Chris has vast experience dealing with court litigation and other forms of dispute resolution including mediation. Chris is a CEDR accredited mediator and a Solicitor Advocate (Higher Rights of Audience) – making him well placed to resolve disputes in any setting. He is also a member of the Property Litigation Association.

His clients include developers, owners, property institutions, financial institutions, hoteliers, retailers and insolvency practitioners.

Prior to joining Steele Raymond, Chris trained and practised at a City firm and was later a partner at large regional practice.

Outside of work, Chris is the manager of his son’s grassroots football team and a qualified FA coach. He also has a passion for guitars and live music.

Chris’ specialisms include:

• developer disputes – advising developers and landowners on issues relating to development agreements (including options and overage), easements, restrictive covenants and vacant possession strategy
• asset management – advising landlords and tenants on issues relating to breach of lease covenants, lease renewals, dilapidations and insolvency

• mediation and other Alternative Dispute Resolution – representing parties to find commercial and cost-effective solutions avoiding court litigation
• possession claims – advising landowners on how to recover possession of their land and buildings from unauthorised occupiers and trespassers
• injunctions – obtaining court orders (often urgently) to protect interference with rights over land

Work in practice includes:

• advising developer of a large site on a strategy for achieving vacant possession (involving termination of various third-party rights and leases) to enable intended development
• acting for owner of commercial premises on removing trespassers
• advising landowner in relation to high value overage dispute following planning consent for a significant development scheme
• acting for developer in relation to enforceability of restrictive covenants and advising on a strategy to unlock development potential
• acting for landlord in recovering significant rent arrears, strategy for terminating a lease and re-marketing leases premises