35 Portland Place, London W1

Tom acted for the lessee in its claim for the freehold of this valuable mixed use building on the Howard de Walden Estate. It was built as a house, but converted into offices after World War II. The lessee converted 3 floors out of 6 back into residential flats and claimed the freehold under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967. The Estate initially resisted the claim on the basis that it was not a house reasonably so called, but finally conceded that it was a house shortly before the trial.