Sophie Schultz
Partner
Sophie is a leading property litigator renowned for her strategic expertise and ability to help clients resolve their disputes quickly and cost-effectively.
Partner
Sophie is a leading property litigator renowned for her strategic expertise and ability to help clients resolve their disputes quickly and cost-effectively.
Language - English
Jurisdiction - UK & Wales
Sophie has experience in the full range of property disputes, including landlord and tenant disputes, adverse possession, boundaries, easements, insolvency-related issues, joint ventures, leasehold enfranchisement, professional negligence and sale and purchase disputes (including misrepresentation and specific performance).
She has a particular expertise in development-related disputes, advising both developers and neighbours on claims (including injunctions) relating to nuisance, rights of light, trespass and party wall matters, restrictive covenants and easements. She has specialised in rights of light for over 15 years and is an acknowledged expert in this area.
Her strategic approach ensures that clients achieve favourable outcomes, often without the need for court proceedings. She is adept at using mediation, arbitration, and expert determination to resolve conflicts swiftly and cost-effectively.
Clients value her legal knowledge and ability to get to the bottom of a tricky issue. Sources quoted in Chambers UK have praised her "phenomenal" knowledge (2015) and described her as a "walking brain" (2014) that is "able to tie the opposition up in knots" (2011).
Vacant possession strategy
Devised and implemented a vacant possession strategy for an institutional landlord for a mixed-use site including leases with security of tenure and flats let to company employees.
Rights of light - developer
Advising on all aspects of rights of light on numerous developments from the initial stages onwards, including acquisition report, advice on insurance options, using legal arguments to cut down claims, and working alongside surveyors to agree releases.
Rights of light – adjoining owners
Sophie has secured substantial settlements for a range of institutional investors, public bodies and individuals, adapting tactics according to circumstances and the client's aims and budget.
Hiscox Syndicates Ltd v Pinnacle Ltd [2008] 145 (Ch): nuisance from demolition works
Sophie secured interim injunctions to protect Hiscox from demolition nuisance which could have seriously affected its business. The proceedings were highly contested and conducted under significant time pressure.
Apexmaster Ltd v URC Thames North Trust & another [2018] 2 WLUK 584: defending trespass injunction
Sophie successfully defended a developer from an injunction claim for scaffolding trespass. The case emphasised the need for there to be some give and take between neighbours during construction works and the importance of reasonable behaviour. Her tactics were such that despite having admitted trespass, her client was awarded costs on the indemnity basis.
Restrictive covenants
Advised developers on the options available to deal with restrictive covenants.
