed by blue-chip institutional investors on a broad range of property matters, and is recognised for its expertise in property-related telecoms litigation and insolvency matters. It notably acted for House of Fraser on K/S Victoria Street v House of Fraser, a major property case in the High Court and Court of Appeal that clarified the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995. Other clients include Sainsbury's and The Crown Estate.

"Carole Peet is "very good indeed," say sources, who also report "a lot of respect for her." She acts for public and private sector landlords, tenants and developers on all forms of property dispute, and anchors the firm's relationship with the Crown Estate." - Chambers UK 2013

"Lawrence Graham LLP recruited senior associate Clive Chalkley from Slaughter and May in 2011, and added The Crown Estate to its roster of institutional investor clients. Chalkley represented House of Fraser in a Court of Appeal case concerning the validity of guarantees under the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995.  Carole Peet was promoted to partner in 2012." - The Legal 500 UK 2012

"Lawrence Graham LLP’s top-notch institutional investor client base includes AXA Sun Life and Hermes Property. The practice... is particularly strong in telecoms matters and recently represented Geo Networks in a High Court dispute regarding the laying of fibre-optic cables." - The Legal 500

"A prominent name in the sector, LG has an active practice and is particularly noted for its work for investor landlords. It advises on the full range of real estate disputes." - Chambers UK