Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution
Laura St-Gallay joined RIAA Barker Gillette (UK) LLP in 2010. Before that, she worked at Shoosmiths and BP Collins. Laura specialises in all types of property litigation as well as construction litigation. Further, a substantial part of her practice covers commercial litigation and insolvency.
Laura focuses on providing commercially driven solutions through advice, negotiation and various forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
Laura St-Gallay has a unique and detailed understanding of compulsory purchase proceedings, having concluded a confidential settlement with fellow property litigation partner Stuart Jacobs on behalf of Euston Estate. The Secretary of State for Transport in the Upper Tribunal brought the proceedings regarding the acquisition of buildings immediately in front of Euston Station, acquired for the HS2 high-speed railway linking London, the Midlands, the North and Scotland.
Laura St-Gallay is a member of the Property Litigation Association (the PLA) and the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners (ALEP).
BA Hons University of Liverpool
GDL (Commendation) LPC (Distinction) College of Law Guildford
Solicitor of England & Wales (Admitted 2006)
Expertise
Commercial litigation
Commercial litigation work includes shareholder disputes, contractual disputes, debt recovery, applications for interim relief, trusts disputes and professional negligence claims, particularly relating to claims against surveyors, builders and estate agents. Laura represents clients in all divisions of the High Court and County Court as well as promoting ADR, arbitration, expert determination and adjudication.
Insolvency
Insolvency work includes all corporate and personal insolvency processes, acting for liquidators and administrators as well as private individuals, to include dealing with directors’ misfeasance claims, wrongful trading and fraudulent trading claims, applications under the Insolvency Act, challenging liquidators’ decisions and insolvency-related matters arising in a property context.
Property litigation
Property litigation work includes acting for major property companies and estates, managing property portfolios, acting for developers, private individuals and construction companies.
Laura’s experience ranges from advice regarding the recovery of rent, break options, business tenant default, compulsory purchase proceedings, contested and uncontested lease renewals, dilapidations, failure to complete, leasehold disputes, possession claims, rent reviews and squatter actions.
Laura has worked on cases in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Courts, First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
More
Articles
The Euston Estate: Compulsory purchase proceedings – May 2021
True intentions – October 2019
The New Tenant Fees Act 2019: How will it affect you? – October 2019
Landlords face tough new regime for tenant protection – November 2018
Landlords must check they hit the spot with deposits – October 2018
How can you protect your business when customers call in the bailiffs? – May 2018
New pre-action protocol for debt claims – October 2017
RICS arbitration service launched – March 2016
Squatters: What to do when they return – January 2015
Commercial leases: What to do when a tenant breaches – January 2015
What happens when you only receive part of an enforcement debt? – January 2015
Consumer protection – January 2015
Business lease applications – January 2015
A notice to quit served by one joint tenant can determine the tenancy – January 2015
Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery – October 2014
Cases
- Property Paddington Basin Developments Ltd and others v West End Quay Estate Management Ltd: dispute over whether an estate management deed constituted a “qualifying long term agreement”.
- Property Paddington Basin Developments Ltd and others v Grits and Others: service charge dispute determined by the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
- Insolvency case challenging a liquidator’s decision Adlon Ltd v Sale (as liquidator of Kingstons Investments Ltd): An appeal of the chairman’s decision to reduce the creditor’s entitlement to vote.
- Besharova v Berezovsky: Interpretation and enforcement of matrimonial consent order. The case prompted the then President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, to issue guidance on standard financial and enforcement orders.
- Private ‘Health & Safety’ Fraud: following a lengthy three-week private prosecution, the client was not convicted of fraud and no further proceedings were brought.
