Biography
Warren is a property disputes partner, qualifying in 1992.
Warren’s expertise is in landlord and tenant litigation, 1954 Act lease renewals (acting for landlords and tenants), exit strategies for corporate occupiers, dilapidations, rent arrears, rent reviews, break options, alienation issues, unauthorised alterations, forfeiture and insolvency; also in real property disputes including the interpretation of deeds, easements including rights of way, boundary issues, restrictive covenants, rights to light, party walls, trespass, and access to neighbouring land.
Warren is a pragmatic and solutions focused lawyer. He acts for landlords and tenants with regional and also national property portfolios, developers (household name and regional), ports and harbours, landed estates, charities, local authorities, social landlords, and business occupiers. His clients include real estate investors and occupiers in the housing and development, marine, healthcare, technology, retail, public, and rural land sectors.
Warren qualified in London, spending his early years with an eminent law firm. Before joining Ashfords in 2020, Warren headed up the Property Disputes team and the Real Estate Department at a top 100 Law Firm where he was also a longstanding member of the Management Board. Warren is recognised by Chambers as a leading property litigation practitioner and is a Legal 500 recommended lawyer.
Warren is a member of the Property Litigation Association, a longstanding RICS guest speaker (London and the SW) and, until recently, was a trustee of Dorothy House Hospice Care for nine years.
Relevant experience
Warren has an excellent track record in resolving Real Estate disputes, including negotiations, numerous mediations, and when necessary, at trial. His experience includes:
- For over 5 years Launcelot Investments Ltd has instructed Warren on its £200m commercial and residential property investment portfolio, to include strategic advice on a wide range of L&T issues, lease renewals, dilapidations, unauthorised alterations, forfeiture, residential and commercial tenant breaches, and complex tenant covenant issues.
- In 2025, acted for inward investor Falcon Industrial Services Ltd and advising on its Soho London investment property, to include court proceedings and instructing leading counsel. Advice in connection with rights to light, party walls, rent arrears, unauthorised subletting, rent arrears, dilapidations, and a mediation.
- Since 2023, acting for well known Southeast Borough Council (as landlord) in relation to a range of terminal dilapidations claims (including retail, leisure centres, golf courses, theatres, and restaurants). Advice has included protocol compliant letters of service / claim, reinstatement, expert evidence (surveying, M&E, and Section 18(1) L&TA 1927), assembling the client’s professional team, instructing counsel (Nicholas Dowding KC), complex M&E considerations, interpretation issues, strategy generally and negotiations, and settlements.
- In 2025, acted for a national UK landlord and retail park property investor, to include court proceedings and strategic advice on dilapidations, expert evidence, tenant insolvency, arrears, and settlement negotiations.
- Acts for Compass Children’s Homes Ltd in relation to its national and expanding property portfolio to include advice on break options, rights of way, access, boundary, repairing, mediations, and option to purchase issues.
- Acting for a Southwest landlord with a mixed portfolio comprising 100 + properties, with success at a 3-day trial in July 2023 involving the validity of a lease, rent arrears, misrepresentation, estoppel, and Part 36 issues. Obtaining and enforcing a substantial (full indemnity) costs order in our client’s favour.
- Acting for the developer in Stadium Capital Holdings Limited v St Marylebone Property Company [2011] EWHC 2856 (Ch). This leading Court of Appeal case concerned the award of damages for trespass based on a hypothetical negotiation.
