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We specialise in advising on contentious issues between landlords and tenants of commercial property and resolving disputes between them by negotiation, mediation, arbitration or litigation as required.
We act for both commercial landlords and tenants, for all nature of businesses, both small and large. We always identify and focus on our clients’ commercial requirements and we work with our clients to achieve their desired outcome as quickly and economically as possible.
The areas we cover include:
For issues arising in relation to:
For any further advice on landlord or tenant issues please contact one of the team today to see how we can help.
Laceys are recognised in the Legal 500, an independent guide to leading law firms in the UK for their Property Litigation expertise, with a particular mention also for Mark Timberlake, our Managing Partner.
“Mark Timberlake explains complex issues in understandable terms” and is “excellent in really difficult situation”.
Direct dial: 01202 377871
“I've worked with a fair few lawyers over the years and Rob Kelly is the most on the ball and efficient lawyers I've ever come across. I'm looking forward to working together for many years to come.”
“I have had the pleasure of working with several members of the team at Laceys regularly over a period of years. I found Rob Kelly in particular, who worked on a successful litigation case for me over a period of several years to be outstanding in all aspects of the work he undertook, and the manner in which he did it. I now consider him a friend. I would not - and have not - hesitated to recommend Laceys to my family and friends, and continue to use them for all legal matters.”
“ I just wanted to thank you for your great work on the professional negligence case and other cases you have represented Indian Ocean and Tiien through the last few years.”
Rob practices in two main, complimentary areas of work – contentious wills, probate and trust disputes, and property disputes.
Contentious wills, probate and trusts
More than half of Rob’s time is spent dealing with the contentious aspects of wills, probate and trusts, an area in which he has practiced continuously for over 20 years. He advises and acts in disputes relating to wills and inheritance, trusts, the duties of trustees and personal representatives, and the administration of estate.
Rob’s practice embraces:
He has mediated (either as appointed mediator or as a representative) dozens of disputes involving contentious wills and probate issues.
Property disputes
The other side of Rob’s practice is contentious property work. This embraces:
Rob’s style is a mix of listening, asking (tough) questions, diplomacy and reality testing. He’s interested, flexible, and pragmatic. He offers a common sense, realistic approach to assist his clients in searching for solutions to their disputes and brings straight talking and integrity to his work.
Rob is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. He holds an LLB (Hons) degree in law. He successfully completed training as a mediator under the ADR Chambers / Harvard Law Project Scheme in June 2006, was one of the first mediators to have been appointed an IMI Certified Mediation Advocate in the UK with a commercial practice, and is a member of the Civil Mediation Council.
Following the 2017 Supreme Court case of an adult daughter who successfully claimed financial provision from her...
Many partners like the idea of making their wills together but they may not understand that there...
Direct dial: 01202 377863
“The advice Mark gave was very good value for money and the combination of strictly accurate legal advice and common sense were exactly what I needed.”
“Mark Timberlake is an exceptional solicitor. He has a huge depth of knowledge in his speciality and looks after his clients in a very kind and patient manner. Mark is unfailingly courteous and always a pleasure to deal with. I am always confident in any matter that Mark has dealt with.”
“We have had many years of top class professional advice and assistance in many respects of our property ownership. However great our worries initially, matters have been dealt with in a most professional manner and to our satisfaction.”
Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and since then has specialised in property and landlord and tenant disputes, possession and debt recovery in relation to both commercial and residential property. He has extensive experience in relation to issues involving blocks of flats including representation in the Property Chamber and the courts. He has also dealt with many commercial disputes, professional negligence and insolvency claims.
He has frequently given talks on the law as it affects managing agents through the Association of Residential Managing Agents and other groups.
He has been recommended for many years by the Legal 500 Guide to the Legal profession which has said that Mark ‘is very highly rated by clients’, ‘explains complex issues in understandable terms’ and ‘is excellent in really difficult situations’.
Mark is married with 2 teenage children and at weekends can often be found on his boat which he sails competitively.
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The current moratorium on commercial landlords evicting tenants, exercising the right to seize goods or taking insolvency proceedings against them because of rent arrears...
Once again, the eviction notice periods under section 21 and section 8 have changed. However, for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic swept...
As the economic impact of the pandemic grows, many commercial landlords are struggling to collect rent and enforce their business tenants’ other lease obligations. ...
The Court of Appeal has given a salutary warning to tenants of commercial premises to be careful what you sign when they overruled the...
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During Covid-19, most commercial landlords understand the predicament tenants find themselves in with paying rent and are reluctant to take court action against them,...