Edward Peters KC

Edward Peters KC is a property litigation specialist. He is experienced in all aspects of real property law and landlord and tenant law - commercial, residential and agricultural – and other related areas, including partnership disputes.  

'My go to barrister where the stakes are high.'  Legal 500

Chambers UK Guide: 'Outstanding – he is one of my first ports of call.' ‘In court he’s superb at cross examination.’ ‘The measure and quality of his advice is outstanding.’ 'He has a phenomenal intellect and is fantastic for analysing incredibly complex legal or factual cases.’ 'Intellectually on a par with anyone at the Property Bar.' 'His grasp of property law is second to none’ ‘He is very clever, analytically strong and sound in his judgement.’ 'Always marvellous'. 'Such a good lawyer.' ‘Is praised by peers for his intelligent approach to cases.’ 'A barrister with a good deal of courtroom craft who can get a good result on an awkward case' ‘His advocacy skills, in particular in cross examination, are excellent.' 'He is a very smooth, calm and collected advocate.' 'He is excellent on his feet and the judges tend to warm to him.’ ‘He is very good on his feet and very charming, so judges warm to him.’ ‘He is extremely bright, knows his field in considerable depth and is very pragmatic.’  ‘He is technically brilliant and gives pragmatic advice that makes the client feel at ease.’ 'He has an excellent grasp of the law: in particular he listens and understands objectives and is commercial in his interpretation of the law.' ‘His attention to detail and knowledge of the law is excellent, but at the same time his eye is always on the commercial objective.’ ‘Highly praised’ ‘Exceptionally bright’ ‘Extremely bright'. 'Very clever'. ‘Very easy to deal with’. ‘He is very approachable.’ 'Very detailed, clear and absolutely meticulous in his advice, written work and advocacy.' ‘He’s incredibly thorough, very bright and highly approachable.’ 'He is very clever, excellent in court and pays great attention to detail. He is a real pleasure to work with.' 'Very sharp, he’s a real rising star'. 'A rising star who shows exceptional dedication to his clients.' ‘A rising star in the property litigation field’. 'Unbelievably thorough and conscientious.' 'Clear Advice' ‘He is very pragmatic in the advice he gives.’ 'A strong practice' 'A busy practice' 'Recognised for his skill and expertise in handling all manner of property disputes.' 'He’s very approachable'.

Legal 500: ‘My go to barrister where the stakes are high.’ ‘He is a superb advocate with no known weakness.’ ‘Very bright, dedicated and hard working and very good with the clients.’ ‘Ed is one of the cleverest barristers that I have instructed. His written style is outstanding. His understated advocacy (very much in the style of David Neuberger) is very effective.’ ‘Fantastic.’ ‘Exceptionally bright, responsive and very easy to deal with.’ ‘He calmly and effectively gets to the nub of a dispute, and provides first class advocacy’. ‘Reads a judge well.’ ‘Has a fine grasp of detail, and is a very effective advocate.

Who’s Who Legal: 'A real property and landlord and tenant law ‘genius’’. ‘Offers clients a high-quality service and always delivers in property litigation matters’.

He is an FCA Arbitrator and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and has acted as an arbitrator, legal expert and legal assessor.

He is a Panel Member of the Dispute Resolution Panel of the Agricultural Law Association, both as an expert and as an arbitrator.

He is one of the four editors of ‘Woodfall’s Law of Landlord and Tenant’ (the leading work on the subject, and the oldest legal textbook in continuous publication, since 1802); an editor of ‘Muir Watt & Moss on Agricultural Holdings’ (Sweet & Maxwell), and ‘Fisher & Lightwood’s Law of Mortgage’ (Butterworths); and a co-author of ‘Charging Orders on Land’ (Wildy’s), and ‘Commonhold’ (OUP).

He is the barrister member of the RICS Agricultural Tenancies Monitoring Group, and contributes to the drafting of the RICS suite of farm business tenancy agreements.

He welcomes direct professional instructions from surveyors, valuers, and members of other authorised professions.

His relevant areas of expertise include (but are not limited to): adverse possession; agricultural tenancies; arbitrations; arbitration claims; assignment and alienation; assured tenancies; boundaries and boundary disputes; break clauses; business tenancies & the 1954 Act; charges; charging orders; co-habitation; co-ownership; commonhold; consent to assign; contracts generally; conveyancing; damages; development agreements; dilapidations; disclaimer; easements; enfranchisement; estoppel; farm business tenancies; farm contracting agreements; farm subsidies; fixtures; forfeiture; freehold covenants; guarantees; highways; improvements; injunctions; insolvency; interpretation of contracts; landlord and tenant generally; land registration; licences; limitation; mines and minerals; mortgages; misrepresentation; notices to quit; nuisance; party walls; partnerships; perpetuities; possession claims; priorities; professional negligence; proprietary estoppel; option agreements; overage agreements; real property generally; receivers; rectification; registration; rentcharges; rent act tenancies; rent review; residential tenancies of all kinds; profits; restrictive covenants; right to buy; right to manage; rights to light; rights of way; secure tenancies; service charges; settled land; specific performance; statutory interpretation; surrender; trespass; trusts; user covenants; valuation disputes; vendor and purchaser; water rights.

• Education
  • Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge: BA in History(1996). (Double First; Senior Scholarship). MA (2000)
  • City University: Diploma in Law, with Distinction (2nd in year)
  • Inns of Court School of Law. Winning pair, Middle Temple Mooting Competition 1998
  • Worshipful Company of Arbitrators Prize.
• Professional
  • Called 1998, Middle Temple (Astbury Scholarship)
  • Panel Member of the Dispute Resolution Panel of the Agricultural Law Association, both as an expert and as an arbitrator
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
  • Member of the Agricultural Law Association, the Chancery Bar Association, the London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association, and the Property Bar Association.
• Recent Cases
  • Procter v Procter [2024] EWCA Civ 324, [2024] 3 WLR. 631 (Partnership – resignation/retirement - no express agreement about financial consequences – whether entitled to same share of partnership assets as on a dissolution)
  • Procter v Procter [2022] EWHC 1202 (Ch) (joint tenancies – joint tenant serving notice to quit in breach of trust – order for rescission of notice to quit – partnerships – effect of retirement of partner - estoppel by deed/grant re freehold titles)
  • Smith v Official Custodian for Charities (Trustees of Ovington Fuel Allotment) (ALD/E/S/2016/002, 11/10/2021)  (Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, s. 41 – succession - livelihood condition not satisfied – whether satisfied to a ‘material extent’ – whether ‘fair and reasonable’ for succession tenancy to be granted – appropriate tests to be applied – position where part of applicant’s livelihood provided in kind by cohabitee).
  • Procter v Procter [2021] EWCA Civ 167, [2021] Ch 395, [2022] 1 All ER 358 (joint tenancies - tenancy can be created between A and AB at common law, orally or by conduct, without relying on s. 72(2) of the Law of Property Act 1925 - dicta of House of Lords in Rye v Rye disapproved -  exclusive possession conceptually possible in such circumstances - Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 - applies to tenancies at will – factors relevant to statutory protection in cases of mixed agricultural and non-agricultural user).
  • Rees v Earl of Plymouth (Windsor-Clive) [2020] EWHC 2986 (Ch), [2021] 1 P&CR 12 (arbitration claim - Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 – Case B – timescale for development – meaning of ‘building development’ - s 68 challenge on basis of alleged serious irregularities).
  • Procter v Procter [2019] EWHC 1199 (Ch) (Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 – joint tenancies - trusts).
  • Shortland v Hill [2018] 1 P&CR 16 (easements – Land Registration – whether estoppel binding on successors inn title); see “Estoppel, Registration, and the Perils of Obiter” (Juanita Roche) 81 Conv.  6 pp 463-466.
  • Marshall v Scaman [2017] EWHC 291 (Ch)  (arbitration claim, arising from arbitration under Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 - s 68 challenge on basis of alleged serious irregularity – s. 24 claim for removal of arbitrator).
  • Collins v Collins (No 2) [2016] 2 P&CR 6 (easements – declaration of express trust of land – whether implied grant of right of way – non-derogation from grant – s. 62, 1925 Act – whether right of way restricted to agricultural user – order for sale of farm - TOLATA 1996 – court appointed receiver – which of two competing bids to be accepted by receiver).
  • Collins v Collins (No 1) [2016] 2 P&CR 5 (Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 – contested order for sale of large farm – contested appointment of receiver - whether sale only reliable means of ascertaining market value).
  • Patley Wood Farm LLP v Brake [2015] EWHC 483 (Ch) (arbitration claim – application under s. 44 Arbitration Act 1996 – whether court had jurisdiction to make order sought – how court’s discretion should be exercised)..
  • Patley Wood Farm LLP v Brake [2014] EWHC 4499 (Ch) (arbitration claim – application under s.44 Arbitration Act 1996 – extent of court’s jurisdiction – how court’s discretion should be exercised – comparison with court’s powers under s. 42 of the Act).
  • Fulham Broadway Trustees No.1 Ltd v Telefonica UK Ltd [2014] EWHC 1048 (Ch) (arbitration claim under s. 68 - serious irregularity - regarding a commercial rent review in the Fulham Broadway Shopping Centre).
  • Brake v Patley Wood [2014] EWHC 1439 (Ch) (arbitration claim under s. 68 - serious irregularity, & s. 24 - removal of arbitrator, from ongoing LCIA arbitration concerning substantial commercial partnership).
  • Daejan Properties Ltd v Griffin [2014] UKUT 206 (service charge appeal, concerning whether tenants of block of flats entitled to set-off for damages for ‘historic neglect’, plus issues relating to construction of service charge provisions and general guidance concerning exercise of s. 20C discretion).
  • French v Savelieva [2013] EWHC 2537 (Ch) (specific disclosure appeal).
  • Compton Beauchamp Estates Limited v Spence [2013] EWHC 1101 (Ch), [2013] 20 E.G. 107 (Morgan J.) (arbitration claim under s. 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996; arbitration concerning rent payable for agricultural holding under Agricultural Holdings Act 1986; standard of reasons which an arbitrator should be expected to achieve in a reasoned arbitration award, and circumstances in which a failure by the arbitrator to give adequate reasons will give rise to a “serious irregularity”).
  • George Wimpey Bristol Ltd v Gloucestershire Housing Association Ltd [2011] UKUT 91 (LC) (defeated application for modification of restrictive covenant under s. 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925, with consequent demolition of 17 homes built in breach of covenant:
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16309548; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2077403/Residents-force-Taylor-Wimpey-tear-24-homes-built-historic-land-planning-permission.html
  • PGF II SA and PGF II(Lime) SA v Royal & Sun Alliance and London & Edinburgh Insurance Co Ltd [2010] EWHC 1459 (TCC), [2011] 1 P&CR 11 (substantial end-of-term dilapidations claim concerning City office block adjacent to Lloyds of London, deciding various novel legal and valuation principles, including the concept of so-called ‘supercession’).
  • Bocardo SA v Star Energy UK Onshore Ltd (Supreme Court) [2010] UKSC 35, [2010] 3 WLR 654, [2010] 3 All ER 975; (CA) [2010] Ch 100, [2009] 3 WLR 1010, [2010] 1 All ER 26 ; (Peter Smith J.) [2009] 1 All ER 517, [2008] 2 P&CR 23 (damages for trespass for extraction of £10M of oil from oilfield from under Al Fayed family estate; limitation and deliberate concealment).
  • Shaw v Doleman (CA) [2009] 2 BCLC 123, [2009] BCC 730, [2009] 2 EGLR 35, [2009] L & TR 27 (whether guarantor under AGA released upon disclaimer of lease).
  • Brown's Operating System Services Ltd v Southwark Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation (CA) [2007] L&TR 25 (whether landlord or tenant entitled to keep service charge surplus or reserve fund upon termination of the lease).
  • Elmbirch Properties PLC v Schaefer-Tsoropatzadis [2007] 2 EGLR 167(rent review: meaning of modern ground rental value).
  • Eyestorm Ltd v Hoptonacre Homes Ltd [2007] EWCA Civ 1366, [2007] All ER (D) 284 (recission of contract for sale of 14 flats at premium of £2.255m)
  • Edlington Properties Ltd v JH Fenner & Co (CA) [2006] 1 WLR 1583, [2006] 3 All ER 1200, [2006] 2 EGLR 18 (CA) (equitable set-off; claim for rent arrears by assignee of reversion; £52m claim by tenant against original landlord for defective construction of premises under agreement for lease).
  • Kintyre Ltd v Romeomarch Property Management Ltd [2006] 1 EGLR 67 (leasehold enfranchisement; whether lease void under s. 19 of the 1993 Act).
  • Stroude v Beazer Homes Ltd [2006] 2 EGLR 115 (s. 106 agreement for construction of bypass; effect of joint, several or concurrent obligations; whether implied right of access; whether rights planning obligations or proprietary interests; meaning of s. 82, LPA 1925).
  • Gaingold Ltd v WHRA RTM Company Ltd [2006] 1 EGLR 122 (right to manage; whether part-commercial premises excluded).
  • Clements v Goodacre [2004] EWCA Civ 1406 (boundaries and implied easements)
  • DEFRA v Feakins [2004] 49 EG 135 (CS) (s.423 transactions at an undervalue; foot and mouth disease; damages for trespass; water pollution; powers under the Animal Health Act; European legislation concerning BSE).
  • Goldmile Properties Ltd v. Lechouritis (CA) [2003] 1 EGLR 60 (inter-relationship between covenant for quiet enjoyment and repairing covenant).
  • Malekshad v. Howard de Walden Estates (HL) [2003] 1 AC 1013, [2002] 3 W.L.R. 1881 [2003] 1 EGLR 151(leasehold enfranchisement, 1967 Act, meaning of 'house').
  • Ashworth Fraser v Gloucester City Council (HL) [2001] 1 WLR 2180, [2002] 1 All ER 377, [2002] 1 EGLR 15 (unreasonable withholding of consent to assign).
  • The City of London Real Property Company Ltd v CGU International Insurance Plc (2000, Lawrence Collins J., The Handbook of Rent Review, C-083.1) (rectification of rent review clause).
  • Lee v Herbert-Smith [2000] R.V.R. 227, [2000] C.L.Y. 3895  (Lands Tribunal - Leasehold enfranchisement – Leasehold Reform Etc Act 1993 –costs jurisdiction).
• Publications
  • One of the five editors of Woodfall’s Law of Landlord and Tenant; the leading work, published continuously since 1802 (Sweet & Maxwell, looseleaf; co-editor since 2007)
  • Editor, Muir Watt & Moss on Agricultural Holdings (Sweet &  Maxwell; 15th ed., 2018; 16th ed., 2024) 
  • Editor, Fisher & Lightwood's Law of Mortgage (Butterworths; 11th ed., 2002, & supplement, 2003; 12th ed., 2006, & supplement, 2008; 13th ed., 2010; 14th ed., 2014; 15th ed.,  2019) 
  • Consultant Editor, Halsbury’s Laws – Mines, Minerals and Quarries (Butterworths 5th ed., 2024,)
  • Consultant Editor, Halsbury’s Laws – Real Property and [Land] Registration (Butterworths, 5th ed., 2022)
  • Consultant Editor, Halsbury’s Laws – Boundaries (Butterworths, 5th ed., 2020)
  • Co-author of Charging Orders on Land (Wildys, 1st ed., 2014; 2^nd ed., 2024)
  • Co-author of Commonhold (OUP, 2004)
  • Reporter for Property, Planning & Compensation Reports.
• Related Practice Areas
  • Residential property
  • Commercial property
  • Agriculture and Rural