James Davies

Call 2004
Email james.davies@3pb.co.uk
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Property & Chancery

James Davies practices across a broad range of property and chancery work with experience of advisory work, drafting and advocacy. James is an associate lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, teaching landlord and tenant law to Estate Management students and has a particular interest in landlord and tenant law. His practice also includes litigation arising out of conveyancing both in its own right and through professional negligence claims against solicitors.

James’s previous experience as a Chartered Accountant means he has a particular interest in capital taxes and professional negligence, including solicitors and client monies. He acts in Inheritance Act claims where he is able to use the analytical skills he learned as an accountant.

James is authorised to accept instructions direct from businesses, professionals and individuals under the Direct Access Scheme.

Recent work has included:

• Succesfully representing a vendor in defending a claim for the return of a deposit in a conveyancing transaction where the vendor’s notice to complete was defective.
• Advising and drafting a Counterclaim in a neighbour dispute where the client was being subjected to CCTV surveillance.
• Representing the successful claimant in a week long trial concerning whether a sitting tenant was protected under the 1954 Act and the Standard Conditions of Sale. The claimant had purchased the property having been advised it was a residential tenant. The claim was brought against both the tenant and the vendor and succeeded against both.
• Representing a beneficiary under a will in a two day trial under the Inheritance Act which involved consideration as to the extent of “reasonable” needs and whether parents could be said to have assumed responsibility to look after an adult child who had simply never left home.
• Representing a firm of solicitors in an action for delivery up of the client papers by a litigant in person. The firm claimed a lien. James represented both at first instance and on appeal and was successful on both occasions. The case is reported Segar v Scott-Rees & Co. [2006] CL 2759

Publications

• Showing good cause – Leases and the costs of proceedings [2010] NLJ 13
• Betterment - For better or worse? [2010] NLJ 1635