Specialisms & expertise
- Disputes arising out of development contracts to include questions of contract interpretation, payment trigger events, overage claims and price determination procedures
- Real estate disputes to include advising on easements, restrictive covenants, rights of common, diversion of public rights of way, and adverse possession claims
- Property insolvency work including the enforcement of legal charges on behalf of development finance lenders and the appointment of both fixed charge receivers and administrative receivers
- Advising on contentious portfolio asset management matters including contested lease renewals under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954
- Professional negligence claims arising from property related matters
- Establishing the extent of beneficial interests in properties on behalf of both individuals and insolvency practitioners.
Examples of work
Acted for Hautford Limited in the Supreme Court proceedings concerning whether a landlord was unreasonably withholding consent to the tenant’s request to submit a planning application for premises in Soho
Advising client O Limited to devise a strategy for the recovery of possession of a disused listed mill in the North West from a tenant who had allowed it to fall into a dangerous state
Advising a well-known commercial lender client on enforcement options following default by its borrower and arranging the subsequent appointment of the LPA Receiver
Assisting a developer client establish the legality and the extent of a right of way required to serve a sizeable residential estate
Advising corporate trustee clients in connection with the closure of a registered society and the resolution of a dispute regarding the assets of the society
Devising a strategy for client FA Limited to recover possession of a multi tenanted mixed use property portfolio to enable re-development to take place
Resolving a bitter dispute at a mediation between family members relating to Mrs J’s property interest in an estate in Kent
Acting for a farming business client in forcing the sale of agricultural property following the dissolution of the farming partnership.
Achievements & other appointments
Mark is acknowledged in leading independent guide to UK law firms, Chambers UK, as a leader in his field. His clients say he “”will get on with the work without us having to chase him, and he has a good balance of commercial intelligence and legal knowledge.” He is also described as being “incredibly approachable, personable and knowledgeable”. He is a member of the Property Litigation Association.
Education
Mark attended Sheffield Hallam University and studied law. After completing his LPC at the College of Law in Guildford, Mark joined the firm as a trainee. Mark qualified as a solicitor in 2005.