Introducing your Course Presenters

Michael Craik

Michael is a construction lawyer advising on both non-contentious and contentious construction matters, advising a wide range of clients (public and private sector) including funders, developers, contractors and consultants. He has in-depth knowledge of industry standard forms including JCT, NEC and FIDIC and extensive experience of drafting and negotiating construction contracts for new build and refurbishment projects in the energy, health, educational and R&D sectors, including PFI/PPP and LIFT projects. Michael also has significant experience of resolving construction and property related disputes including party wall ones.

Gregory Francis

Gregory has specialised in Rights of Light and Daylight/Sunlight matters since 2005, having previously trained and practised as an Architect and Project Manager since 1999. He is also an RICS Accredited Expert Witness. Prior to joining GVA he practised at Deloitte Real Estate (formerly Drivers Jonas) and Anstey Horne & Co. where he worked on all aspects of a large number of projects of varying size and complexity. Gregory advises a wide range of private and public sector clients at various stages, ranging from preacquisition/estate management through the town planning and construction phases, as well as adjoining owners affected by development. He has extensive experience of providing strategic advice in relation to legal and town planning considerations and has acted as expert witness both in respect of litigation and town planning inquiries. He has a particular interest in the sustainability and well-being aspects of natural light, as well as the methods for its measurement and valuation.

Dellah Gilbert

Dellah has experience in a wide variety of property-related contentious commercial property issues through negotiation, mediation or proceedings, including high value dilapidations claims, hostile lease renewals, multi-million pound development disputes, rights of light, rent review and development issues. She acted for the landlord in the most important property case of 2018, S Franses Limited v The Cavendish Hotel (London) Limited, in the Supreme Court which significantly changed the way that a landlord’s intention to redevelop (when opposing new business leases) must be interpreted by the courts. She has also recovered news agency premises for Surrey Investment Limited, for significant breaches of the lease, alongside supervising numerous lease renewal proceedings for various shopping centre owners, including CBREGi, in Colchester, Epsom and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Paul Lovelock

Paul is a Partner based in the London City office of Hollis and specialises in Rights of Light, Daylight and Sunlight, Party Walls and Neighbourly matters. He joined Hollis in 2016 from Watts Group plc. Paul is based in London and works in the neighbourly matters team dealing with all forms of neighbourly matters, namely Daylight and Sunlight, Rights of Light, Party Wall Matters and Access Agreements. He has acted for private sector entities and institutions as well as public bodies undertaking refurbishment and extension of existing buildings as well as demolition and wholesale re-development of both residential and commercial property. Paul has also advised neighbours affected by construction and development work in relation to the same neighbourly matters.

James Matthews

James is a senior sustainability consultant responsible for implementing Avison Young's Health and Wellbeing service. He is a qualified WELL Accredited Professional (AP) and Fitwel Ambassador, able to advise how best to implementing health and wellbeing strategies to the office space. James provides consultancy services for landlords, developers and occupiers around sustainability and wellness in the built environment; from integrating sustainability and wellbeing into property management activities to full certification services. James is currently advising a large organisation to deliver the WELL Building Standard to a 110,000 sq. ft. office refurbishment in Canary Wharf. James is also currently working with a developer to deliver the WELL Building Standard for a 95,000 sq. ft. grade A office development in Scotland. His key services provided include; sustainability assessments, WELL certification, pre-certification due diligence, GAP analysis of project designs and existing building and project monitoring. James works with Avison Young’s clients to identify opportunities to improve sustainability performance of managed properties.

Ian McKenna

Ian heads up Hollis' rights of light and daylighting service and is also responsible for the Welwyn Garden City office. He specialises in rights of light and daylight and sunlight matters and leads the wider neighbourly services, including party wall, crane oversailing and access onto private land. His work predominantly involves assisting clients and designers during the planning stages of development projects and advising on the impacts that developments will have on rights of light and daylight. This includes negotiation with affected parties to avoid potential disputes and to mitigate risk. Changes in planning policy toward sustainability and recent high profile cases in these fields, such as the Heaney Case in which they advised the claimant, have focused the industry on opportunities and risks associated with daylight and sunlight amenity and rights of light. This is leading to an ever increasing demand for good quality and timely advice and to address this Ian has developed a national team of specialists to provide that advice.