Download CV - Darwin Gray

Neil Morgan
DDI: 029 2082 9138
[email protected]
Qualified
1991
Education
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Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera
University of Wales Aberystwyth
Chester Law School
Neil joined Darwin Gray as a Partner in June 2014.
He started his legal career with Edwards Geldard Solicitors (now Geldards) as a
trainee between 1989 and 1991.In 1991 Neil joined Hugh James where he spent
the next 23 years and became an equity partner. At Hugh James he established
and headed the Property Litigation and Housing Management teams and the
Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and was also Head of the Social Housing team.
Neil is well known in both the real estate and social housing sectors. He has a
wealth of experience and expertise and is committed to providing a high quality,
professional and cost effective service to his clients. He is also highly regarded
for his training skills. He has been a regular chair and speaker at conferences
and has provided in- house and external training to clients and representative
bodies for over 20 years.
He is an experienced advocate and a trained mediator and has extensive
experience of ADR. Neil is a fluent welsh speaker and can deliver services in
both languages.
Neil has for many years been recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500
for his expertise in both property litigation and social housing. Chambers 2013
Neil Morgan
Darwin Gray
described Neil as being “massively knowledgeable” and that he “instills an aura
of calm determination”.
Chambers 2014 states that peers say he “knows his stuff” and “attracts client
praise for his breadth of knowledge, responsiveness and flexibility”
Areas of Expertise
All types of property disputes
Landlord & Tenant
Party Walls
Social Housing
Housing law
Training
Examples of work undertaken
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Neil has worked closely with social landlords for over 20 years and advised
on contentious and non-contentious matters. Examples included rent
arrears, service charges, anti-social behaviour, preparation of tenancy
agreements, policies and procedures, rent and service charge increases, gas
servicing, general advice on leases and tenancies, assistance in setting up
new teams such as anti-social behaviour/ private lettings and commercial
property disputes.
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Acted in the case of BDW Trading Ltd (trading as Barratt Homes) v Spooner &
others (2011 All ER (D) 171 Apr).Represented Barratt in defending a village
green application by local residents in Caerwent near Newport. The
application was successfully opposed in the High Court.
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Acted in the case of Johnsey Estates(1990) v Secretary of State for the
Environment Transport & Regions (2001 EWCA Civ. 535).Represented the
Secretary of State/Companies House and successfully defended a multi
million pounds dilapidations claim relating to a storage facility on the
Mamhilad Business Park in Pontypool.

Represented Cardiff City Council in its litigation with Western Power
Distribution relating to a proposed residential development of Llanishen
Reservoir. It involved Cardiff Council making an application under the
Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 to renew a business lease of a sailing school.
After contested litigation in the High Court a new lease was granted for the
sailing school.
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Acted for Cardiff Council and Blaenau Gwent CBC in defending hundreds of
disrepair claims from claims farmers. The advice was to robustly defend the
claims and only a small number of cases were successful.
Neil Morgan
Darwin Gray
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Advised the Welsh Rugby Union and Millennium Stadium Plc in relation to the
applicability of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 to the catering franchise at
the Millennium Stadium. Also acted in removing trespassers from the old
court buildings near the Millennium Stadium. The court proceedings was
concluded and the trespassers removed by the High Court Sherriff within 5
working days of instruction.
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Advised a Football League Club on restrictive covenants affecting a new
stadium development.
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Advised Welsh Ministers on several matters including trespass, adverse
possession, business tenancies, contractual disputes, CPO compensation
claims, subsidence and development disputes.
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Acted for North Wales Housing Association in defending trespass
proceedings relating to a housing development. A substantial damages claim
was successfully defeated in the High Court.
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Represented several home owners in a subsidence claim against a national
utility company and developer.
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Acted for a recycling company in a business lease renewal action against the
Ministry of Defence.
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Acted for a landlord in litigation relating to the forfeiture of a lease of a
chemical plant
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Acted as an independent expert in property related disputes.
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Represented commercial and individual clients in taking or defending
property disputes involving boundaries, adverse possession, applications
for rectification of registered titles, easements, misrepresentation, mistake,
restrictive covenants, party walls, mortgage disputes and repossessions,
trespass, rent arrears, forfeiture, service charges, nuisance, dilapidations.
Memberships
Property Litigation Society
Interests
Neil enjoys spending time with his family. He loves sport and in particular
football. He has been a keen supporter of Swansea City since an early age and
has been a season ticket holder for as long as he can remember. Neil is also a
football coach with Lisvane Panthers.
Neil Morgan
Darwin Gray

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