William Richardson

Areas of expertise

• Property

  Property

  Acting for clients from national housing associations to accidental landlords, William has a broad property practice encompassing residential and commercial landlord and tenant disputes, possession claims, leasehold disputes, forfeiture, adverse possession and easement disputes, TOLATA and property-related torts.

  His experience extends to disputes involving constructive trusts, proprietary estoppel and undue influence, as well as regulatory and enforcement matters affecting property.

  Recent work:

  • Zubair Idrees v. Yeni Pinar Meat Centre Limited (2026): William acted for the Respondent landlord to an injunction application seeking to compel his client to permit the applicant back into occupation of commercial premises after his client peaceably re-entered and took back possession. A set of proceedings involving multiple applications and contempt proceedings within them. Ultimately, William secured a successful outcome for the client.
  • Buckinghamshire Council v UK Farm Holdings Ltd and others (2026): William acted for the defendant in High Court proceedings concerning an injunction for breaches of planning control, successfully securing amendments to the terms of the injunction which significantly reduced its impact on his client.
  • Langi v Langi (2025): William acted for the claimant in a possession claim which was met with a comprehensive defence and counterclaim raising issues of constructive trust, proprietary estoppel and undue influence. He successfully secured the strike-out of both the defence and counterclaim.
  • Edmunds v Newell and Capital Homes Ltd (2021): William represented the claimant in a trespass claim at a three-day multi-track trial, successfully obtaining an injunction requiring the defendant to reverse works carried out without consent on his client’s land, together with damages and costs.
  • Hastings Borough Council v Linda Turner [2021] UKUT 258 (LC): William was led for the respondent before the Upper Tribunal in a case providing important guidance on the FTT’s approach to rehearing a licence application made by a relevant person, including the burden of proof and the weight to be given to a local housing authority’s decision.
• Private client

  Private client

  William has a growing private client practice encompassing contentious probate, Inheritance Act claims, TOLATA and disputes concerning beneficial interests in property. His expertise in this area draws on his wider property practice and includes disputes involving constructive trusts, proprietary estoppel, undue influence and questions of ownership and occupation.

  Recent work:

  • Kailey v Bangar (2025): William acted for the successful claimant in a four-day multi-track TOLATA trial before HHJ Monty KC concerning a beneficial interest in a property. The case involved issues arising from Laskar v Laskar, including the significance of a party being named on a mortgage where they had made no financial contribution and had otherwise had no involvement with the property.
  • Johnson v Taylor (2025): William acted for the successful defendant in a four-day contentious probate trial before HHJ Evans-Gordon concerning a challenge to a will. The claim raised allegations of undue influence and fraudulent calumny, together with issues of testamentary capacity and knowledge and approval.
• Commercial litigation

  Commercial litigation

  Predominantly in the High Court and instructed in high value disputes, William acts in a broad range of commercial matters including contract claims, company disputes and insolvency proceedings.

  Recent work:

  By way of snapshot in 2026: William has advised and drafted pleadings in a multi-million pound share purchase dispute; advised on an ongoing application under s.116 of the Companies Act; appeared in an injunction application, and continues to act in the overarching dispute, concerning a non-compete clause in an employment contract; drafted pleadings in a claim concerning a convoluted property investment scheme; obtained an injunction at a multi-day hearing enabling his vintage flight experience client to continue trading; and drafted pleadings in a breach of contract claim that will involve complex construction and loss of bargain damages issues.

  • Portess and Knust v Brade (2025): William acted for the defendant in a dispute concerning three agreements relating to the defendant’s home, raising issues of non est factum, undue influence and unconscionable bargain.
  • Rudgley v. Parsons (2024): In a claim under s.994, William successfully resisted an application for an injunction, which enabled his client to continue trading while the proceedings were ongoing.
  • Elquesuigi SL v The Estate of Jonathan Antonio Commisso (Deceased) (2022): William acted for the defendant in proceedings in the High Court Business and Property Courts, successfully striking out claims concerning breach of directors’ duties, reflective loss and a derivative action.
• Insolvency & restructuring

  Insolvency & restructuring

  William works in both personal and corporate insolvency matters. He regularly appears in the winding-up list in the High Court and is instructed to advise, draft and appear in applications to set aside statutory demands and for injunctions restraining the presentation of winding-up petitions. William is currently advising in a matter concerning receivership.