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Robert Boucher is a truly exceptional lawyer on an upward trajectory. With Robert at your back, you know the case will have been prepared to the nth degree.

Legal 500 UK 2024
About

Robert Boucher is a real estate disputes solicitor who specialises in landlord and tenant, as well as real property disputes. He has particular expertise in residential lease extensions, collective enfranchisement and right to manage.

Robert's practice encompasses all manner of commercial and residential property disputes. He always looks to find both technical and creative solutions to resolve those disputes.

His commercial landlord and tenant practice includes lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, particularly where the right to renew is opposed. He also advises in relation to rent review disputes, breach of lease, forfeiture and property insolvency. 

In the residential context his expertise is focused on leasehold enfranchisement, acting for landlords and tenants in collective enfranchisements and lease extensions. He frequently advises on complex enfranchisements where valuation and development value are in dispute. He also acts in right to manage claims, particularly where there is a dispute over the qualification of the building.

Robert has significant experience advising in relation to freehold restrictive covenants and disputes involving an application to the Upper Tribunal to modify or discharge those covenants. He also acts in relation to land registration disputes.

His clients include landlords, commercial occupiers (particularly retailers), developers and high net worth individuals.

Robert litigates in the High Court, County Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).

He is a member of the Property Litigation Association (PLA) and the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP).

Recent work

  • Acting for the successful landlord in the High Court case of Messenex Property Investments Ltd v Lanark Square Ltd [2024] EWHC 89 (Ch) which considered when a landlord may reasonably withhold consent for alterations in the context of a rooftop development.
  • In relation to property insolvency, successfully acting for the administrators of Ripley's Believe it or Not! in the High Court case of Shinners and Anor v London Trocadero (2015) LLP [2019] EWHC 2932 (Ch).
  • Acting for the successful tenant in a fully contested arbitration relating to a rent review of a commercial lease.
  • Sloane Stanley Estate v Mundy and others - Acting for the leaseholders in the landmark joint appeal to the Upper Tribunal on relativity to be applied when calculating the premium for lease extensions.
  • Acting for a FTSE 250 listed property developer in a £6m claim against a tenant for breach of covenant to fit out and trade from a commercial property.
  • Defending a commercial landlord in a £5m High Court unlawful forfeiture claim.

Accolades
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Real Estate: Property Litigation, Legal 500 2023
  • "Rob Boucher is a stand out performer, both within the firm and in the wider market. Rob is a very, very clever lawyer. He is particularly knowledgeable in enfranchisement and residential leasehold matters."
  • Listed as Key Lawyer, Real Estate: Property Litigation, Legal 500 2022
  • "Robert Boucher is a star in property litigation. Any case involving him will have been prepared to the nth degree." Legal 500 2022
Did you know

Robert is an Arsenal season ticket holder who still plays weekly 5-a-side, sometimes even winning. He's also had his music played on BBC Radio 1.

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