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Ben Robinson, Senior Associate at Penningtons Manches
Areas of expertise: Real estate litigation

Profile

Ben is a partner in the real estate litigation team and leads the team’s fire safety practice. He works closely with institutional landlords, investment funds and housing providers in relation to policy level guidance on fire safety strategy across their portfolios, and provides ongoing advice in relation to the Government’s Non-ACM Building Safety Fund. Ben offers holistic landlord and tenant advice regarding the effective management of their portfolios, including on development disputes, breaches of covenant, forfeiture and the recovery of arrears.

His expertise also extends to providing comprehensive advice on complex residential property issues including rent and service charge disputes (most recently the Supreme Court case of Aviva v Williams), enfranchisement claims, party wall disputes, boundary disputes and adverse possession claims. Ben also specialises in property-related professional negligence claims and vacant possession strategies for large-scale development sites.

He has spoken at a number of events, such as the National Housing Federation’s annual ‘Leaseholder and Tenant Service Charges’ conference, and the Asset Management Conference (Housing Quality Network), where he leads peer-to-peer discussions on service charges and fire safety works, discussing apportioning and charging for fire safety improvements. Separately, he regularly contributes to articles on the issue (including a fire safety podcast for the leading real estate publication, Estates Gazette), together with seminars and bespoke training sessions for clients and other property professionals.

Ben has been recognised by The Legal 500 as 'a stand-out individual; his calm, collected unflappable exterior belies exception client care skills combined with tactical nous in litigation. He has particular strength in leasehold matters including cladding/fire safety issues.’

Recent work highlights

  • Acting for an institutional landlord in relation to the full range of fire safety issues across its extensive portfolio, including specialist guidance on remediation measures, regulation and fire safety law compliance.
  • Advising an institutional landlord in relation to the requirements of the Section 20 consultation process and the need to apply for dispensation in circumstances where a latent defect in the design and construction of the building constituted a health and safety risk to the residents.
  • Acting for a residential development company in relation to professional negligence proceedings in the Technology and Construction Court where the damages claimed exceeded £2 million.
  • Advising a client in relation to a retrospective planning application for change of use, coupled with an appeal against an enforcement notice served by the local authority.
  • Securing an order for sale regarding agricultural land in circumstances where there was a dispute between the two beneficial owners.
  • Successfully defending an application in the First Tier Tribunal in relation to a complex service charge dispute on behalf of a social housing landlord.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP