Property
Eleanor is an outstanding Chancery & Commercial barrister, with a proven track record of academic excellence and a forensic eye for detail.
In particular, in respect of Property matters, Eleanor’s practice encompasses all aspects of real property (both contentious and non-contentious) and is frequently instructed in cases which involve a cross-over between Insolvency and Property law.
Eleanor advises upon and represents parties in Court in respect of:
- Landlord and Tenant, both commercial and residential;
- Service Charges;
- Mortgages (including, and in particular, Claims which involve arguments surrounding undue influence and/or misrepresentation);
- Claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996;
- Land Registration;
- Restrictive Covenants;
- Rights of way;
- Boundaries;
- Nuisance and Negligence causing damage to property;
- Adverse Possession;
- Proprietary Estoppel;
- Partnerships, particularly those concerning farming partnerships and/or trusts of land;
- Professional negligence arising within those areas. Eleanor regularly acts in both the High and County Courts for institutional clients such as developers, banks and national limited companies. She has appeared a number of times before the Court of Appeal.
Cases
- Represented the lender at the High Court in London, where the Claimants were seeking to set aside the lender’s mortgage on grounds of alleged undue influence. The Claimants discontinued their Claim against the lender on the cusp of the Hearing of the lender’s strike-out Application in respect of the Claim.
- Eleanor represented one of two Defendants at a 3 day Trial concerning a Claim brought against her client in the tort of conspiracy. The Claim related to the purchase of a property in 2002 which was said to have been procured by an unlawful means conspiracy; alternatively, by a lawful means conspiracy. The Claim was dismissed in its entirety. Additionally, the judge observed that any Claim would also have been statute-barred under the Limitation Act 1980.
- Eleanor represented the Defendant in a multi-day Trial concerning a dispute between father and daughter. The Claimant was seeking to set aside a lifetime gift of property made by him to his daughter on the basis that he alleged that his daughter had unduly influenced him to enter into the transaction. The Claim to set aside the gift failed entirely and was dismissed with costs.
- Eleanor represented the Claimant mortgagee during the course of a multi-day Trial, where the Defendant was seeking to set aside the Claimant’s all-monies legal charge on the grounds of alleged undue influence and/or misrepresentation. The Claimant was successful, obtained a 28 day Possession Order and a Money Judgment for in excess of £4 million.
- Eleanor represented the Defendants in a multi-day Trial concerning the statutory interpretation of section 168 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 and the circumstances in which forfeiture of a long leasehold dwelling may be effected.
- Acting and advising a Claimant in the BPC in Birmingham concerning water ingress into his property, pursuing Claims against 3 Defendants. The Claim was settled on Day 1 of a 5 Day Trial.
Significant Reported Cases:
- Grange v Quinn [2013] EWCA Civ 24 – Court of Appeal decision concerning the proper measure of damages to which a tenant should be entitled following unlawful eviction.
- Crossfield v Jackson [2014] EWCA Civ 1548 – Court of Appeal decision concerning undue influence.
- Windermere Marina Village Ltd v Wild and another [2014] UKUT 163 (LC) – Decision of the Upper Tribunal concerning apportionment of service charges.
- Martin v Cooper [2024] EWHC 3296 (KB) – an Appeal in the High Court concerning laches and limitation in the context of the law of private nuisance.
