Practice Summary

John Male QC specialises in the fields of property law, planning and compulsory purchase. He is experienced in all aspects of property litigation particularly landlord and tenant where he deals regularly with issues concerning business tenancies and rent reviews. He has extensive experience regarding landlord and tenant litigation in Courts and tribunals at all levels from the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to the House of Lords. He has also been involved in many major contested rent review arbitrations. He appears regularly at public inquiries concerning planning, compulsory purchase and highways. His inquiry experience includes both promoting and resisting housing, retailing and other commercial development. He also has inquiry experience regarding development in conservation areas, listed buildings, agricultural dwellings and numerous enforcement notice appeals. His local plan work includes objections to numerous local plans on behalf of housebuilders and other developers.

John receives consistent recommendations from the main legal directories. The Chambers & Partners Directory 2009 lists him as a leading silk in real estate litigation:

"Universally revered as being exceptionally able in property matters."

"That little bit above the majority of barristers, he is praised for brilliantly marshalling the facts of a case, having a fantastic grip on the law and understanding the commercial realities of a matter."

The Legal 500 (2007) recommends John as a leading silk in property litigation and states:

“John Male QC reaches the top tier for his high-quality property work, often conducted in arbitration. One comment is typical of many others: John Male, is in my view, faultless. His advice is measured, highly commercial and he is viewed generally with great respect, as much for his pleasant courtroom style as well as his intelligence.”

This commentary is reinforced in the 2008 edition of The Legal 500, in which John is described as "excellent for land law, and his modest approach is liked by courts".

John regularly sits as an arbitrator and legal assessor in property and valuation disputes. He sits as a recorder in civil matters.

John is one of the editors of Hill and Redman's "Law of Landlord and Tenant" and is also on the advisory panel of the Encyclopedia of Planning Law and Practice.