Author – Steve Sherlock, Head of Marketing
July 2022
There is a quote, attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, that the secret of success is constancy to purpose.
As JB Leitch looks back, in our 25th anniversary year, this saying resonates strongly with us and is fitting to our own story. We can safely say that constancy has been a key factor in establishing the business and consolidating our niche position in providing focused legal advice to the property management sector.
It is arguably now more important than ever. From the impact of emergency legislation during covid, to the recent legislative enactments in building safety and leasehold reform, our industry has endured an unprecedented level of change in a relatively short period of time. The implications for landlords, managing agents and leaseholders are many, varied and complex.
Recent years have seen an increasing number of legal firms move away from the property management sector, choosing to diversify their service portfolios and reducing the level specialised expert resource they offer as a result. Because we have continued to focus on just one aspect of legal practice, our experience in the field is unmatched. Our firm now benefits from arguably the largest team of property management and leasehold legal specialists in the country and our core focus has enabled us to become the legal partner of choice for many of the country’s leading landlords, managing agents and investors.
With an established track record in the area of ground rent and service charge arrears recovery, we provide advice in significant breach of covenant claims, lease forfeiture and relief from forfeiture, major works, right to manage, enfranchisement and private rented sector disputes on residential, mixed-use and commercial property. We have become increasingly established as a specialist in the management of claims relating to building and fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, providing complex advisory and litigation work relating to wider issues of building safety at blocks throughout the UK, regularly representing landlords and management companies in the Tribunal system on reasonableness and payability of fire safety works, including any necessary dispensation applications, the costs and charging of cladding replacement schemes, the impacts and implications of the Defective Premises Act, responses to Enforcement Notices, Improvement Notices and enforcement action.
Our ongoing commitment to the sector is also demonstrated through significant levels of investment in our IT and business systems, offering bespoke reporting tools and frequent digital communications, we know that clients want up-to-date information in real time to provide meaningful – and actionable – business intelligence and analytics.
The expertise of our team has also become increasingly recognised, and readers will be familiar with the frequent insights and articles provided by Legal Director Phil Parkinson, Senior Associate Katie Edwards to rising stars such as Trainee Solicitors Katie Orr and Lauren Walker amongst others.
Although we enjoy a unique position in the sector, we are always mindful of what separates us from our competitors. In addition to unique legal expertise and resource, under Business Development Director Karen Bolland, our business development and marketing teams have been central to our added value proposition, providing a free online training platform, JBL Learn, that provides clients with CPD accredited courses on service charge recovery, lease interpretation, ground rent and a host of key subjects, as well as a regular suite of client guidance notes offering the latest insights, analysis and recommendations on legislative change, reform and procedure.
As we look forward, we are confident that we are ideally placed to provide clarity to the industry as new and significant legislation is introduced. In recent weeks we have launched the first in our new programme of exclusive client briefing events in the heart of London. Taking place at the rooftop View venue above the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons, the event saw Phil Parkinson leading delivery of a briefing on the Building Safety Act, with Stephen Evans & Michael Mullin of Barristers Chambers Five Paper, providing a deep dive analysis of the Act’s immediate implications, followed by a summary of the impacts of the Settlers Court decision and the ramifications for landlords, agents and RTMs. Our next session in September will see Head of Real Estate Rob Denman addressing the practical implications of the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) all of which will be supported by accompanying guidance notes and videos.
In times of change and uncertainty, we remain committed to – and invested in – the sector. As we mark our 25th anniversary, we look forward in the knowledge that our constancy is both a key factor in our longevity and an element of reassurance for our clients.
About the Author:
Steve brings over 20 years’ experience to managing and developing the firm’s extensive technical and media communications, branding and digital channels.
A highly experienced brand and marketing professional with over 20 years’ experience across and commercial and public environments. At JB Leitch Solicitors, Steve is responsible for the day-to-day development, management and delivery of the firm’s extensive client communications and media outputs, ranging from technical articles and advertising, to client reports and website development. Steve also manages the CRM system and leads technical and content development of the successful online client learning and development platform. With extensive experience in brand development, Steve is also charged with taking forward the firm’s programme of re-branding and the introduction of standalone e-commerce services.
If you have any questions regarding this release, please contact Steve Sherlock, Head of Marketing on 0151 7082250 or email: [email protected]
