Joanna is a Partner in the firm's Property Litigation group, within the Real Estate department. She has over 20 years' experience specialising in property disputes and risk analysis, advisory and avoidance work.
She advises owners, occupiers, developers and funders of commercial and residential real estate, dealing with all contentious aspects of real estate including development disputes, landlord and tenant disputes (including rent and service charge recovery, lease renewals, consents, forfeiture and possession claims), title, right of way and right to light disputes, real estate related professional negligence claims, and insolvency and corporate recovery work.
In 2020, Joanna was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as a Deputy Master of the Chancery Division. She sits on a part-time basis at the Rolls Building, hearing cases in the Business and Property Courts.
Joanna has extensive trial experience and has been described in Chambers & Partners as "a shrewd and tough litigator who is able to cut through to the essence of a problem", and an "enormous name in the market and a fearsome litigator". Sources add she is "exceptionally astute and very easy to deal with on every level". She is a Solicitor-Advocate and is qualified to represent clients as an advocate in the Higher Courts (Civil) in England and Wales. A skilled negotiator, she also represents clients in mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. She is ranked as a Leader in her Field in Tier 1 in Chambers & Partners 2024 and Legal 500 has referred to her as "dynamic and ruthless". She is a member of the Legal 500 Hall of Fame, which highlights individuals who have received constant praise from their clients for continued excellence.
Key Experience
- Acted for the successful tenant in Timothy Taylor Ltd v Mayfair House Corporation [2016] EWCH 1075 (Ch) in which the Court considered the balance between a landlord's express rights to develop and the tenant's entitlement to quiet enjoyment.*
- Advised a leading UK law firm on a substantial dilapidations claim which arose on expiry of their lease of a central London office building.*
- Acted for the Claimant in Shebelle Enterprises Limited v The Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust Limited [2013] EWHC 948 (Ch) in which an adjoining owner sought to prevent construction of a substantial basement development.*
- Obtained an injunction to prevent protestors from obstructing a high profile development site.*
- Acted extensively for fixed charge receivers from various firms appointed by a major UK bank in multiple cases where the receivers' abilities to realise security were being impeded by the actions of the borrower.*
- Advised on a £200m claim for negligence against the valuers of a £2bn property portfolio that provided inadequate security for a securitised loan.*
- Acted for the successful landlord in NCR Limited v Riverland Portfolio (No. 1) Limited [2005] EWCA Civ 312 which is one of the leading cases on alienation and landlord's consent.*
- Advised various estate agents and commercial property agents on their entitlement to fees and acted in the well-known case of Egan Lawson Ltd v Standard Life Assurance Co [2001] 1 E.G.L.R. 27 which considered the agent's entitlement to an introduction fee.*
* Work undertaken prior to joining Mishcon de Reya
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
Assistant Solicitor, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
Qualified, Portner & Jaskel
College of Law, Common Professional Exams, Legal Practice Course (commendation)
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Management Sciences
Articles and Publications
- 41st Annual Series Blundell Lecture: Can I Really Rely on the Register of Title, June 2016
- The Fine Art of Not Disturbing Tenants, Estates Gazette, 11 June 2016