Ben Walters is a lawyer in the Property @ction team, the firm’s UK specialist advisory, litigation and advocacy service. He deals with a broad range of property-related disputes with particular expertise in the fields of landlord and tenant, compulsory purchase compensation, village greens and rights of way. He acts for clients in both the public and private sectors and represents a diverse range of organisations from high street retailers to local authorities.

In the landlord and tenant arena Ben advises on the full range of disputes including dilapidations claims and other breach of covenant issues, contested and uncontested lease renewals and rent reviews. Ben also advises on recovering possession of land and has experience in obtaining warrants for entry in order to facilitate emergency repair works, for example to electricity infrastructure.

In addition to court-based litigation Ben is regularly involved in matters before the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and has appeared before non-statutory public inquiries in claims under the Commons Act 2006 for registration of land as town or village greens. He is experienced in using Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation, across the full range of property disputes that his practice covers.

Ben is a member of the Property Litigation Association.

Representative Experience

• Advising one of the UK's largest newspaper publishers on disputes arising in respect of its property portfolio, including a variety of breach of covenant matters.
• Acting for a Regional Development Agency in defending a claim for compensation initially in excess of £5.5 million for acquisition of land and business loss following a Compulsory Purchase.
• Acting for the Homes and Communities Agency in objecting to applications to register development land as a Town/Village Green, including representing the client at Public Inquiry and at subsequent council committee meetings.
• Acting for Royal Mail in contested and uncontested lease renewal proceedings.
• Advising a Regional Development Agency on recovering possession of sites following acquisition under a Compulsory Purchase Order.
• Advising a landowner with sites nationwide on its strategy for protecting land against applications for registration under Commons Act 2006.