St John’s Chambers is a ‘first-class‘ set for property and construction law work, with a range of experienced barristers and upcoming juniors.”

The Legal 500 2024, Property & Construction

Our Real Estate team have a wealth of experience in advising and representing commercial, agricultural and residential clients in boundary disputes with neighbours and in adverse possession claims.

The system of land registration in England and Wales does not conclusively determine the ownership of land because boundaries shown on registered plans are usually general boundaries only and are subject to alteration/rectification under the Land Registration Act 2002. Conveyances can be ambiguous or inconsistent, and often the position on the ground does not match what the paper title appears to show.

In these circumstances specialist advice and representation is often required to resolve the issue of ownership, and our team can help with this.

Areas of expertise:

  • Interpretation of parcels clauses and maps in conveyances
  • Ownership of walls, fences, verges, banks and hedges including Devon and Cornish hedges
  • Ownership of tidal and non-tidal river banks, lakes and the foreshore
  • Ownership of private tracks and the subsoil under highways maintainable at public expense
  • Application of legal presumptions in relation to fences, highway boundaries, bodies of water, and hedges and ditches
  • Determining claims to adverse possession in relation to unregistered land and registered land under the Land Registration Act 2002 and the transitional provisions

They also advise on party walls, rights of way, rights to light, restrictive covenants, nuisance (e.g. subsidence and withdrawal of support, flooding, tree roots) and other types of disputes arising between neighbours.

We understand our clients’ interests and needs and we aim to provide a cost-effective service that meets them.

Mediation

As the number of cases being dealt with by way of mediation increases, our mediation team is on hand to help, as advisers, advocates and mediators. Our facilities are specifically designed to meet with clients’ needs for a mediation venue. Read more.

Public Access

Some members of the team are also available to act, where appropriate, for members of the public, as well as commercial and non-commercial organisations, under the Public Access scheme. Read more.

Training

The team delivers workshops and seminars in Chambers and regional centres. We also provide training on behalf of local Law Societies and in conjunction with solicitors’ firms. In addition we can give tailored in-house training for particular firms. If you would like any further information please contact Paul Nuttall on 0117 923 4742 or email: [email protected] 

Boundary Disputes Team

alex-troup

Alex Troup KC

  • Call: 1998
  • Silk: 2023

Alex is a chancery barrister who is often instructed in property litigation cases. Some of his property cases overlap with his trust and contentious probate practice, such as proprietary estoppel claims, disputes over the beneficial ownership of property,...

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Charles Auld

  • Call: 1980

Charles has considerable experience dealing with matters including boundary disputes, landlord and tenant work, rights of way, restrictive covenants and registration at HM Land Registry. His work includes: Disputes over land including traditional boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, rights...

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John Sharples

John Sharples

  • Call: 1992

John is very well versed in handling a variety of complex cases, and is frequently instructed on behalf of estates, developers, public authorities as well as private clients. He is ranked as a Star individual in Chambers UK...

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John Dickinson

John Dickinson

  • Call: 1995

John is a barrister specialising in real estate work including conveyancing disputes, boundaries and easements, in particular disputes over parking and rights of way in both civil and tribunal proceedings and representation in tribunals in relation to adverse...

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Christopher Jones

Christopher Jones

  • Call: 2004

Head of Real Estate, Christopher has extensive expertise in a wide variety of property issues. Real property Easements: rights of way, rights of support, rights to light and water rights Disputed ownership of land, adverse possession and boundary...

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Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke

  • Call: 2009

Michael regularly acts and advises in real estate matters including the disputed ownership of land, boundary disputes, adverse possession, easements and restrictive covenants. In addition Michael advises upon torts in relation to land, in particular trespass, nuisance and...

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Oliver Wooding

Oliver Wooding

  • Call: 2009

Oliver has a specialist practice that focuses on real estate matters, and is regularly instructed as an advocate, advisor, and mediator in a wide range of disputes. His expertise includes: Landlord & Tenant Oliver is experienced in both...

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Charlie Newington Bridges

Charlie Newington-Bridges

  • Call: 2011

Charlie specialises in all areas of real property matters and can advise clients in the following matters: Conveyancing and registration Restrictive covenants and easements Customary rights Adverse possession Boundary disputes Co-ownership Estoppel Mortgages and charges Commercial landlord and...

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Adam Boyle

  • Call: 2012

Adam is a very experienced real estate practitioner and a “go to” barrister in relation to difficult property matters. He is frequently instructed in the full gamut of property cases, including everything from rights of way, to complicated...

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Joss Knight

  • Call: 2014

Joss specialises in real estate matters, and has extensive experience of both commercial and residential landlord and tenant matters. As well as appearing on behalf of both landlord and tenants in lease renewal claims under the 1954 Act;...

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Annie Sampson

Annie Sampson

  • Call: 2015

Annie has experience across the breadth of property and real estate matters, including TOLATA claims, trespass, nuisance, residential landlord and tenant and mortgage possession proceedings, boundary disputes, adverse possession, commercial tenancies and the renewal of business tenancies under...

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Brittany Pearce

Brittany Pearce

  • Call: 2015

Brittany has acted for clients in a range of real property matters, including boundary disputes and adverse possession claims, the enforcement of restrictive covenants and the creation of and interference with easements. Brittany’s focus is on achieving a...

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Ben Harwood

Ben Harwood

  • Call: 2022

Ben joined Chambers in October 2023 following the successful completion of his specialist commercial and chancery pupillage. Ben’s pupil supervisors were James Pearce-Smith, Brittany Pearce, Christopher Jones and Charlie Newington-Bridges. Ben frequently represents clients at small claims and...

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Guy Adams

Guy Adams

  • Call: 1989

Guy is an experienced chancery practitioner with a strong focus on real estate work. His expertise covers commercial and residential landlord and tenant matters as well as development issues. He represents clients at all levels of the court...

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Richard Gold

Richard Gold

  • Call: 2006

Richard specialises in real estate matters, and acts in both residential and commercial property disputes. His areas of expertise include: landlord and tenant disputes; freehold covenants; easements; adverse possession; boundary disputes; trespass/nuisance (including tree root damage); and claims...

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Directory Quotes

St John’s Chambers is the premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield.”

Chambers UK 2024, Real Estate Litigation

St John’s Chambers is a ‘first-class‘ set for property and construction law work, with ‘a range of experienced barristers and upcoming juniors‘. “

The Legal 500 2024, Property & Construction

The premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield. The set boasts a deep roster of barristers with specialist real estate litigation expertise who appear at all levels of the court system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

Chambers UK 2023, Real Estate Litigation

I am always impressed with the prompt responses received via both email and telephone. They are always happy to assist.”

Chambers UK 2023, Real Estate Litigation (Client Service)

High-quality set‘, St John’s houses a team with established strength in handling contentious property matters.’ ‘Top quality counsel with in-depth subject knowledge.’ ‘The barristers are approachable, talented and provide a first class service.’ “

Legal 500 2023, Property & Construction

St John’s Chambers is the premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit and remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield. As one instructing solicitor puts it, ‘the set is the biggest player in the South West and has a really good spread of expertise’.”

Chambers UK 2022, Real Estate

The team is probably one of the best I have dealt with – they cannot do enough for you and they go above and beyond to meet your needs.”

Chambers UK 2022, Real Estate (Client Service)

St John’s Chambers is the strongest chambers in the South West for property work.”

Legal 500 2022, Property and Construction

The premier set for contentious property matters on the Western Circuit, St John’s Chambers remains a go-to for solicitors in the South West and further afield. The set boasts a deep roster of barristers with specialist real estate litigation expertise who appear at all levels of the court system, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

Chambers UK 2021, Real Estate

St John’s Chambers members appear in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, as well as the new Property and Business Courts in Bristol.”

Legal 500 2021, Property and Construction

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