Simon Serota
Partner and Head of Litigation
Expertise:
Simon specialises in all types of property litigation and dispute resolution including landlord and tenant disputes, breaches of covenant and leasehold enfranchisement. He also undertakes a wide variety of general commercial litigation work including shareholder claims, professional negligence claims and asset recovery and protection.
Simon's reputation as one of London’s top property litigators stems from his establishment of one of the first teams of lawyers dedicated solely to leasehold enfranchisement, which has experienced phenomenal success and continues to grow.
In 2009 he was part of the legal team acting on behalf of US private equity group Westbrook Partners in its claim to acquire the freehold of Dolphin Square from Friends Provident; this is the largest enfranchisement claim to date. Simon and his team also handle all of the enfranchisement work for one of London's largest private landlords.
In recent years Simon successfully acted for Dadourian Group International in a significant, widely-reported trial which laid down the "Dadourian Guidelines" - guidelines for permitting enforcement of freezing orders in foreign jurisdictions.
Career:
Simon trained at Wallace and qualified in 1977. He became a partner in 1979. He has sat in the High Court as a deputy costs judge since 1996.
What’s he like to do business with?
Simon was lauded by a client quoted in Chambers UK 2010 as being "tough and succinct".
"Simon Serota is a highly experienced and effective solicitor with vast experience of enfranchisement claims...he is full of ideas."
Anthony Radevsky, Falcon Chambers
"Mr Serota is a recognised expert in the world of leasehold enfranchisement with a depth of knowledge not only of the law but of the valuation processes. He is totally approachable...I have nothing but praise..."
Eric F Shapiro, Chesterton Global
