John Turner

Partner – Dispute Resolution

About John

John is a Partner and specialises in Dispute Resolution matters. He joined the firm in November 2022 and has over 20 years’ experience across a number of fields of dispute resolution.

John is a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), and he is instructed in connection with the spectrum of property, trust and probate disputes. He has particular expertise in claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and contentious probate disputes, including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, very often involving an international dimension.

He has experience of dealing with disputes with assets or beneficiaries in France, Germany and Spain, and expertise in conflicts of law. John’s international practice also includes enforcement of foreign judgments in England.

John is a passionate and tactical litigator who strives to achieve the very best for his clients.

John’s expertise and how he can help you

John’s expertise covers a very broad range of property disputes including:

• Wills, Trusts & Estates disputes.
• Leasehold Reform and Enfranchisement claims (and anti-avoidance provisions).
• Party Wall disputes and appeals.
• Boundary disputes.
• Adverse possession and proprietary estoppel claims.
• Restrictive covenant disputes and easement disputes.
• Construction and engineering disputes, adjudications, and arbitrations.
• Company and Commercial disputes including unfair prejudice petitions.
• Professional negligence claims for both claimants and defendants.
• Employment disputes and supervising our Employment Department.

Recent Experience

• Acting in a farming dispute between siblings (who each operated horticultural businesses on the farm) in relation to the validity of their late father’s Will which left the estate to one. The case included issues of testamentary capacity, undue influence, proprietary estoppel, constructive trusts and tenancies under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.
• Acting for a grandchild in a contentious probate claim against their grandparent’s second spouse which including allegations of donatio mortis causa and claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.
• Successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the English courts under Article 23 of the Succession Regulations 650/2012 to deal with a dispute relating to the property of an individual who died in Spain.
• Acting for a property developer in connection with its redevelopment of a row of townhouses in Central London including successfully defending a substantial claim for damages for trespass and nuisance and dealing with several appeals brought under the Party Wall etc Act 1996.
• Acting in a Party Wall Appeal in the County Court and an appeal to the Court of Appeal in respect of the issue of mitigation of loss in claims for compensation awarded to an adjoining owner under section 7(2).
• Acting in a Party Wall Appeal against an award of compensation under an account served under section 11(10) of the Party Wall etc Act 1996 (special foundations consent) and acting in a subsequent arbitration.
• Acting for the employer in 2 adjudications (the first, a smash and grab adjudication and the second a final account adjudication) relating to a property in Belgravia.
• Acting for the employer in an arbitration against a contractor and its insurer under the Third Party (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 in respect of defective workmanship relating to a high value development in Central London.
• Acting for a model and TV personality in connection with the redevelopment of a house in Holland Park including advising on planning, party wall issues and construction disputes.
• Acting for a leaseholder in a defence to a claim for breach of restrictive covenant and claim in the First-tier Tribunal to modify or discharge the restrictive covenant.
• Acting for a nominee purchaser in an application for a vesting order under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, where the freeholder was struck off the register, and advising on bona vacantia.
• Acting for landlords and RTM companies in relation to licences for alterations and advising on the Building Safety Act 2022 including developer remediation contracts.
• Acting for leaseholders and freeholders in claims under section 22 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 for the appointment of a statutory manager.
• Acting for landlords and tenants in claims for Rent Repayment Orders.
• Acting for a firm of accountants in its defence to a professional negligence claim relating to international tax advice.
• Acting for the petitioner in a high value unfair prejudice petition under section 994 of the Companies Act 2006.
• Acting for the claimant in an Employment Tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing.