Mark Reading

Partner, Mishcon de Reya

Mark is a Partner in the firm's Real Estate Dispute Resolution group, practising in all areas of commercial and residential property law. He has extensive court experience both at trial, on appeal and in relation to applications for injunctive relief. He has recently acted: at trial for the successful claimant in Hush Brasseries Limited v RLUKREF Nominees (UK) One Limited & ors, which addressed whether the court has jurisdiction to grant relief from forfeiture in relation to an option. at trial for the successful claimant in the case of Davies-Gilbert v Goacher & ors which concerned the reasonableness of a refusal to grant consent under a restrictive covenant; on a pro bono basis for the appellant in the Court of Appeal in Kowalek & ors v Hassanein Ltd which concerned the quantum of rent repayment orders; and in multiplesuccessful applications for interim injunctions for tenants, where their landlords had forfeited their leases by peaceable re-entry for non-payment of rent. He has previously acted: for the successful claimants in a six-day possession trial, which dealt with both proprietary estoppel and constructive trust defences, as well the cross-examination of ten witnesses of fact; in London Kendal Street No 3 Ltd v Daejan Investments Ltd which were opposed lease renewal proceedings where the landlord was opposing on redevelopment grounds; for the successful claimant in Vivienne Westwood Limited v Conduit Street Developments Limited which considered the law of penalties in a landlord and tenant context; and for the successful claimant in Minerva (Wandsworth) Limited v Greenland Ram (London) Limited which concerned a high-value overage dispute. He has also had previous successes at trial in the fields of both rights of light and estate agency commissions. In addition to representing clients in live proceedings, Mark also provides strategic advice on a range of property management related matters, including: business lease renewals (both opposed and unopposed and from a landlord and tenant perspective), dilapidations (whether interim or terminal), forfeiture (including relief applications), arrears recovery, applications for consent to assign/underlet and property related insolvency issues. He has particular expertise in advising serviced office sector clients on these issues. He also provides strategic to third-party developer clients in relation to the effect of real property issues and third-party rights upon their future development plans. Mark is also at home in a residential law context and has particular expertise in relation to tenant's rights of first refusal, as well as real property and private nuisance disputes between neighbouring landowners.