Jonathan French

Call 1997

french@exchangechambers.co.uk

Photo of Jonathan French

  • Recommendations

    “Jonathan French of Exchange Chambers enters the rankings this year following widespread praise for his excellent accessibility and his pragmatism when handling cases. Sources say: ‘He offers full and frank advice and is very sharp on his feet’.”
    Chambers & Partners

    “Jonathan French is an experienced junior in difficult cases and boasts a high success rate ‘in and out of court’.”
    Legal 500

    “Jonathan French has wide experience and is ‘an excellent negotiator who never drops a point’.”
    Legal 500

    “An effective negotiator and there’s always a strong likelihood he’ll win.”
    Legal 500

  • Beyond the Bar

    Jonathan lives in North Yorkshire with his wife and their two daughters. He enjoys walking in the Yorkshire Dales and Scottish Highlands as well as sailing. He follows motor racing, cricket and rugby and enjoys live music.

  • Education

    • Harrogate Grammar School
    • LLB (Hons), The University of Manchester
    • Bar Vocational Course, The Inns of Court School of Law Accredited Mediator, SPC, Regent’s College (2005)

  • Appointments

  • Memberships

    • R3
    • Employment Law Bar Association
    • Employment Lawyers Association
    • Industrial Law Society
    • Talk Mediation
    • North Eastern Circuit
    • The Fraud Lawyers Association

  • News

Property & Planning

Jonathan’s practice covers all area of property law, with a particular emphasis upon disputes concerning land contracts and transfers, restrictive covenants, easements, nuisances, trespass and boundaries as well as commercial & residential landlord and tenant actions. He is recognised for being approachable and for giving clear advice.

Property & Planning Cases

REAL PROPERTY

Jonathan’s expertise encompasses land contracts, mortgages & charges, restrictive covenants, boundary disputes and adverse possession as well as easements, profits, trespass and nuisance. He has also dealt with disputes over co-ownership and proprietary estoppel.

Dispute over proper construction of boundary settlement agreement between homeowner and council

Advising national hotel chain over interpretation of food & beverage contract with pub group

Appearing in 5-day property land registration fraud case

Representing housing developer over ransom strip registration

Advising house purchaser upon utility easement

Appearing for land owner in 5-day trial concerning specific performance of land contract and constructive trusts.

Frequently advising upon boundary disputes, trespass, nuisance and adverse possession claims between domestic householders

Mediating boundary disputes

Advising home owners upon charges

LANDLORD AND TENANT

Jonathan deals with both commercial and residential tenancies, licences and service occupiers, including termination and possession claims as well as dilapidations, rent review and the construction and rectification of leases.

Representing commercial landlord in arbitration and court proceedings concerning forfeiture of nightclub lease

Representing shop owners on claims for nuisance interfering with business operation

Successfully representing sub-landlord of Chinese restaurant concerning surrender of lease by operation of law and unlawful eviction

Advising building academy over forfeiture and planning matters

Appearing for mortgagees and mortgagors in various possession matters

Advising upon and appearing in £800K breach of covenant claim against landlord by owners of flooded wine bar.

WILLS, TRUST AND PROBATE

Jonathan has experience of cases concerning trusts in the home, including express, constructive and resulting trusts, equitable accounting and TLATA 1996.

Representing ex-partner concerning interest in family home and ex-partner’s property portfolio

Successfully appearing for land owner in constructive trust claim over property development

Advising mother over trust/proprietary estoppel claim concerning deceased son’s house