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James Freeman

Associate Solicitor

01772 904 259

Preston

James Freeman is an associate solicitor within the commercial litigation and dispute resolution team, based in the firm's Preston office.

James Freeman - Associate Solicitor

James specialises in property litigation and represents a broad range of clients across the north west (and further afield) including companies, commercial landlords and tenants and private individuals.

He advises clients on a wide range of issues including dilapidations/disrepair, service charge disputes, lease renewals, break clauses, issues regarding security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, distraint, forfeiture, alterations, subletting, surrender and insolvency.

James also advises on non-commercial property disputes including regarding rights of way, boundary disputes, injunctions, declarations, modifying restrictive covenants, adverse possession and planning law matters including opposing planning applications and breaches of planning consent.

Experience

James regularly handles cases in the county court, the High Court and the land tribunal, and is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution and mediation. He advises clients on a wide range of issues including dilapidations/disrepair, service charge disputes, lease renewals, break clauses, issues regarding security of tenure under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, distraint, forfeiture, alterations, subletting and surrender.

James also deals with insolvency (bringing claims for landlords regarding arrears and defending claims for tenants). Not limited to commercial property disputes, James also advises regarding rights of way, boundary disputes, injunctions, declarations, modifying restrictive covenants and adverse possession.

He also deals with planning law issues including objecting to planning applications, breaches of permitted planning, enforcement notices and niche areas such as amendments to the definitive map and modification orders. James also deals with professional negligence claims involving property.

Recent cases include:

  • Professional negligence claim against a surveyor regarding a defective survey
  • Breach of a lease relating to a failure by the landlord to reinstate the premises within a reasonable period of time
  • Threat of Judicial Review in respect of a local authority’s decision to erect electrical ‘cabinets’ outside a tenant’s shop
  • Commercial Injunction regarding permitted planning in breach of a restrictive covenant
  • Exercise of a break clause contingent on an onerous a repairing covenant
  • Non-contested lease renewals
  • Contested lease renewal (acting for landlords and for tenants)
  • Unauthorised assignment and unauthorised alterations

Affiliations

  • Member of the Law Society

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