Samantha Ball

Recent Work

• Advising on a significant commercial property rental arrears matter, which involved assisting in the claim and subsequent Summary Judgment Application, whilst advising on the fast paced and constantly changing position resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in respect of the restrictions on rental arrears recovery. The steps advised and taken resulted in payment in full of the arrears and a satisfied client.
• Advising a supermarket chain in its management of recently purchased occupied land with numerous, unrecorded, business occupancies. The management was of a complicated and complex nature due to the periodic nature of the tenancies and resulted in careful consideration of the implications of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 with the contractual provisions of the periodic tenancies in occupation. Such advice resulted in the preparation and service of the appropriate notices on the relevant parties with the client being updated as to the risk/potential outcomes and ongoing strategy to manage the site.
• Advising a key restaurant operating group on the terms of break notices across various sites in England and Wales on the contractual meaning of vacant possession. Advising the group on the court’s position in relation to acquiring/providing vacant possession upon termination of a contract or upon the sale of land (including the added complication of removal of chattels) to ensure that vacant possession is achieved.
• Advising the Administrators of a night club estate on the merits of an injunction claim to obtain access to land outside the demise of the estate in administration to ensure the ongoing safety and protection of the site. Advice and action resulted in an injunction awarded by the High Court to enable the Administrators access to the land outside of the demise.
• Advising the hospitality division of a global investment management firm on the management of a residential let acquired as part of a wider commercial purchase with a long standing Rent Act 1977 protected tenancy. Advising the firm on the implications of such tenancy and how to manage it, in particular to consider the inheritability of the tenancy and the costs recovery for managing the property and repairing the same.
• Assisting Mark Brown, Partner, in advising and assisting a famous LGBTQ+ cabaret venue in London concerning structural disrepair to the venue, leading to the settlement of the dispute and an acceptable outcome for the client (including the ability to open for Pride weekend celebrations).