Michael Metliss

I have advised a broad range of retail, office and industrial property portfolio owners, as well as UCL and BlackRock as university site/student accommodation landlords, and specialise in resolving disputes and potential disputes concerning business lease renewal, tenant insolvency, rent review, development, lease break options, and lease covenant enforcement. I have acted for large landlords including The Crown Estate and Tesco.

I am also listed in the Legal 500 property litigation “Hall of Fame”, I have published numerous articles in the property press, and am, apparently, a popular presenter of property topics. Pre-Covid, I was a guest speaker at the Arbrix 2019 Conference for arbitrators and independent experts.

• Successfully challenging, in the Court of Appeal, the legal precedent that companies in administration could enjoy the benefit of occupation without having to pay rent as an administration expense (reported case).
• Successfully resisting an attempted rights of light-related injunction of a mixed use development above Tottenham Court Road station
• Taking to trial an unopposed business lease renewal, to decide the rental impact of a landlord’s break right being incorporated into a new lease.
• Obtaining vacant possession for redevelopment by the Crown Estate of various Regent Street blocks, and acting for Tesco across all of its store and distribution centre portfolio.