James Smith is an Associate in the property disputes team in the Ipswich office.
He advises commercial landlords and tenants, developers, housing providers, local authorities and private clients on a wide range of contentious property matters.
He has particular experience in commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including lease renewals, breaches of covenant, forfeiture, rent arrears, break clauses, service charges, dilapidations, settlement agreements and contractual notices.
James also advises on development-related disputes involving conditional agreements, options, overages and compliance with estate covenants, as well as rights and ownership issues including boundaries, adverse possession, easements and restrictive covenants.
Having trained exclusively in property-focused seats, James brings both transactional and contentious property experience to his work.
Recent work highlights
Advising on acquisition and option-exercise arrangements for a nationally significant infrastructure project.
Secured a successful outcome in an arbitration concerning the valuation and purchase price of a substantial mixed-use development site.
Successfully acted for a commercial landowner in obtaining a court declaration confirming rights of way benefiting its development land.
Experience and education
2026 Associate, Birketts LLP
2023 – 2026 Solicitor, Birketts LLP
2021 – 2023 Trainee Solicitor, Birketts LLP, completing property-focused seats in Commercial Property/Residential Development, Social Housing and Property Disputes
2021 Legal Practice Course, Distinction, BPP University
2020 LLB (Hons) Law, First Class, University of Kent
Areas of Expertise
Accreditations
Property Litigation Association
Member
Insights
-
An Overview of The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022legal updateAn Overview of The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022
Steven Kay, James Smith15 Feb 2022
