Cathy advises on all aspects of residential and commercial property disputes including service charges, dilapidations; possession/other breach of covenant claims, 1954 Act business tenancy renewals, professional negligence, contractual disputes, insolvency matters, break rights, boundary/adverse possession claims.

Cathy seeks to assist her clients to achieve their objectives in a timely and cost effective manner whether through negotiation, mediation or litigation.

Cathy is a member of the Property Litigation Association and Women in Property Association. She has written for publications including the Estates Gazette.

Cathy is admitted to practice in England and Wales.
Out of the office Cathy enjoys time out with her family and travelling. She is also a dedicated Trustee of Cherry Lodge Cancer Care a charity local to her home.

Experience Highlights

• Acted for landlord on lease renewals and opposed renewal proceedings; challenged a tenant’s refusal to accept the landlord had complied with the terms of settlement; documented settlement agreement

• Trespass claims against highly organised groups of travellers and squatters who repeatedly broke into commercial dwellings; achieved successful outcomes

• Validity of break notices; negotiated a settlement where tenant failed to decorate within terms of lease

• Insolvency related disputes particularly landlord’s remedies in the face of an insolvent tenant; successfully negotiated an early surrender of lease prior to tenant company going into liquidation

• Successfully acted for landowner in respect of right of way over consecrated ground

• Defended a service charge dispute which involved a large tenanted block – 6 day hearing with settlement achieved and documented after 3 days

• Instructed on fraudulent dealings by 2 individuals who had created 2 tenancies for the same property; settlement achieved prior to trial

• Acted for tenant in the renewal of its Knightsbridge restaurant premises; held extensive negotiations with landlord to separate from the renewal 12 rooms on upper floors; obtained vacant possession of upper parts

• Acted for tenant wrongfully excluded from its commercial premises; successfully secured reinstatement

• Acted for buyer seeking a declaration that rescission of a contract for sale was valid; argued and successfully negotiated that a caution registered against the property should be removed

• Acted for owner and obtained an injunction to prevent the continuance of adjacent building works causing structural damage plus damages in region of £80k. Settlement achieved prior to trial and documented

• Advised owner of rights of 3rd parties to occupy trust property under Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (“the Act”) Omotajo v Omotajo (2008) All ER (D) 156 (Oct); determined rights to occupy

• Advised tenants in defence of criminal proceedings brought by landlord for non-compliance with service charge legislation; 5 day trial which involved several witnesses

• Successfully represented landlord before Leasehold Valuation Tribunal where tenants sought to defend non-payment of service charges; 10 day hearing with witnesses involved