Priya Gopal

Areas of expertise

• Property
  • Housing (social & privately rented)

    Housing (social & privately rented)

    Priya has vast amounts of knowledge and experience with residential landlord and tenant disputes, including: complex possession claims, disrepair and forfeiture proceedings.

    Her regular client base includes private landlords, housing associations, local authorities, banks, bridging loan providers and other lenders.

    Recent work

    • Priya represented the successful respondent in Calnan v Stack House Residents (Oxted) Limited [2025] UKUT 342 (LC), where the Upper Tribunal concluded that whilst her client was originally in breach, this was remedied before the landlord brought an application for determination of breach in the FTT.
    • Obtaining possession against a tenant who fraudulently misrepresented his identity to a letting agent.
    • Successfully resisting an appeal in a possession claim concerning members of the traveller community: Smith & Ors v Baker [2022] EWHC 2592 (KB). Priya has recently secured a committal for breach of an injunction in related proceedings.
    • Representing the landlord in a 2-day trial involving unpaid repair works, breach of quiet enjoyment and complex arguments surrounding negligent misrepresentation.
    • Representing a landlord in a possession claim which also involved allegations of disrepair, the validity of the section 8 notice and protection of the tenancy deposit.
    • Advising a landlord on whether he could obtain an injunction requiring a tenant to vacate the property in order to carry out repair works.
  • Real property & mortgages

    Real property & mortgages

    Priya is a specialist in all aspects of real estate dispute resolution, including land registration, adverse possession and mortgage matters. She regularly appears in the County Court, First-Tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and High Court in multi-day trials, complex interim hearings and appeals.

    She has particular expertise in cases involving difficult questions of mortgage regulation, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and unfair relationships under the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

    Priya also has substantial experience with disputes concerning easements and freehold covenants, the subject matter of her publication ‘A Practical Guide to Easements, Restrictive Covenants and Rights of Way’ (2023, Law Brief Publishing).

    Recent work

    • Represented Npower in Ikpaisong Effiong UKPE (t/a Ikpaland Enterprises UK) v Southend Magistrates’ Court[2026] EWHC 192 (Admin), an appeal by way of case stated after the Magistrates’ Court granted a warrant under the Electricity Act 1989.
    • Successfully obtained an injunction in a claim for trespass for excessive use of an easement following a 3-day trial. Priya also secured a substantial costs award.
    • Representing a co-freeholder and leaseholder in a claim involving allegations of trespass, proprietary estoppel, adverse possession and a breach of GDPR (arising from the installation of CCTV cameras).
    • Representing the lender in a High Court claim for rectification of a transfer and title register on the grounds of mutual or unilateral mistake.
    • Advising on whether an insured had a proprietary interest in premises damaged by a fire. The claim is worth £15m and is proceeding in the High Court.
    • Acting in a 7-day trial in the First-Tier Tribunal concerning the acquisition of a parking easement by prescription and the ouster principle.
    • Representing the Applicant in contested proceedings for Form A and II restrictions to be entered on the title register on the grounds that the Applicant retained a beneficial interest.
    • Succeeding following a 2-day trial in an adverse possession claim, where the possession relied upon was prior to the Land Registration Act 2002: Osborne v Murphy [2023] UKFTT 00556 (PC).
    • Representing the landowners in a complex High Court claim for rectification of the land register on the basis of an alleged forged transfer of title, over 20 years after the transfer.
    • Acting in a 3-day trial, concerning a resulting trust and common intention constructive trust. The case involved difficult conflict of laws questions and overlapped with family law principles, as the parties were former spouses where family proceedings were being conducted in parallel in Russia.
    • Securing an injunction for breach of freehold covenants within a building scheme.
    • Advising on the prospects of securing a modification of freehold covenants in the Upper Tribunal.
  • Leasehold & leasehold management

    Leasehold & leasehold management

    Priya is regularly instructed in a wide variety of leasehold matters, including improper management, leasehold enfranchisement, service charge disputes, forfeiture and claims involving right to manage companies.

    Recent work

    • Priya represented the successful respondent in Calnan v Stack House Residents (Oxted) Limited [2025] UKUT 342 (LC), where the Upper Tribunal concluded that whilst her client was originally in breach, this was remedied before the landlord brought the application for determination of breach in the FTT.
    • Acting for the landlord in a claim against managing agents for breach of contract and negligence in the context of mismanagement (including a failure to report disrepair).
    • Representing a landlord in a claim by a tenant for set aside of a possession order after the possession order had been executed.
    • Acting for a local authority in a service charge dispute involving multiple underleases with companies that have been dissolved and where leases have been disclaimed.
    • Acting for a local authority in a commercial forfeiture claim involving unlawful subletting.
    • Representing a Management Company in a claim against leaseholders for breach of covenant and nuisance.
    • Representing a group of residents in a claim involving breach of a restrictive covenant through advertising property on Air BnB.
    • Advising on the prospects of obtaining an injunction and damages under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
    • Representing the landlord in an appeal in the context of a disrepair claim, where a defence was raised under the Equality Act 2010.
    • Advising on whether a landlord could obtain an injunction for breach of the structural alterations clause in a Lease.
  • Commercial landlord & tenant

    Commercial landlord & tenant

    Priya acts for both landlords and tenants across the full spectrum of commercial property disputes, including forfeiture, lease renewals, dilapidations and service charges.

    Recent work

    • Representing a corporate leaseholder in a claim by its landlord for trespass and use of space in a commercial business park. Priya substantially reduced her client’s liability on various grounds, including procedural defects with the claim.
    • Acting for the Defendant in a multi-day trial of a possession claim defended on the grounds that the Defendant had acquired a business tenancy under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
    • Appearing in an arbitration in the context of a major development.
    • Acting as junior counsel to Jamal Demachkie in Man Limited v Back Inn Time Diner Limited[2023] EWHC 363 (Ch) which concerned (inter alia) the proper application of the intention to redevelop ground under section 30(1)(f), Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
    • Representing the landlord in a lease renewal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 where the parties’ experts differed substantially on the valuation of rent. The matter settled in the landlord’s favour shortly before trial.
    • Advising a former leaseholder of a hotel in respect of the likely sum payable by way of dilapidations.
    • Forfeiture proceedings against the tenant of a public house for breach of covenant, including substantial rent arrears.
    • Advising a landowner on the options for termination of a licence agreement under the Electronic Communications Code (advice produced jointly with Andy Creer of Landmark Chambers).
    • Advising a landlord on whether they have complied with the formalities to contract out of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
    • Advising on whether termination of a lease was governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 or the Electronic Communications Code
  • Trusts of land

    Trusts of land

    Priya is experienced in disputes arising under section 14, TOLATA 1996 as well as other co-ownership disputes, including constructive trusts of the family home and proprietary estoppel.

    Recent work

    • Acting on behalf of the trustees of a pension plan scheme. Priya succeeded in securing an order for sale in relation to the investment property.
    • Advising on the prospects of obtaining an Order for Sale in relation to co-owned commercial property where the trustees were in a deadlock.
    • Representing creditors in their applications for an Order for Sale in respect of co-owned property.
    • Obtaining an Order for sale in respect of property which the Applicant jointly owned with her brother. Priya was also able to recover a substantial amount of the Applicant’s costs.
    • Drafting Particulars of Claim in respect of a claim to secure a beneficial interest in a family home pursuant to a common intention constructive trust and proprietary estoppel.
• Commercial dispute resolution
  • Commercial litigation

    Commercial litigation

    Priya’s commercial practice covers contractual and shareholder disputes, breach of directors’ duties and civil fraud, as well as pensions appeals. She also advises on corporate governance issues affecting right to manage companies, which complements her property practice.

    Selected cases:

    • Assisting Nigel Jones KC and Sarah McCann KC in a complex multi-party claim of around £50m by an insurer against former directors, alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt.
    • Representing an employer in an appeal against a determination of the Pensions Ombudsman on the interpretation of a pension scheme.
    • Acting in an appeal against a determination of the Pensions Ombudsman concerning the meaning of early retirement benefits under the Acquired Rights Directives (Council Directives 77/187/EEC and 2001/23/EC).
    • VH Invest AG and Air Profile GmbH v Moir, Oil Search Ltd and Exact Optics Ltd (Commercial Court) – Junior counsel to David Lewis KC and Rajiv Bhatt in a claim for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and unjust enrichment concerning LIDAR technology used to measure airflow around commercial wind turbines.
    • Mobeus Private Equity (Commercial Court) – Junior counsel to Nigel Jones KC and Emily Betts in a multi-million-pound claim for breach of warranty, fraudulent misrepresentation and negligence.
    • Assisting Emily Betts in a dispute over a vote to remove a director in breach of a shareholders’ agreement.
    • Real Assets (RA) Global Opportunity Fund I Ltd v Floreat Real Estate Ltd [2025] EWHC 2171 (Comm) – Working alongside Rajiv Bhatt in a dispute over whether a Part 8 claim for declarations should be stayed or case managed alongside other Commercial Court proceedings.
    • Skatteforvaltningen (Danish Customs and Tax Administration) v Solo Capital Partners LLP (in special administration) [2020] EWHC 2161 – Assisting Nigel Jones KC and Laurence Page in an application for payment out of funds in court to meet legal fees.
    • Junior counsel to Matthew Hodson in Commercial Court proceedings concerning the terms of a retainer and implied terms in the context of paid solicitors’ fees.
  • Banking & finance

    Banking & finance

    Priya specialises in banking and financial services work. She is regularly instructed by banks and bridging loan providers based on her expertise in this area.

    Recent work

    • Acting for a lender in a possession claim, which is defended on the grounds of undue influence.
    • Successfully defending her client bank in an application for rectification of the title register.
    • Representing a lender who sought to rely on the second charge business loan and investment property loan exemptions under The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001 2001/544.
    • Acting for a lender where the mortgage deed has been challenged as being defective.
    • Advising on a claim against receivers where there was an allegation of sale at an undervalue.
    • Successfully defending a well-known cryptocurrency exchange platform in a claim concerning repayment of losses incurred following purchase of cryptocurrency. Priya was able to have the case against her client struck out in its entirety.
    • Advising on whether a default interest provision in a loan agreement was a penalty clause.
    • Successfully represented the lenders in a claim alleging an unfair relationship under section 140A, Consumer Credit Act 1974.
  • Companies, joint ventures & partnerships

    Companies, joint ventures & partnerships

    Priya has extensive experience in advising on disputes within the corporate context, including breach of directors’ duties under the Companies Act 2006.

    Priya also has experience acting in matters where her property and corporate law specialisms overlap.

    Recent work

    • Representing a property owner in a trial involving a dispute with a management company. The case raised complex questions of breach of directors’ duties and company management. Priya played an instrumental role in obtaining a favourable settlement for her client on the day of the trial.
    • Advising on whether former company property vested bona vacantia in the Crown following dissolution.
    • Assisting Sarah McCann in advising on the circumstances in which the knowledge of directors can be attributed to a company.
    • Advising on the liability of non-executive directors for breach of directors’ duties.
    • Advising a property owner in relation to a derivative claim against a management company.
    • Drafting a defence against an allegation that the corporate veil should be pierced.
    • Advising on whether proceedings can be brought against a company in insolvent liquidation.
• Professional liability
  • Property & construction professionals

    Property & construction professionals

    Priya is regularly instructed by both claimants and defendants in high-value claims involving the liability of property and construction professionals. She is uniquely placed to advise in these areas given her extensive experience with property disputes. Priya is often instructed where there are complex questions of causation and loss.

    Recent work

    • Advising a lender on the recoverable loss against a valuer following an overvaluation of a hotel and where the borrower has entered administration.
    • Advising a property owner on whether her surveyor was liable in negligence for various deficiencies and omissions in a Home Survey Report, including a failure to sufficiently identify the risk of property damage.
    • Advising a lender on a potential overvaluation of commercial property during the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • Advising on liability and the proper measure of loss in circumstances where a surveyor failed to report the presence of Japanese Knotweed to the purchaser of the property.
    • Advising on the liability of a surveyor arising from a failure to identify asbestos in a RICS HomeBuyer Report.
    • Advising on a claim against an estate agent for failure to carry out due diligence on a prospective purchaser.
    • Assisting James Hall with a case concerning an architect’s liability for the negligent design and construction of a barn.
    • Advising on whether an architect had assumed responsibility for tasks undertaken that were beyond the scope of their retainer.
    • Representing a landlord in negligence proceedings against a managing agent, where the agent failed to carry out adequate monitoring and notify the landlord of disrepair in the property.
  • Legal professionals

    Legal professionals

    Priya specialises in professional negligence disputes involving allegations against solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals. She acts for both claimants and defendants. Given her expertise in costs litigation, she is regularly instructed in cases where there are arguments of unpaid fees and counterclaims in negligence.

    Recent work

    • Acting for a purchaser in a negligence claim in the High Court against a solicitors’ insurers under the Third Parties (Rights against Insurers) Act 2010 for failing to notify the purchaser of substantial defects in the property.
    • Representing a solicitor in a £2m claim for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of a property development, proceeding to a multi-day trial in the High Court.
    • Advising on whether a conveyancing solicitor was liable in negligence for failing to advise vendors on how to complete a property information form.
    • Representing solicitors in a claim against a barrister for negligence arising out of advice and conduct in costs proceedings.
    • Representing conveyancing solicitors at trial based on the failure to provide advice in relation to a septic tank during the purchase of a property. The case raised difficult questions of causation and the measure of loss.
    • Representing solicitors at trial in a professional negligence claim arising out of their management of litigation in a boundary dispute, including an allegation of failure to follow instructions. The claim against the solicitors was dismissed in its entirety.
    • Advising on a claim against a solicitor for failing to report the Grade II listed status of a property.
    • A loss of chance claim arising from a failure to register an interest as a restriction on the property register.
    • Advising on the merits of a claim against a solicitor for a failure to bring a timely action in respect of a lapsed life insurance policy.
    • Advising on the prospects of a claim against a solicitor for registering proprietors of a property as joint tenants as opposed to tenants in common.
    • Advising a solicitor on liability for failing to properly advise in respect of a restrictive covenant and planning permission in connection with the purchase of a property.
  • Financial professionals, insolvency professionals, directors & officers

    Financial professionals, insolvency professionals, directors & officers

    Priya has experience with professional claims against a variety of professionals, including accountants and insurance companies.

    Recent work

    • Representing an accountant in a negligence claim brought by a former client for failure to advise in relation to capital gains tax and bankruptcy.
    • Advising a policyholder on a negligence claim against her insurance company following mismanagement of a claim.
    • Advising on a claim against receivers for negligence.
• Costs and litigation funding

  Costs and litigation funding

  Priya’s practice covers all areas of costs litigation, including solicitor-client disputes, inter partes costs and Part 36. She appears regularly in the High Court (including the SCCO) both as sole counsel and as junior counsel. She also has particular experience of costs appeals in the High Court and Court of Appeal. As a member of the Attorney General’s C Panel, she regularly advises and represents government bodies on costs.

  Selected cases

  • Turner v Coupland [2026] EWCA Civ 1204 – Priya appeared as junior counsel to Robin Dunne in this appeal concerning whether a solicitor was required to answer Part 18 requests regarding secret commissions in solicitor/client assessment proceedings. Priya acted as sole counsel in the High Court appeal ([2025] EWHC 1605 (KB) and [2025] EWHC 2112 (KB)).
  • Barnes v BDB Pitmans [2026] EWCA Civ 698 (as junior counsel to Robin Dunne), where the Court of Appeal considered whether the certainty requirements referred to in Chamberlain v Boodle and King[1982] 1 WLR 1443 apply to hourly rate contentious business agreements.
  • R v Oates [2026] EWHC 1434 (SCCO), concerning the pages of prosecution evidence (PPE) payable under the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013.
  • R v Rushforth (SCCO) – concerning the correct banding for advocate’s fees under the Criminal Legal Aid (Remuneration) Regulations 2013 and the AGFS Banding Document for firearms offences.
  • Ingram v Singh [2025] EWCA Civ 264 (as junior counsel to Robin Dunne). The case concerned whether a solicitor and client had entered into a retrospective conditional fee agreement. Priya also appeared in the High Court appeal with Robin Dunne, reported at [2023] EWHC 3488 (KB).
  • An application to set aside a default costs certificate on mandatory and discretionary grounds.
  • Successfully recovered the costs of an interested party following an appeal by way of case stated. The decision on the substantive appeal is at: Ikpaisong Effiong UKPE (t/a Ikpaland Enterprises UK) v Southend Magistrates’ Court [2026] EWHC 192 (Admin)
  • An assessment of costs in party wall proceedings on a “just and equitable” basis under section 64, Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980.
  • TRX v Southampton Football Club Ltd[2022] EWHC 3392 (KB) – acting as junior counsel to Robin Dunne in this High Court appeal, concerning whether: (a) there was a private retainer in place covering the pre-CFA period; (b) the effective date of a CFA; and (c) the scope of a judge’s discretion under CPR r47.20.
  • Successfully recovered (with Thomas Bell) substantial sums in a detailed assessment in the SCCO which raised issues including: hindsight and the relevance of costs budgets in circumstances where there was no costs management order made.
  • Represented the receiving party in a detailed assessment in the SCCO where Priya successfully obtained an order debarring the paying party from making further submissions.
  • Acting in a claim for a charging order under section 73, Solicitors Act 1974.
  • Advising on whether a solicitor/client retainer was frustrated due to a lack of capacity.