Russell Butcher BA, Dip Law (City)

Called to the Bar in 1992, Russell Butcher was a volunteer assistant at South Islington Law Centre before taking up a position as a legal adviser to the property team at Hambro Legal Protection (now Capita) advising on all aspects of property law, with an emphasis on landlord & tenant - both commercial and residential.

In 1997 he became an adviser with the Leasehold Advisory Service in London, a Government funded service specialising in public and private sector Landlord and Tenant and residential leasehold reform. On being made a senior adviser he was responsible for a small team of lawyers and provided specialist advice and training to the public, professionals, local authorities and housing associations, with an emphasis on the areas of Leasehold Valuation Tribunal procedure, service charge disputes and enfranchisement. LEASE also advises Government departments - principally the Dept for Communities & Local Government - on leasehold reform and was closely involved in the consultation and introduction of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

Russell undertakes a broad range of civil work but with a particular emphasis on property litigation, including landlord & tenant, boundary disputes and possession proceedings (relating to both residential and business premises).  He has represented Local Authorities, private landlords and tenants in Leasehold Valuation Tribunals regarding service charges, lease extensions and the collective enfranchisement of flats.  Russell has also represented parties before the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry.