'Pound-for-pound the best property litigation team in South Wales', Berry Smith provides 'tactically astute and robust' advice to developers, landowners and financial institutions on disputes concerning rights over land and landlord and tenant matters. 'Outstanding' team head Simon Care has 'gravitas beyond his years', ensuring that he is a popular choice among private individuals and companies across a wide range of matters, including those seeking declaratory/injunctive relief relating to rights of way and boundary disputes. As part of his wide-ranging litigation prowess, Iwan Doull regularly handles property-related matters, including for the Welsh government, which he continues to defend on high-profile nuisance claims brought by the landlord and tenant of adjoining land relating to flooding. A 'quintessential safe pair of hands', senior associate Lauren Parsons has 'a very strong eye for detail' and often supports both Care and Doull on their mandates.

At Blake Morgan LLP, team head Siân Jones has vast property litigation experience, particularly as it relates to commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes. Jones is also noted for her work in the social housing space, including from a risk management perspective in relation to the recently enacted Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016. Senior associate Tanya Barrett is also key to the social housing practice, regularly acting for residential social landlords (RSLs) in possession and antisocial behaviour cases. As part of his varied property litigation workload that also includes, inter alia, conventional dilapidation claims and lease renewal proceedings, Adam Carbis also has niche expertise in advising the Welsh government on compulsory purchase compensation matters.

Leveraging ‘a good knowledge of the UK real estate market’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP excels in providing ‘concise and effective’ advice to clients within industries that are overarching strengths for the firm as a whole, including transport, energy and utilities. ‘Excellent’ team head Rob Phillips delivers ‘high-quality advice’ on many of the key mandates within these sectors and has niche expertise in advising on property rights regarding mines and minerals. Phillips also regularly advises financial services clients, including REITs, SIPPs and propcos, on their ongoing contentious real estate requirements, as does principal associate Daniel Gilligan, who is noted for his ability to set out ‘the options available with pros and cons for each’. 

Geldards LLP provides 'sound and to-the-point advice' to private and public sector clients across a wide array of disputes, running the gamut from advice on rights of way disputes and adverse possession, through to commercial landlord and tenant disputes regarding dilapidations and rent arrears. Leveraging 'vast experience combined with wisdom and a client-friendly manner', team head Ed Meggitt's own practice is reflective of the overall diversity of work handled by the team, being as comfortable handling ongoing property portfolio matters for retail clients as he is advising on abstruse legal issues relating to water law, including recent advice to the Environmental Agency involving the right of boat owners to moor on the Thames. 'At the top of her game', Nicola Lawrence provides 'thorough and commercially driven advice' to commercial landlords on portfolio management matters, as well as regularly advising local authorities across an array of property litigation. Senior associate Llinos Davies is 'responsive, knowledgeable and easy to deal with' and continues to develop particularly strong ties with national retailers, which she regularly advises on lease renewal proceedings.

Under the leadership of Jennifer Butcher, the 'first-rate' team at Acuity Law     provides 'very high-quality' advice to a growing and diverse client base that includes developers, landlords and tenants, and high-net-worth individuals. As well as handling a significant volume of conventional disputes, including as these relate to dilapidations, lease renewals and adverse possession, Butcher has been increasingly active in handling Building Safety Act matters relating to fire safety-related latent defects. She also handles work for the firm's impressive roster of housing association clients, as does 'outstanding' consultant partner Neil Morgan, with both handling, inter alia, housing management cases.

Led from Cardiff by Rhodri Lewis, Darwin Gray LLP has a strong reputation among Wales-based housebuilders, local authorities, developers and housing associations for its ability to advise, in the Welsh language if necessary, across a wide range of property-related matters, from rights over land to landlord and tenant and lease disputes. Bangor-based senior associate Siôn Fôn is ‘sensible, empathetic and bright’ and central to the firm’s efforts to build up its client base in north Wales.

Although it handles some work in the private sector, Dolmans is undoubtedly best known for its public sector work for local authorities as either claimants or respondents. As well as handling conventional cases, including allegations of disrepair and adverse possession, the firm is also picking up an increasing number of public nuisance mandates, including as these relate to flooding and Japanese knotweed infestation. Philip Bradley heads the team.

Recognised as ‘a safe pair of hands’ and drawing upon deep knowledge of developments in the real estate sector, Hugh James provides ‘thorough and considered advice’ to private, public and third sector clients across a myriad of contentious matters. The firm is also very highly engaged in the market from a risk management perspective, as was recently exemplified by team head Rebecca Rees‘ work for a raft of very large landlords in relation to the implementation of the Renting Homes Wales legislation, which was recognised as being ‘second to none’. Rees also has a ‘breadth of experience and connections’ within the social housing sector, ensuring she is a popular choice among RSLs across a range of contentious work. Jo Brown is a key contact including for contentious property advice in the hospitality and telecoms sectors. Former team head James Hastings is now a consultant to the firm.

Now under the leadership of the 'outstanding' Jonathan Flynn, following the departure in November 2023 of Sarah Davies to the judiciary, JCP Solicitors maintains a 'very talented group of lawyers across all levels of seniority', which is skilled at providing 'user-friendly and responsive' advice to a wide range of clients spanning government agencies, landed estates and commercial developers through to private individuals. Drawing upon 'very sound judgement and good instincts', Flynn is particularly skilled at handling disputes within the commercial real estate market, settling matters through ADR methods if necessary. Cardiff-based agriculture head Rhys Evans has a 'strong appreciation of rural affairs and the needs/interests of his clients', ensuring he is well positioned to advise across a range of issues in the sector, including as these relate to boundary disputes and landlord and tenant issues. Benjamin Davies, who was promoted to partner in April 2024, has a focus on residential disputes and those concerning obtaining possession.

The Swansea-based team at Morgan LaRoche has 'an excellent following in South Wales and beyond' among commercial clients and private individuals, which are appreciative of its ability to bring 'a commercial perspective to all sorts of difficult property problems'. Team head Jason Williams combines 'great knowledge of property law and the property industry with commercial common sense and judgement' and has a superb track record on behalf of clients at both trial and appellate level. Ashley Davies 'excels in finding practical solutions for his clients', including developers, mortgage lenders and estate owners, across a variety of disputes, including as these relate to adverse possession, repossession and boundaries.