James Holton is a Senior Associate at DTM Legal specialising in property dispute resolution. With over 15 years’ experience, James is known for his ability to find practical and commercial solutions to complex issues, James advises clients in the commercial, residential and agricultural property sectors.
Education and Training
James read Law at Lancaster University before completing his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law (now the University of Law). James trained at a large regional firm in Chester.
Role within the DTM Legal Team
As a member of the property dispute resolution team, James plays a key role supporting clients who value his ability to get to the heart of the matter and achieve positive results.
His extensive knowledge based on many years of experience includes:
- Lease renewals and terminations.
- Rent arrears and forfeiture.
- Dilapidations.
- Possession claims and ownership disputes.
- Party wall and neighbourly disputes including injunction applications.
- Residential leasehold including service charge disputes and lease extensions.
- Rights of way and easements.
- Restrictive covenants preventing development.
- Agriculture and rural disputes including the termination of tenancies and succession applications.
Career Highlights
James is known for his ability to act on complex and high-value property portfolios and disputes and has been ranked in the Legal 500 as a leading associate/rising star since 2018.
He is trusted by clients throughout England and Wales (as well by clients internationally) for his commercial awareness within the property sector, his strategic advice and his ability to collaborate effectively with asset managers, agents and surveyors.
Highlights include settling a high-value dilapidations claim regarding a national retailer’s head office, several complex lease terminations to facilitate development and the recovery of substantial service charge arrears for a right-to-manage company at premises in Central London. As much of James’s practice is advisory, many of his career highlights include unreported cases which were successfully resolved without the need for litigation to the gratitude and relief of his clients.
“My aim is to be the trusted partner. The go-to person for strategic advice, who problem-solves and who identifies – and achieves – their clients’ objectives.”
Additional Qualifications, Affiliations, or Memberships
James holds memberships of the Property Litigation Association and Agricultural Law Association. He is also an affiliate member of The Faculty of Party Wall Surveyors which enables him to keep up to date with developments in the party wall sector and to collaborate with party wall surveyors.
ESG Contribution
James is a trustee of the Longleigh Foundation which is a grant-making foundation working to prevent poverty in social housing and to support people in crisis. James joined the board of Longleigh so that he could bring his landlord and tenant knowledge to complement the Foundation’s work supporting vulnerable people including providing them with additional skills.
Publications
James is a regular contributor to DTM Legal’s insight page which brings specialist industry commentary to a wide audience with the goal of supporting our clients and network in minimising or mitigating against problems with their property investments.
James Holton’s articles on the DTM Legal’s website include An answer to the question of a landlords ability to recover legal costs from a leaseholder, Tips for developers for addressing restrictive covenants on land and insights into the benefits of collaborative legal strategies during nuisance claims. He has also co-authored an article in the RICS Built Environment Journal titled “Is the Party Wall Act now obsolete?”.
Personal Interests
In his spare time James will be found in his garden, at the gym or supporting Stoke City FC.
“James Holton bats above his weight and remains a leading lawyer in managing real estate disputes. He is focused on the best commercial outcomes for his clients and is pragmatic and sensible. He is popular with his clients and other lawyers and is known as a straight-talking property encyclopaedia with a polite but robust disposition.”
[Legal 500 testimonial]
“James and I have worked on a number of cases involving different types of clients. I have found James to have a clear grasp of the issues at hand, be superb in the advice he has given, whilst being practical and commercially minded. I would have no hesitation in recommending him whether advising a landlord or tenant.”
[Neil Burridge, Radius Consulting]
“James Holton was exceptional in his attention to detail and efficiency – he advised us at all times and kept us in the loop with everything always.”
[Legal 500 testimonial]
