Natasha Dzameh - Real Estate

Natasha is ranked as a leading junior in property litigation by Legal 500 and Chambers UK.  She is often instructed as sole counsel on matters of significant value from pre-action through to trial or mediation including where the opposition have instructed a KC. Natasha has experience of offshore disputes and is thought to be the only regional junior on the Legal Services Panel for the BVI.

In relation to property litigation, Natasha has been described in the directories as someone who is “very thorough and quick on her feet in court”, whose “submissions are excellent”, who is “technically good but also practical and tactical”, “foresees problems”, “builds a great rapport with clients”,  “knows the law inside out and uses that to her advantage to build a fantastic result”, “will go the extra mile for clients and instructing solicitors”, “always thinks outside the box to find the best outcome”, “ incredibly well-prepared and knows her cases back to front”, is “relatable” and “thorough”.

Natasha specialises in advising and representing clients on proprietary estoppel and trust claims in relation to land, especially ToLATA claims (including those linked with Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989), particularly where there are multiple properties. In such matters she often advises on: constructive trusts, duress, equitable accounting, equity of exoneration, Pallant v Morgan equity, resulting trusts, sham trusts, unconscionability, undue influence, unjust enrichment and Quistclose trusts. She increasingly finds herself engaged in disputes involving allegations of coercive control. Natasha also advises on commercial property matters such as contracts for the sale and/or development of land, mortgages, misrepresentation, professional negligence and property damage.

Natasha is often instructed on beneficial interest disputes which are intertwined with other areas of her practice e.g. disputes over whether property constitutes an asset of a partnership or part of an estate and disputes over beneficial interests in shares or businesses. She has been instructed on a wide range of agricultural, commercial and residential property matters with her experience including the First-tier Tribunal (Land Registration and Residential Property Divisions) and the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Her experience includes:

• A dispute concerning beneficial interests in several investment properties in multiple jurisdictions involving argument as to constructive trusts, resulting trusts and sham trusts.
• A claim to set aside a conveyance of property to a third party on the basis of duress and/or undue influence as a result of coercive control.
• A claim by an estate regarding beneficial interests in a property and whether it constituted partnership property in circumstances where there had been a change of partners
• A dispute over approximately 7 acres of land and development costs.
• Acting for the trustee in bankruptcy in proceedings before the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), Land Registration Division. An application had been made to register a restriction against a property shortly prior to its sale with the bankrupt being adjudged bankrupt after the sale. Neither the bankrupt nor the purchaser were aware of the sale. Applicant claimed a beneficial interest arising out of a resulting or constructive trust or proprietary estoppel.
• Allegations of breach of section 11(1)(b) LTA 1985, section 4 DPA 1972 and nuisance and/or negligence due to escape of water with a counterclaim by a landlord alleging repudiatory breach.
• Claim for possession and sale of property by way of enforcement of a charge involving the estates of a deceased couple and their son who was in occupation
• Dispute involving partnership and the estate of a deceased partner as to ownership of property in circumstances where the mortgage broker involved was banned by the FSA due to involvement in a £1.5m fraud
• Nuisance and negligence claim regarding extensive damage to a Grade II listed building
• A claim to set aside an express declaration of trust on the basis of duress and/or undue influence due to coercive control and physical violence
• A Pallant v Morgan equity dispute between companies regarding the purchase of a £1.6m plot of land
• A claim involving a tenancy under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 in respect of 123 acres of land, an option agreement granted to a developer and a family will trust.
• A claim for specific performance of an agreement for the sale of land pursuant to the expedited summary judgment procedure as between vendors
• A nuisance and negligence claim resulting from a fire which caused extensive damage to a range of commercial buildings.
• A claim involving breach of contract, negligence and breach of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 regarding allegedly defective sofas which were said to have resulted in a total loss of a property
• A claim for rent arrears against a large British retailer subject to a CVA. Concerned arguments over insurance coverage, operation of a cesser clause and frustration due to COVID in respect of non-payment of rent. Advised prior to Bank of New York Mellon (International) Ltd v Cine-UK Ltd [2021] EWHC 1013 (QB), similar arguments involved. The other side capitulated and settled the dispute upon the filing of Natasha’s skeleton argument referencing Mellon.

Publications and Podcasts

• “TOLATA claims: Practical tips and complexities” – The Real Estate Pod from St John’s Chambers with Roskilly & Mills, Episode 1.
• “Proprietary estoppel remedies: expectation and acceleration”, Trusts and Estates Law & Tax Journal, Vol 240, 2023, pp. 13-20