Real Estate Litigation
A real estate litigation team housing specialists with the knowledge and ability to advise on all areas of real estate disputes while striving to minimise business disruption and find the best possible outcomes for clients.
Michael Metliss
Consultant
About
I advise and represent retail, office and industrial property owners, and tenants, concerning a wide range of commercial property-related issues, such as business lease renewal, tenant insolvency, lease forfeiture, tenants' lease break options, dilapidations, and development-related claims).
I have advised a broad range of retail, office and industrial property portfolio owners, as well as UCL and BlackRock as university site/student accommodation landlords, and specialise in resolving disputes and potential disputes concerning business lease renewal, tenant insolvency, rent review, development, lease break options, and lease covenant enforcement. I have acted for large landlords including The Crown Estate and Tesco.
I am also listed in the Legal 500 property litigation “Hall of Fame”, I have published numerous articles in the property press, and am, apparently, a popular presenter of property topics. Pre-Covid, I was a guest speaker at the Arbrix 2019 Conference for arbitrators and independent experts.
Experience
- Successfully challenging, in the Court of Appeal, the legal precedent that companies in administration could enjoy the benefit of occupation without having to pay rent as an administration expense (reported case).
- Successfully resisting an attempted rights of light-related injunction of a mixed use development above Tottenham Court Road station
- Taking to trial an unopposed business lease renewal, to decide the rental impact of a landlord’s break right being incorporated into a new lease.
- Obtaining vacant possession for redevelopment by the Crown Estate of various Regent Street blocks, and acting for Tesco across all of its store and distribution centre portfolio.
Expertise
Our Team
Niah Sohal
Associate
Raihan Ahmed
Paralegal
What our clients say
I would particularly single out Michael Metliss as a paradigm of their calmness under pressure.
What our clients say
Michael is a seasoned and experienced performer. He is wise, resourceful and unflappable.
What our clients say
Michael Metliss in particular is a smooth operator, bringing years of experience in dealing with London’s largest estates over many years to assist with the many problems that arise. Michael has seen it all and done it all in his customary unflappable style.
What our clients say
Michael knows his stuff. He's intelligent and he always has the right angle to take on a case.
Featured Insights
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Business Lease Renewal Reform
The Law Commission of England and Wales is to review this year the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, whi…
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