Robert is a litigation partner who advises on a wide range of high-value and complex disputes, predominantly for clients within the agricultural sector. He is able to draw on his significant experience of acting for clients of all sizes and from a diverse range of sectors and backgrounds to provide clear, succinct and commercially focused advice.
Robert's practice centres on commercial contract matters, business ownership disputes, claims relating to the ownership, use and enjoyment of land, inheritance claims and associated professional negligence claims arising out of these fields.
Robert is recommended by both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners respectively, and has been noted by the legal directories for being “excellent, extremely efficient, very proactive and very personable”‚ “thorough, hardworking and with a clear appreciation of the important points” and for his “extreme level of detail and Rolls-Royce service”.
Agriculture
Robert’s sector focus and day-to-day dealings with farmers, landowners and agri-businesses has enabled him build a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities that face rural communities and farming families and allows him to provide a truly specialised level of service and expertise. He is particularly noted for his expertise in proprietary estoppel cases and farm partnership disputes.
successfully making an £8.5m proprietary estoppel claim in connection with a 650-acre farm near Oxford in the Gee v Gee [2018] case
acting for an outgoing partner during a £6m family farming partnership dispute concerning the extent of partnership property, retirement provisions and its associated accounting
acting for a client in connection with claims concerning ownership of land and breach of trust, which involved complex issues of capacity, undue influence and lifetime gifts
advising a large agribusiness on an £8m contractual dispute involving misrepresentation and breach of warranty claims
advising on landmark and multi-million-pound civil proceedings brought by alleged victims of modern slavery, which included aspects of breaches of agricultural wages legislation, gangmasters legislation, contract, personal injury, harassment and human rights
acting for clients in bringing landmark proceedings against a local authority for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office following a wrongful prosecution for breach of environmental regulations
acting for a client in a £3m professional negligence claim against their former solicitors and QC
advising a leading food supplier in connection with defamation, injunctive relief and associated reputational management issues following false media reports
Clients have described Robert as 'truly professional', 'very able' and 'consistently attentive and supportive'.- Legal 500
