Bruce Monnington
Called to the Bar in 1989

An approachable and experienced property/chancery counsel, combining a strong technical understanding of the law with an ability to protect and pursue the real interests of the client. Bruce has broad experience, including practising for 5 years in Lincoln’s Inn and being chief legal adviser at the Country Land & Business Association for 7 years.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Real property

• Registered and unregistered land
• Boundary disputes, adverse possession, easements and restrictive covenants
• Options, pre-emptions rights and lock-out agreements
• Water and riparian rights
• Sporting rights

Landlord and tenant

• Commercial tenancies including business tenancy renewal
• Residential tenancies including possession actions and ASB claims.
• Common law rights, including break-clauses and forfeiture.

Agricultural law

• Agricultural holdings and farm business tenancies
• Issues arising out of diversification
• Tied cottages and assured agricultural occupancy
• Single farm payment and environmental schemes
• Partnership and contract farming
• Rent reviews and valuation of agricultural land for capital tax purposes.

Trusts and Equity

• Drafting and administration of trusts
• Estoppel and constructive trusts
• Charities and unincorporated organisations
• Fiduciary duties

HIS WORK

Bruce acts for a wide range of clients, including private individuals, businesses, local authorities, surveyors and public access clients, attracting work both regionally and nationally.

He appears in a variety of forums, including courts, property tribunal, arbitrations and public inquiries, and regularly acts in mediations.

PUBLICATIONS

Co-author of “Essential Law for Landowners and Farmers”(Blackwells).

Editor to Forestry, Fences & Boundaries, Animals Contracts and Sporting Rights titles in the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Advises on complex issues with great clarity
The Legal 500, 2015

Bruce Monnington is noted for his particular expertise in agricultural tenancies
Legal 500, 2014

Rated in Band 1 for Agriculture and Rural Affairs (South East)
Chambers & Partners, 2014

REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Silkstone v Tatnall [2010] EWHC 1627 (Ch); [2010] 39 E.G. 110: withdrawal from proceedings before the Adjudicator

Pease v McMillan [2009] EWCA Civ 258: transfer of entitlements in the contract for sale of land

Wilson v Specter Partnership [2007] EWHC 133 (Ch); [2007] 6 Costs L.R. 802; [2007] B.P.I.R. 649: contentious business agreements under s.59 of the Solicitors Act 1974

Gainsborough-Field v Hyde [2005] EWHC 2229: meaning of “agriculture” for the purposes of an express right of way

As an approachable and experienced property/chancery counsel, combining a strong technical understanding of the law with an ability to protect and pursue the real interests of the client, Bruce deals with contentious and non-contentious probate. Bruce has broad experience, including practising for 5 years in Lincoln’s Inn and being chief legal adviser at the Country Land & Business Association for 7 years.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Drafting and construction of trusts and wills
• Testamentary capacity and undue influence
• Administration of estates
• Applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and
• Dependants) Act 1975
• Capital tax considerations involved in the administration of Estates, including valuation of assets with third party property rights.
• Professional negligence claims arising out of any of the above areas.

HIS WORK

Bruce acts for a wide range of clients, including private individuals and public access clients, attracting work both regionally and nationally.

He appears at all levels of court, and frequently acts in mediations (with a high success rate).

An approachable and experienced property/chancery counsel, combining a strong technical understanding of the law with an ability to protect and pursue the real interests of the client. Bruce has broad experience, including practising for 5 years in Lincoln’s Inn and being chief legal adviser at the Country Land & Business Association for 7 years.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Public rights of way
• Town and village green applications
• Commons
• Statutory nuisances
• Planning law and planning enforcement
• Environmental law

HIS WORK

Bruce acts for a wide range of clients, including private individuals, businesses, local authorities, surveyors and public access clients, attracting work both regionally and nationally.

He appears in a variety of forums, including courts at all levels, the property tribunal, arbitrations and public inquiries.