Mark Galtrey

Mark Galtrey has a busy County Court and High Court practice across all areas of landlord and tenant and real property law. His scientific and accounting background gives him a particular expertise in matters involving complex financial and valuation issues. 

• Education

  Before coming to the Bar, Mark obtained a first class degree in Natural Sciences from Selwyn College Cambridge, being placed top in the University in the Part II examinations. He went on to complete a PhD in the quantum physics of LEDs before joining the UK Civil Service in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. While there, he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant, twice being placed in the top ten globally in examinations. In the Civil Service, Mark was responsible for valuing complex financial assets, and acted as lead financial negotiator with HM Treasury. He completed his GDL and BPTC at City Law School, being graded Outstanding and winning the prestigious Senior Moot competition. 

  Away from work, Mark is a semi-professional cellist and orchestral conductor. 

• Professional

  Mark was called to the Bar in 2015 by Lincoln’s Inn, who awarded him the Lord Mansfield Scholarship, the Lord Brougham Scholarship, the Hardwicke Scholarship, and the Buchanan Prize.

  Mark is a member of the Chancery Bar Association and the Property Bar Association. 

• Recent Cases
  • TFS Stores v Designer Retail Outlet Centres (Mansfield) General Partner (2019): Statutory declarations purportedly agreeing to contract a business tenancy out of the protections afforded by Part ll of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 has been validly made. 
  • Nationwide Building Society v Stevens (2018): Obtained an urgent without notice injunction in the High Court.
  • TST Millbank v Resolution Real Estate (2018): Appearing alone in the High Court against leading Counsel, successfully resisted an application for security for costs.
  • Shih v He (2017): Obtained outright possession of commercial premises on a forfeiture action following a full trial, including resisting an application for relief from forfeiture.
  • Clare v Bank of Scotland (2017): At two separate trials, successfully defended a bank from allegations of fraud and harassment, leading to an award of indemnity costs.
  • Holden v Richards (2017): Obtained outright possession of agricultural land following three hearings and a trial raising issues of will construction, mental capacity, and option agreements.
  • Najafzadeh v Havenwoods Investments (2017): Obtained a final injunction and indemnity costs against an overseas company landlord in relation to a large block of residential flats.
  • Lynn Shellfish v Loose [2016] UKSC 14: As a pupil, assisted Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC in this landmark case, now the definitive statement of the law of prescription.
• Publications

  Communicating with the other side S.J. 2017, 161(32), 27, cited with approval in the latest edition of Hague on Leasehold Enfranchisement.

  Illusory security: the perils of tenant insolvency L. & T. Review 2016, 20(6), 215-219.