Emma Stafford

Emma is an associate solicitor in our property litigation team. Emma has an extensive litigation background and provides strategic and commercially focused advice. Emma advises companies, developers, charities, educational institutions, local authorities and individuals on all property-related disputes including commercial lease renewals, dilapidations and repairs disputes, break notices, rights of way and restrictive covenants. 

Emma trained with a commercial litigation firm in Leicestershire before joining a local Birmingham firm and developing her expertise in property litigation. 

Emma acts for clients including SMEs, national and international companies, agricultural clients, educational and healthcare clients, developers and private and public sector landlords, and individuals in relation to property disputes or to provide strategic advice in respect of a potential dispute. 

Emma is instructed on a wide range of property litigation matters including advising landlords and tenants on opposed and unopposed commercial lease renewals including service of notices, negotiations and court proceedings; advising in relation to acquisition of leasehold interests and recovering possession from trespassers or tenants in commercial properties and assisting clients with dilapidations and disrepair disputes including a landlord’s right to re-entry and recovering costs of works as a debt including service of dilapidations schedules and subsequent negotiations. 

Emma also acts for landlords in pursuing recovery of rent arrears by way of without prejudice negotiations, Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery, forfeiture and advising on the implications of the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus Act) 2020 and the Commercial Rent code of Practice.  

Emma also deals with applications to HM Land Registry in respect of adverse possession claims, prescriptive easements, and protection of third-party interests in land and assists clients with boundary disputes, right of way disputes, claims under Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and breach of covenant disputes. 

Emma is instructed to deal with court proceedings within the County Court, High Court, First Tier Land Tribunal and alternative dispute resolution including conducting mediations and without prejudice negotiations.