Guaranteed Failure, the case of Peter Dunn and Kostas Kazolides

The case of Peter Dunn v Kostas Kazolides [2025] EWHC 2212 (Ch) addresses interesting questions about limitation periods, insolvency, the formal requirements for the execution of deeds, and how variation to the contract between the principal debtor and creditor may discharge a guarantor. Mr Dunn, a former chartered accountant and insolvency practitioner, claimed nearly £9m […]

Junior Programme: Property – 31st July 2025

In this Junior Programme: Property presented by Natalie Pratt and James Fagan, our speakers cover ‘Breaches of Restrictive Covenants’ and ‘Return to Vendor: Misrepresentation in Residential Property Conveyancing’. Breaches of Restrictive Covenants Natalie considers the remedies available for breaches of restrictive covenants, and the options available to a landowner under s84 of the Law of […]

Bishop v Jaques [2025] UKUT 141 (LC)

In a decision handed down today by the Upper Tribunal in Bishop v Jaques [2025] UKUT 141 (LC), Deputy Chamber President Martin Rodger KC considered, amongst other things, two interesting questions about boundary agreements: (1) whether they can be binding on proprietors of land and their successors in title even though the land on which […]

Planning dispute enforcement notice appeal – Tan House and Hillside Retreat

Tan House second enforcement notice appeal succeeds with a (second) costs award. By a decision letter and separate costs decision both dated 9 May 2025, planning Inspector John Braithwaite BSc(Arch) BArch(Hons) RIBA MRTPI allowed a ground B appeal, quashed the enforcement notice [alleging the making of a material change of use], and granted retrospective planning […]

Haut v Holm [2025] GCA/006

Stuart Benzie was instructed (with Michelle Ullger) to appear in the Court of Appeal of Gibraltar for the successful respondents in Haut v. Holm [2025] GCA/006. The appeal concerned the ownership of shares in a Gibraltar company that held shares in three Spanish companies that in turn owned a portfolio of properties in Spain. The […]

Rachel Lane

Prior to coming to the Bar, Rachel was the sole fee earner in the Private Client department of a regional law firm, advising clients on wills, trusts, probate and estate administration.   Rachel graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Double First-Class degree in Law, ranking third in her year. Alongside her academic studies, she volunteered as […]

Samuel Lane

In addition to his busy unled practice, he has acted as junior counsel on substantial cases in the Court of Appeal and High Court. He has experience in acting in contractual disputes, civil fraud claims, and insolvency litigation, as well as in partnership, probate, and property cases. Prior to coming to the Bar, Sam studied […]

Peachside Limited v Lee and Keung [2024] EWHC 921 (TCC)

Wendy Mathers 1

Wendy Mathers, instructed by Bude Nathan Iwanier LLP, acted for the successful Claimant in Peachside Limited v Lee and Keung [2024] EWHC 921 (TCC). The Claimant landlord sought damages for dilapidations at the end of a commercial lease. Unusually, both limbs of section 18(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 were engaged, meaning then Judge […]

Barklem v HMRC [2024] EWHC 651 (Ch)

Mr Justice Fancourt has handed down judgment in Barklem v HMRC [2024] EWHC 651 (Ch), in which HMRC successfully obtained an order striking out High Court proceedings on the ground that they were an abuse of process. The claim had been brought in connection with a film partnership tax scheme. Nicholas Macklam acted for HMRC. […]

Lane v Lane [2024] EWHC 275 (Ch)

Daniel Burton, instructed by Rob Adam of Greene & Greene, represented the successful Claimant beneficiary in contested Part 64 proceedings concerning the administration of a farming estate. The Court held that a testamentary gift of a “share and interest” in a dissolved partnership had not adeemed and, generally, would not adeem until the payment of […]