Victory for Andrew Williams on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church

November 1, 2017

Andrew Williams was instructed on behalf of the Liverpool Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church to resist a claim to some of its land in Greater Manchester based on adverse possession brought by Judith Ripley-Aitchison.

After a trial lasting several days, His Honour Judge Pearce handed down judgement in favour of the Archdiocese, dismissing the adverse possession claim in its entirety.

Andrew’s instructing solicitor, Veronica Clarke, said:  “This was a very important case for the Roman Catholic Church. What is more, it was a case of some complexity, requiring a lot of legal analysis of the principles of adverse possession as well as effective cross-examination.  The Archdiocese is extremely pleased with the result.”

Andrew is a property and commercial litigator who has appeared in courts and tribunals at all levels all the way up to the House of Lords. As a former university lecturer in land law and with 20 years’ experience at the chancery bar, he is frequently involved in complex property law litigation. His property litigation practice extends to: professional negligence, estates (wills, probate and administration), proprietary estoppel, adverse possession, easements, covenants, sale of land, landlord & tenant, land development agreement disputes and partnership disputes.

Andrew is a member of Exchange Chambers’ Property Team.