Muckle LLP’s property litigation department works closely with the firm’s agriculture and estates, broader real estate, and private client teams to provide a multidisciplinary offering spanning the full range of contentious property issues. Charlotte McMurchie oversees the department and has a broad property litigation practice spanning both residential and commercial landlord matters, breaches of covenant work, and renewal claims. The ‘brilliant‘ Sarah Barratt is highly regarded for her landlord and tenant expertise; Barratt takes point on social housing and contentious residential tenancy matters, as well as housing disrepair claims. Also in the core team is Jennifer Pearson, noted for her particular focus on commercial real estate disputes.

With a strong foothold in the energy and utilities sectors, the property litigation team at Weightmans stands out for its strength advising on the full range of contentious property matters, including enforcements of covenants, possession claims, wayleave issues, and the infringement of property rights. Christopher Graham leads the practice and is a key contact for energy sector clients, with notable expertise advising on disputes related to injunctive relief. The core team also includes Jill Dalkin, who handles business tenancy renewals and service charge disputes, and Mark Reeves, who acts for landlords and tenants on dilapidation claims and breaches of lease covenants.

James Godden leads the property litigation offering at Clarke Mairs LLP, which collaborates closely with the firm’s insolvency group and advises on contentious landlord and tenant disputes, enfranchisement work, and property-related insolvency work. Godden is an experienced litigator with a broad practice spanning enfranchisement issues and claimant and defendant work for landlords and national surveyors. He works alongside Louise Ager, who takes point on insolvency instructions for landlords and block management companies. They are ably assisted by the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Amir Hussain, recommended for dilapidation and rent arrears claims.

Jonathan Smith heads up the national real estate litigation practice at DWF, which stands out for its work for national corporate occupiers, telecoms operators, and public sector clients. Swift specialises in commercial rent reviews, dilapidations issues, housing litigation, and public law challenges, and is ably assisted by Lana Imrie.

Jointly headed up by Hilary Waters and Angus Ashman, the ‘very impressive‘ property litigation team at Sintons LLP has particular expertise acting for faith-based institutions, including churches and dioceses, on the full range of contentious property work. Waters has a broad commercial litigation practice and handles contentious property matters for landlords and clients in the leisure sector, while ‘consummate litigator’ Ashman takes point on lease forfeiture, service charge and dilapidation claims, and breach of covenant mandates.

The Durham-based property litigation team at Swinburne Maddison LLP acts for both private individuals as well as social housing providers, adeptly handling a diverse array of housing disrepair instructions, property-related contentious probate matters, proprietary estoppel disputes, and adverse possession issues. David Low heads up the practice and has a broad property litigation practice with an emphasis on social housing cases, as well as instructions from private individuals. Low works closely with Lewis Brown, hailed for his ‘unwavering commitment to excellent client care‘; Brown is another key name for housing disrepair claims.

Ward Hadaway LLP counts both private and public sector entities among its clients, with particular expertise acting for local authorities, healthcare providers, and clients in the infrastructure sector. A key name in Newcastle is Jeremy Hardy, who handles landlord and tenant issues and dilapidations claims. Former head of the practice Sharon Mathieson left the team in January 2024.

Leveraging the firm’s national network of offices, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP’s Newcastle-based property litigation practice acts for housebuilders, national companies, telecoms companies, and infrastructure providers on the full range of contentious mandates. A key individual to note in Newcastle is Rachel Templeman, who acts for private landlords and social housing groups on leaseholder disputes and possession claims, while Fiona Graham oversees the firm’s overall property litigation offering from the firm’s Leeds office. Former practice head Jen Smurthwaite left the team in 2024.