Commercial
Lawrence is an experienced commercial litigator and is the Head of Chambers’ Property Team. He has particular expertise in property, insolvency and professional negligence cases, acting for companies, individuals, office holders and public bodies before courts and tribunals of all levels in England and Wales. He has also appeared in the Courts of the Isle of Man.
He is recommended as a leading practitioner in commercial litigation and property litigation by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners:
“Lawrence is an outstanding, technical and robust litigator. He is knowledgeable, polite and strong with effective communication skills”.
“He is thorough, creative and excellent at cross-examination”
“Lawrence is a tremendously affable character and enjoyable to work with. He is commercial in his outlook and very knowledgeable on the law.”
Lawrence is frequently instructed on urgent applications such as freezing and other types of injunctions. He is experienced both in obtaining such orders and in resisting them or seeking to have them discharged.
Lawrence’s commercial litigation practice includes:
- Property litigation of all types including real property, landlord and tenant and development disputes
- Commercial contract disputes
- Shareholder and company disputes including particularly unfair prejudice petitions
- Partnership disputes
- Personal and corporate insolvency
- Professional negligence, particularly in claims for property related negligence such as conveyancers, architects and valuers.
In addition to advocacy before the courts and tribunals, Lawrence regularly represents clients in mediation and has successfully mediated dozens of cases. He is a qualified mediator and he also sits as a Recorder in civil, criminal and Chancery cases.
Cases
People in Mind Limited v Armchair Answercall Limited (2014) – A 6 day trial in London about whether the departure of a network of franchisees frustrates a contract for services with the franchisor. Listed before the Court of Appeal in autumn 2016.
Bradley v Heslin [2014] EWHC 3267 – A 3 day trial before the Vice-Chancellor regarding the acquisition of an easement by prescription, adverse possession or proprietary estoppel. Listed before the Court of Appeal in March 2016.
Hamlington v Wrexham County Borough Council (2014) – A 5 day trial about whether drainage works by a highway authority caused damage to property.
Rainford v Rainford (2014) – Whether payments made by an ex-husband to his ex- wife were a loan or gave rise to a beneficial interest in a property.
Whalley v PF Developments Limited [2013] EWCA Civ 306 – A successful appeal to the Court of Appeal regarding the assessment of damages for trespass.
Feury v Marshman (2013) – A 5 day trial before HHJ Bird concerning easements, nuisance and harassment. Following cross examination of the witnesses, the case settled on favourable terms before judgment.
Liverpool Quays Management Limited v Moscardini [2012] UKUT 244 (LC) – A successful appeal to the Upper Tribunal regarding the recoverability of service charge expenditure.
Campbell v Banks [2011] EWCA Civ 61 – An appeal concerning the applicability of section 62 of the Law of Property Act 1925.
Re Northall (Deceased) [2010] ECHC 1448 (Ch) – A 3 day trial before David Richards J concerning the beneficial interest in money held in a bank account in joint names.
Pierse Developments Limited v Liberty Property Investment Limited [2009] EWCA Civ 1423 (as Instructing Solicitor) – A dispute regarding a development agreement for a block of flats in Liverpool that was affected by the recession.
Sugarman v Porter [2006] EWHC 331 (Ch) (as Instructing Solicitor) –Restrictive covenants.
Mean Fiddler Holdings Limited v Islington LBC [2003] 3 EGLR 61, LT; [2003] 2 P&CR 7, CA (as Instructing Solicitor) – Compulsory purchase and breach of leasehold covenants.
