Andrew is a dual-qualified senior solicitor and chartered surveyor. He is also a qualified arbitrator and an experienced mediator. He has particular expertise dealing with property management issues and disputes. His clients include major corporate occupiers/tenants with large portfolios as well as institutional investors/landlords and private owners. Andrew acts for many well-known companies such as leading estate agents and surveyors.
Andrew is an expert in his field and has always been able to offer understandable, patient and well-informed advice across a wide range of legal matters in relation to our property portfolio of leasehold shops and offices we occupy together with a wide range of litigation issues. Andrew understands property like no other lawyer we have engaged externally and he is always willing and able to help, offering informed expert advice and help.
David Newnes
Managing Director your-move 2005/10, LSL Property Services plc Executive Director 2010/2014
Expertise
Commercial property management/disputes
- Lease exit, tactics, notices and dilapidations claims
- Lease renewal claims, both opposed and non-opposed, and compensation issues
- Tactics, validity and service of break notices
- Tenant insolvency
- Unlawful assignment/sharing possession
- Withholding/obtaining consent
- Rent review
- Service charge disputes
- Actions for breaches of covenant
- Forfeiture claims
Residential property disputes
- Obtaining possession/short tenancies
- Nuisance claims
- Boundary disputes
- Statutory lease extensions
- Collective acquisition of freehold
- Tenant’s rights of first refusal
- Service charge disputes
- Rights of light
Other areas
- Planning appeals and judicial review
- Adverse possession actions
- Rights of way and other easements
- Modification of restrictive covenants
- Compulsory purchase issues
Valuers and Estate Agency
- Estate agency matters including commission and regulatory
- Professional negligence claims against property professionals (valuation) and solicitors, consultants/other professionals
Arbitration
- Acted for a major UK hotel owner and investor. Major dispute involving franchise agreements and performance of large (1,000-bedroom) central London hotels. Dealing with substantial loss of profits claim. LCIA arbitration. High value and complexity including hotel and accounting experts. Multimillion-pound value. Central London location.
- Acted for long-established leading UK national farming operators/owners with multiple regional holdings. Major dispute relating to the termination of tenancies and permitted agricultural uses. Arbitrations under RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and ALA (Agricultural law association). Multimillion-pound value. South East location.
- Acted on a major dispute concerning the production of documents in central London rent review arbitrations including major central London landlords withholding information concerning rents. Applications under the Arbitration Act and to court.
- Acted for a major UK PLC in an arbitration concerning the landlord’s ability to trigger a substantial rent increase backdated following the pick-up in the market. Arbitrator appointed by the President of the RICS.
- Acted for a consortium of major land owners regarding a series of high-value complex arbitrations with valuation issues determined by an arbitrator appointed under the development agreements by the President of the RICS.
Experience
Commercial Property
- Acted for many of the UK’s largest estate agencies and surveyors including your-move, Reeds Rains, Marsh & Parsons, Lauristons and e.surv. Regularly instructed regarding lease renewals and property management matters on a national basis. Recently acted in relation to a particularly high-value major call centre/office site, commercially important to the client in respect of nuisance caused by the demolition of the adjoining shopping centre and issues arising.
- Acted for a commercial developer in a judicial review challenge to actions of Basingstoke to promote hotel use (2017).
- Acted for Blackhawk Automotive (part of Snap-on Tools) in a leading commercial property dilapidations case regarding replacement of asbestos roof sheets (Riverside Investments v Blackhawk Automotive [December 2005] 01 EG 94 (CS)).
- Advised Cola Holdings, a major Hotel Group, concerning the acquisition of the 600+ bedroom Hilton Hotel in Kensington including advice relating to a major claim and appeal concerning alleged disrepair and the availability of specific performance. The matter included a High Court claim and multiple appeals requiring the tenant to carry out more than £100m improvement works.
- Represented Cola Holdings (an interested party) in a major claim and appeal concerning alleged disrepair and the availability of specific performance requiring the tenant to carry out £100m improvement works and the secondary issue of challenge in respect of the appointment and powers of an administrator (Zinc Cobham 1 Ltd v Adda Hotels [2018] EWHC 1025 (Ch)).
- Represented Kensington Close Hotel in an important High Court and Court of Appeal case concerning disputed rights of access between two major London Hotels (London Tara Hotel v Kensington Close Hotel [2011] EWCA Civ 1356).
- Advised concerning aspects of nuisance, derogation from grant of the leases, lease renewal rights and strategy, and dilapidations and remedies including injunction, exit strategy, notices and other matters. A long track record of continuous service for this major plc client.
- Advised GMS Estates Limited for many years, a longstanding property development and investment company with portfolios in London and nationally. Advised concerning various parts of the portfolio including Queensway involving a master plan to redesign and develop a prime new shopping area described by the Evening Standard as “a quarter of a mile strip that does a better job for international relations than any United Nations convention”.
- Advised Lewisham Investment Partnership on alleged valuation negligence, rent review law and valuation techniques (Lewisham Investment Partnership Limited v Morgan [1997] PLSCS292).
- Represented Save and Prosper in the alleged conflict of interest and the removal of a rent review arbitrator (Save & Prosper v Homebase Limited [2000]).
- Represented Kingswood Warren Management Company in a judicial review challenge concerning whether a Section 106 planning condition could be varied (R (on the application of Symphony Limited) v Reigate and Banstead Borough Council 17 December 2015 unreported).
Residential Property
- Provided key advice in respect of landlord and tenant and other property issues to SAGA plc, a major UK corporate occupier with a significant group of associated companies such as matters arising from SAGA’s recent acquisition of Destinology Limited and Bennetts Insurance Services Limited and other advice, consents, notices and disputes. Recently dealt with repair/dilapidations/lease exit issues in connection with SAGA’s disaster recovery premises in Kent.
- Acted for Sloane Properties on a matter concerning disputed residential service charges relating to major expenditure covering more than one service charge year dealt with by the Lands Tribunal (Barrington v Sloane Properties [2007] 40EG 268).
- Represented Hundalani in respect of service charge dispute and alleged interference with a right of way (Crane Road Properties LLP v Hundalani [2006] EWHC 2066 (Ch) [2006] PLSCS 191).
Professional Discipline & Regulatory
- Acted in proceedings to remove an RICS appointed Arbitrator due to a conflict of interest
- Challenging a valuer’s/surveyor’s arbitration award or expert’s determination
- Acting for and against surveyors/valuers regarding alleged valuation negligence
- Acting for and against surveyors/valuers concerning terms of business and fee entitlement
- Acting for and against surveyors/valuers concerning complaints handling including through the RICS procedures
- Acting for surveyors/valuers concerning health and safely property management prosecutions/investigations
- Acting for surveyors/valuers concerning prosecutions and investigations relating to property letting/management and estate agency including licensing
- Acting for and against surveyors concerning disputes relating to construction advice, reports, or costings
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers UK for Real Estate Litigation (2019-2025)
“He really gets his teeth into a case and leaves no stone unturned.”–Chambers UK 2025
“Andrew is a very knowledgeable lawyer.”–Chambers UK 2025
Noted by Chambers 2025 for his skills as a litigator and arbitrator. He acts for clients including real estate agencies, hotels and investors on a range of property disputes, particularly those concerning issues related to surveying or valuation.
Recognised by Best Lawyers (UK) 2020 – 2025 in the area of Litigation
Recognised in Chambers UK for Real Estate Litigation (2019-2024)
“Andrew leaves no stone unturned in trying to get the best results for a client; he is tireless in his endeavour to win a case and get the best settlement. He thinks outside the box and considers all angles.” Chambers UK 2024
“He is very thorough and knowledgeable.” Chambers UK 2024
Recognised by The Legal 500 (2022-2025) for Real Estate: Property Litigation
“Andrew Tugwell is outstanding – he will leave no stone unturned to get the best result for his client.” The Legal 500 2025
“Keystone Law is a large practice benefitting from lawyers with different disciplines and skills available. The firm is progressive and innovative in terms of legal updates, but the main reason is property litigation expertise and Andrew Tugwell in particular.” The Legal 500 2025
“Andrew Tugwell is calm and experienced. He is able to cut through complicated issues quickly. He is dually qualified as a solicitor and chartered surveyor, which means he has excellent knowledge and a pragmatic approach.” The Legal 500 2024
“Andrew is always ready to go the extra mile for his client, has a full command of property litigation matters, and thinks about the commercial implications of any settlement.” Chambers UK 2023
“I have always benefited from the excellent advice given by Andrew Tugwell.” Chambers UK 2023
“Andrew Tugwell is not only is he very experienced but he is also a chartered surveyor and I find this makes his advice stand out.” The Legal 500 2023
“Andrew Tugwell is the individual that stands out. He has very long track record and an ability to understand and find commercial solutions because of his dual qualification.” The Legal 500 2023
“Andrew has an ability to advise on complex property matters in a way that is understandable and very helpful. He is able to see a path through difficult situations that others have not and create a sensible plan for resolution.” Chambers UK 2022
“His client service is exceptional and he is tireless in his pursuit of a good result for his client.” Chambers UK 2022
Recognised by The Legal 500 2022 for Commercial Property: Corporate Occupiers
“I have worked with Andrew Tugwell and found him to be a very capable lawyer dedicated to getting the best for his clients.” The Legal 500 2022
“He is always available and offers good, balanced and well-considered advice and opinions.” Chambers UK 2021
“He is very knowledgeable and is able to deal with complex matters with ease.” Chambers UK 2021
Market sources say Andrew Tugwell is “responsive, reactive and incredibly knowledgeable,” and note that he is “always able to see the bigger commercial picture and objectives.” He has considerable expertise in challenging property disputes, with clients benefiting from his dual qualification as a chartered surveyor. Chambers UK 2020
Andrew Tugwell of Keystone Law is a dual-qualified chartered surveyor and is particularly noted for his handling of complex valuation cases and estate agent issues. Chambers UK 2019
Recognised by the Legal 500 2018
“Well-regarded for his work on complex valuation cases and estate agent issues. Tugwell is singled out as a ‘great solicitor’ and has been advising estate agencies such as you-move.co.uk and parent company LSL Property Services on matters including lease renewals, nuisance, dilapidations and injunction proceedings.” Legal 500 2018
Chambers Legal Directory Leading Lawyer 2002–2018
Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer
Fellow, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
CEDR and ADR Net accredited Mediator
Member, Property Litigation Association
Professional articles – Estates Gazette etc
“Andrew Tugwell … is ‘extremely thorough and will leave no stone unturned’, say sources. He is dual-qualified as a surveyor and solicitor, allowing him an exceptional perspective on all property matters. He acted for Kensington Close Hotel on its high-profile rights of access dispute with London Tara Hotel.” Chambers and Partners UK 2013
“Recognised for his expertise in complex valuation cases. He is also a qualified chartered surveyor, and this experience receives particular praise from the market. ‘His advice is always sound and is based not only on his legal knowledge but also from his surveying background’”. Chambers and Partners UK 2018
“‘an expert in his field’ specialises in valuation issues arising from leasehold enfranchisement disputes” Legal 500 UK 2014
“‘Impressive talent’ ‘commercial and thoroughly skillful’ highly regarded for his expertise in valuation cases and matters involving estate agents” Legal 500 UK 2018
Career
Andrew qualified as a solicitor in 1997. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
- Payne Hicks Beach
- Osborne Clarke
- CMS