Christian Fox

Christian has developed a busy civil and contentious probate practice and appears regularly in the County Court and the High Court. He also appears in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal for property related matters.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Christian was legal counsel at a boutique property management firm of Chartered Surveyors in central London, dealing with complex commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes, including super-prime commercial rent review arbitrations and service charge disputes.

Before working in law, Christian was a dairy farmer and before that, a soldier. He served on several dairy industry bodies at board level and is a past Chair of the Dairy Council. Christian was awarded the prestigious Associateship of the Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS) for his contribution to the dairy sector.

Christian retains a special interest in estate and farming matters and has extensive business experience, which helps him relate well to commercial clients from all sectors.

Further information

Memberships

The Property Bar Association
The Chancery Bar Association
Agricultural Law Association

Qualifications

BPTC (VC) – City, University of London
Law LLM (Distinction) – City, University of London
Law LLB (Hons) – Birkbeck College, University of London
Nuffield Farming Scholar (NSch) 2001
Associate of the Royal Agricultural Societies (ARAgS)

Property

Christian particularly welcomes work in commercial and residential property, including boundary disputes, matters involving rights of way and easements—issues that are often complex and legally challenging.

He regularly acts for landlords and tenants in disputes and has experience handling breaches of lease, unlawful eviction, and service charge disputes in both commercial and residential settings.

He has a special interest in complex commercial property cases, agricultural tenancies, service charge disputes, and leasehold enfranchisement. He also acts in possession cases involving obstacles to a landlord seeking possession.

In a previous role as legal counsel for a boutique property management firm, his work involved some of the most expensive retail property in Europe, encompassing rent review disputes and lease interpretation.

One particularly interesting case concerned a well-known building in central London with a roof-terrace restaurant and a dispute over whether the landlord or tenant was responsible for replacing the roof on which it was located. The case raised overlapping issues concerning the lease terms, such as whether the landlord could terminate the lease to carry out the work or had to accommodate the tenant in occupation. In complex cases like this, Christian provides written opinions and sees cases through to court where necessary.

Contentious Trusts and Probate

Christian has a growing practice in contentious trusts and probate matters. He is regularly instructed in claims for financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

He also advises on disputes concerning the validity of wills, the removal of executors and trustees, proprietary estoppel, undue influence, and constructive trust claims.

Christian has helped both executors and trustees, as well as potential beneficiaries. He is particularly focused on resolving disputes efficiently to avoid unnecessary litigation, which can diminish the value of an estate and strain family relationships.

Farming, Estates and Rural Affairs

Christian draws on his practical experience as an organic dairy farmer to inform his rural practice. He is often instructed in boundary disputes, adverse possession claims, rural business landlord and tenant issues and disputes around succession.

Christian is an advocate of early advice before disputes become entrenched, protracted and expensive. He is also experienced at assisting with mediation and accepts appropriate instructions on a direct access basis.