James Hanham

Call: 1996

James’s expertise and experience is as deep as it is broad meaning that his approach to a property dispute is three dimensional and is directed to being both practical and commercial.

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Practice summary

Property

Cross-practice

Practice Summary

James is a trusted litigator and adviser. He has appeared in a number of reported decisions which demonstrate the breadth of his property litigation expertise.

James's work in the Courts (Court of Appeal, Business and Property and County) and the Property Chamber Tribunals appearing both as a junior and sole Counsel has been in cases against leading silks in the field. His abilities as an advocate are regularly praised by clients and commented upon by judges.

His lay clients have ranged from developers (large and small), construction and engineering companies, public authorities, banks, private equity investors, landed estates, LLPs and of course individuals (both sole and in partnership). He accepts work on a public access basis.

A background in commercial and chancery work means that he has the capacity to deal with complex insolvency, corporate and shareholder-related issues in the context of a property dispute.

He is very experienced in arbitration work (particularly in the context of rent review and valuation disputes), expert determination and in the mediation process.

He was a Harmsworth Scholar of the Middle Temple and began practice in the Temple before moving to 9, Stone Buildings and thereafter Maitland Chambers in 2008. He joined Landmark in 2022. 

Property

James has been instructed in many hundreds of cases in all areas of property litigation, particularly that concerning commercial property and commercial landlord and tenant and the development of land (in which context he has significant experience of dealing with residential occupiers).

His development work includes dealing with the impact of impediments (easements, restrictive covenants and village greens and rights of common) to the development process and dealing with contract disputes between sellers, buyers and the rights of securitised lenders. He has significant experience of dealing with highways, infrastructure and wayleaves.

James’s professional negligence practice consists of acting for both insurers and former clients (including lenders) in both the commercial (development) and residential context.

He also frequently and regularly advises on issues relating to land registration, particularly alteration of the register and priorities, adverse possession and boundaries and conveyancing issues arising therefrom. He is often before the First Tier and Upper Tribunals.

Recent appearances have included:

  • A two-day trial seeking discharge of restrictive covenants imposed upon a house located on a large estate near Newcastle
  • A five-day trial relating to the exercise of rights of way over a significant estate in Berkshire
  • Seeking and obtaining possession and injunction orders against protester-occupiers of trees on planned development sites
  • Acting for a Central London estate in the forfeiture of a headlease of a multi-occupied commercial building
  • Appeal against injunctions restraining Airbnb lettings.

Residential Leasehold Management and Disputes

  • Ruby Triangle Properties Ltd v Jesus Sanctuary Ministries Limited [2020] EWHC 2247 (unlawful eviction, business tenancy renewal, conversion).
  • Pullman Foods Limited v Welsh Ministers & BFS [2020] EWHC 2522 (TCC) (asbestos; yielding up, licences).
  • Bermondsey Exchange v Koumetto [2018] 4 WLUK 619 (covenants, Airbnb ©, injunction).
  • Bullring Ltd Partnership & Ors v Laing O’Rourke Midlands Limited [2016] 170 Con LR 112.
    (landlord and tenant, construction contracts, early/specific disclosure).
  • Eaton Mansions (Westminster) Limited v Stinger Compania de Inversion SA [2011] L&TR 24
    (CA) (trespass, landlord’s consents, air-conditioning units).

Cross-practice

Landmark's barristers often work at the intersection of our core practice areas; bringing a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience to bear on a particular dispute or issue facing a client.

Our focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome for our client. By viewing the client's objectives in a holistic way - and not purely through the lens of one rigidly-defined legal area - we deliver the best possible advice and representation in complex matters that engage multiple specialist areas of law. 

Whether it's providing support as an individual cross-practice barrister or a cross-disciplinary team of Landmark counsel, we are able to draw on an outstanding array of complementary skillsets and knowledge bases. This often achieves a better result than instructing multiple barristers from different specialist sets. This also improves the quality of client care through increased levels of communication, quicker response times, and a coordinated approach to clerking and fees, made possible by our team-based cross-practice approach.

Please contact our practice management team for more information.

ADR

Specialisms

Residential Leasehold Management and Disputes

Insolvency

Professional Negligence Claim Related to Property

Land Registration and Adverse Possession

Boundary and Ownership Disputes

Commercial Landlord and Tenant

Easements and Profits a Prendre

Highways and other Transport Infrastructure

Property Development including Overage disputes

Mortgages, Charges, Charging Orders and Securitisation

Protestor Injunctions

Squatters and other Trespass

Restrictive Covenants

Rights of Light

Telecommunications

Trusts of Land and other Equitable Claims

Village Greens, Commons and Manorial Rights

Specialisms

ADR

"
He holds his own with any silk and is superb on his feet and a great strategist."

Chambers and Partners

Chambers Top Ranked UK Bar 2024 Uk leading juniors 2024

Qualifications and achievements

Qualifications

  • MA (Oxon)
  • LLB (London)

Memberships

  • Chancery Bar Association
  • Property Bar Association

Recommendations

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Mark Ball new

Mark Ball

Practice Director

020 7421 1308

Harry Feldman

Harry Feldman

Practice Manager

020 7421 2485

Connor Mc Gilly new

Connor McGilly

Practice Manager

020 7421 1304

Ruby Sims new

Ruby Sims

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1337

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