News and Articles

It has been a very hard job finding a replacement for Lord Neuberger but we are delighted to announce that the PLA’s new President with effect from 1 January 2017 will be Liz Peace.

It is 8 months since my last Blog and others/committee chairs have since blogged.

The doctrine of adverse possession arises from the Limitation Act 1980.  Section 15(1) provides that no action shall be brought by any person to recover any land after the expiration of 12 years from the date on which the right of action accrued.  Sections 1-7 provide that at the expiration of the period of 12 years the title of the paper owner is extinguished.  The claim of a person to a possessory title was therefore based on the negative effect of the extinguishment of the paper owner’s title, and the basic principle that what is required for a case in trespass is not ownership, but possession or a right to possession.

On 2 November, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary announced their intention to introduce a disclosure pilot in the Business and Property Courts in England and Wales.  Essentially, it is proposed that standard disclosure be abolished and replaced with a new concept of “basic disclosure” – for which no search is required – and “extended disclosure” where appropriate in a range of models A to E.

As I hand over to Martin Edwards and the new Executive Committee at this evening’s AGM, I am delighted to say that the PLA continues to go from strength to strength.  It has been an honour to be Chair of this fantastic Association, full of bright, charming and entertaining individuals, and to work closely with many related organisations.

Robert Bowker was called to the Bar in 1995 and completed pupillage in Chambers in 1997. From 1997 to 2007, he practised in Chambers exclusively in property litigation. Between 2007 and 2012, he practised as a solicitor and barrister in Australia primarily in construction litigation (being dual-qualified; England/Wales and Australia). In 2012 he returned to Chambers and resumed his practice exclusively in property litigation. Robert’s practice combines commercial and residential property cases including boundaries, building and development. He has worked with expert witnesses in a wide range of disciplines.

This is an interesting and entertaining Judgment in which the Defendant, the renowned architectural practice established by Norman Foster, the internationally acclaimed leading architect, was found liable in damages for breach of contract in the sum of £3,604,694.36 plus interest and legal costs.

Slide presentation given at the JPLA event in Manchester.

We are looking forward to welcoming delegates to the PLA’s Autumn Training Day on 3 November 2016 at The Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, London.  Once again, the Autumn Training Day has nearly sold out.

Slide presentation of the talk by James Fieldsend at the JPLA event in Manchester.