Ashley Thompson

Call: 2023

Ashley is a specialist property barrister whose practice encompasses all aspects of real property, and landlord and tenant law.

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Property

Rating and Valuation

Property

Ashley specialises in commercial, residential and agricultural property law. He has a busy practice advising and representing both landlords and tenants, drawing on his previous experience as a solicitor in the City. Alongside Ashley’s property practice, he is actively building a practice in rating law.

Owing to his time as a solicitor, Ashley has significant experience in residential (both s. 8 and s. 21) and commercial possession proceedings (tenants and trespassers); forfeiture (by peaceable re-entry and proceedings); land registration; the renewal of business tenancies under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954; lease extensions under both the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 and the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993; nuisance claims; excessive use of easements; restrictive covenants; claims under the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996; insolvency and bankruptcy; and rights of common.

Ashley particularly enjoys advising on the more niche areas of property law (e.g., rights of first refusal, riparian rights, bona vacantia and escheat, and common land), and the challenge of exploring unchartered territory.

In 2018, Ashley joined Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, where he trained and qualified as a solicitor. His practice was broad, covering commercial, banking and private client litigation. His career subsequently pivoted into property litigation, which led to his move to Mishcon de Reya LLP. Ashley’s focus became commercial and high-value residential property litigation.

Whilst in law firms, Ashley was involved in significant pieces of litigation. For example, Ludgate House Ltd v Ricketts [2021] 1 WLR 1750; the Post Office litigation; and Zaid Alothman Holdings Ltd & 75 others v Better Intelligent Management Ltd & Phoenix Place (Liverpool) Management Limited (County Court at Central London – 7 May 2024).

Following his time as a solicitor, Ashley was a judicial assistant in the High Court to Mr Justice Zacaroli (as he then was), Mr Justice Fancourt and Mr Justice Adam Johnson.

Ashley is committed to pro bono work. During his training contract, he spent six months on secondment to the AIRE Centre, providing advice to EEA nationals on their human rights and assisting with third party interventions in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

From 2018 to 2022, Ashley was a leading member of the team in Boodram v Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago [2022] UKPC 20, in which the Judicial Committee held that the automatic imposition of life imprisonment upon commutation of a prisoner’s death sentence was contrary to the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago. Ashley later went on to draft submissions to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on behalf of one of the prisoners in Bissoon and Serrette v The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Series C No. 472, which resulted in a judgment against the State.

Rating and Valuation

Alongside Ashley’s property practice, he is actively building a practice in rating law. His recent experience includes representing individuals and companies in enforcement proceedings brought by local authorities in the magistrates’ courts (concerning both council tax and business rates liability), and advising on the Check, Challenge, Appeal process.

Specialisms

Agricultural Law

Boundary and Ownership Disputes

Commercial Landlord and Tenant

Conveyancing Disputes

Easements and Profits a Prendre

Housing

Insolvency

Land Registration and Adverse Possession

Leasehold Enfranchisement and Right to Manage

Mortgages, Charges, Charging Orders and Securitisation

Private nuisance

Professional Negligence Claim Related to Property

Property Development including Overage disputes

Protestor Injunctions

Public Sector and Local Government Property issues

Residential Leasehold Management and Disputes

Residential Tenancies

Restrictive Covenants

Rights of Light

Riparian Rights, Watercourses and Harbours

Squatters and other Trespass

Trusts of Land and other Equitable Claims

Village Greens, Commons and Manorial Rights

Specialisms

Charitable Relief and other Exemptions

Collection and Enforcement Cases

Council Tax

Empty Properties

Non-Domestic Rates Litigation

Valuation Disputes

Qualifications and achievements

Qualifications

University of Sheffield, LL.B. Law (with French Law) (First Class)

BPP University, Legal Practice Course (Accelerated)

Practice Managers

Contact our friendly and helpful Practice Managers for more information about our barristers and services or to make an enquiry.

Richard Bolton new

Richard Bolton

Senior Practice Manager

020 7421 1392

Mia Goodwin

Mia Goodwin

Assistant Practice Manager

020 7421 1344

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