Dale Timson

Dale acts for clients in all areas of property law including disputes involving easements, restrictive covenants, and trusts of land, including constructive and resulting trusts, claims pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and matters involving contested wills and probate.

Dale also specialises in both residential and commercial landlord & tenant matters.

From forfeiture claims, service charge disputes, section 21 possession proceedings, and deposit disputes, right through to lengthy and complex cases of unlawful eviction, fraud, and harassment, Dale is able to provide effective advocacy in court and direct but practical advice out of court.

Dale is regularly instructed by top UK insurers to defend claims involving property damage. Dale has significant experience in these complex liability and quantum claims which often involve multiple areas of law including tort, contract, agency, and statutes such as the Highways Act 1980. Dale takes a keen interest in the correct test regarding the measure of loss in these types of cases and is fully conversant in the arguments put forward by claimants and defendants.

Dale also has an excellent working knowledge of the law relating to uplifts for overheads (often known as ‘thickening claims’) and the recoverability of such.

Recent cases include:

• Led by James Aldridge KC in possession proceedings brought in respect of arrears of over £23m. Settled the proceedings on favourable terms better than the court could have ordered.
• Multi-track trial in which Dale successfully represented the landlord in a commercial lease renewal where the landlord opposed the lease renewal under s.30(1)(g) LTA 1954 being the landlord’s intention to occupy the premises.
• Multi-track trial involving the interpretation of a will. The disposal of a property was in issue between the trustees and beneficiaries. The judge agreed with the beneficiaries’ position following Dale’s persuasive submissions.
• Multi track trial successfully representing a tenant in their claim for unlawful forfeiture. The court allowed the claim, making damning findings against the Landlord, awarding the tenant considerable damages and costs.

Dale has a broad commercial practice and receives instructions on behalf of both individuals and businesses in claims of all values.

His commercial work covers a broad range of business disputes, including matters involving breach of contract, debt recovery, consumer rights, guarantees and indemnities, letters of credit, the sale of goods and transfer of title, the supply of services, bailment, and the proper construction and effect of contractual terms and conditions.

Dale also has a good working knowledge of the law relating to force majeure and frustration, having now dealt with several cases involving the effect of Coronavirus on these areas of law.

Dale has been instructed on a number of injunction cases and is always willing to provide urgent advice and representation.

Recent cases include:

• Currently instructed in an ongoing claim valued at £4.5 million for alleged breaches of contract for not following though with a contract for sale of two properties valued at over £5 million involving claimed loss of profits and expenditure losses.
• Currently instructed in on ongoing claim valued at over £1 million involving a worldwide freezing injunction flowing from alleged breaches of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation for non-payment under loan agreements and personal guarantees relating to a timber distribution agreement for timber in Angola.
• Currently instructed in an ongoing claim valued at over £1 million involving a worldwide freezing injunction flowing from alleged breaches of contract for non-payment under loan agreements relating to a factoring business. Dale has succeeded in setting aside an unless order made for non-compliance with disclosure obligations under the terms of the freezing injunction.
• Currently instructed in an ongoing claim against seven defendants valued at £800,000 involving alleged breaches of contract, conspiracy to injure by unlawful means, inducement or procurement of breach of contract, and unlawful interference with a third party.

Dale offers a comprehensive service in respect of all matters relating to both corporate and personal insolvency, whether representing office-holders, debtors, creditors, companies, directors and insolvency practitioners.

Dale has experience in the full range of matters associated with insolvency litigation, including applications made within insolvency proceedings such as applications to set aside statutory demands, to restrain winding up petitions, to restrain advertisement of petitions or for administration orders.

Recent cases include:

• Currently instructed in a complex claim against a former company director for alleged breaches of duty, misfeasance and making preference payments.
• Advising a former company director facing a claim alleging wrongful reuse of a company name.
• Advising a former company director about restrictions entered on his personal property following an agreement reached with the liquidator of the company resulting from a settlement agreement. Involved issues of limitation.
• Representing a former company director in a claim brought by the liquidator pursuant to s.212 and s.234 Insolvency Act 1986. Dale successfully argued that the loss to the company had not been properly quantified and reliance on an investigation by HMRC was insufficient.