Mark Galtrey

Barrister

+44 (0)20 7306 0102 mgaltrey@wilberforce.co.uk

Call: 2015

Practice overview

Mark Galtrey specialises in real estate litigation, and is consistently ranked in that field by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. He has particular expertise in agricultural and commercial landlord & tenant disputes, partnership matters, and arbitration. His scientific and accounting background gives him an advantage in matters involving complex financial and valuation issues, including in the insolvency context.

Mark is consistently successful in complex and high value trials in the High Court and County Court, and regularly appears both led and unled in the Court of Appeal.

Mark’s recent cases have related to the following areas:

Commercial landlord and tenant, including opposed and unopposed renewals, dilapidations, breach of covenant, and forfeiture
Agriculture, including AHA tenancies and proprietary estoppel
Partnership disputes, in agriculture, development and healthcare
Arbitration, including challenging of awards and removal of arbitrators
Mortgages and receivership, including injunctions to restrain sale
Residential landlord and tenant, including enfranchisement service charges, fire safety, and nuisance
Easements, including rights of way and rights of light
Restrictive covenants, both leasehold and freehold
Land registration, including adverse possession and boundary disputes
Business rates, including the effect of Covid-19 regulations

Mark's expertise

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Property

Mark’s recent notable cases:

Osler v Osler [2024] 4 WLR 44: Acting unled in a significant Court of Appeal decision on the test and procedure for appealing arbitration awards on points of law.
Safdar v GR Property Management [2021] 1 WLR 908: Acting unled in a second appeal in the Court of Appeal on a point of general public importance concerning joint enfranchisement applications.
Alma Property Management Ltd v Crompton [2024] 1 P&CR DG19: Acting in the Court of Appeal in a complex dispute about the powers and duties of LPA receivers.
TFS Stores Ltd v Designer Retail [2021] L&TR 30 and [2020] 4 WLR 99: Led by Joanne Wicks KC in the Court of Appeal in two important decisions, on the proper process for contracting out of the LTA 1954, and the proper procedure for counterclaims between landlords and tenants.
Rued v Dormer: Acting as sole counsel in High Court litigation to resolve a multimillion-pound partnership dispute over a house-building business spanning more than 20 years, including a five-day trial and a three-day account.
Pile v Pile: Acting as sole counsel in a complex dispute arising out of the break-up of a family farming partnership. At a five-day High Court trial, successfully rebutted serious allegations of harassment, and succeeded on a novel point on the effect of Part 36 offers relating to claims that continue to accrue.
Limbrick v Limbrick: A dispute between father and son over a valuable Cotswolds farm. Successful at all four High Court hearings (appearing unled against specialist silks) including resisting the removal of an arbitrator for actual bias, and at arbitration, including defeating the proprietary estoppel claim.
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v Medley Assets: Acting as sole counsel in a three-day trial, succeeded in novel arguments about the proper test for the extent of the tenant’s holding under the LTA 1954, and in cross-examination that led to the landlord’s factual and expert evidence being rejected as unreliable.

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Mark is technically excellent but also provides a hands-on service for solicitors and clients. His oral and written advice is concise and clear, and he is a pleasure to work with.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Mark is highly intelligent and very able at cutting through the chaff to focus on the key points.
Legal 500 2025
Mark is a pleasure to work with and is a go-to junior for property disputes.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Mark is very bright and proactive, with an ability to think on his feet and find practical solutions.
Chambers & Partners 2025
A brilliant property litigator
Legal 500

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News
Leading Property Barrister Joins Wilberforce
Wilberforce Chambers is delighted to announce that Mark Galtrey has joined Chambers from 4th March 2025. Mark is a specialist property barrister with an outstanding reputation in real estate litigation, agriculture, and partnership disputes. Brian Green KC (Head of Chambers) said, “We are... Read more
Tuesday 4 March 2025
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Mark's Details

BSB/VAT information

Registered name: Mr Mark John Galtrey
VAT number: —

Education

BPTC (Outstanding) at City, University of London (2014-15)

Awarded Lord Mansfield Scholarship and Buchanan Prize by Lincoln’s Inn.
Winner of Senior Moot Competition (open to all City GDL and BPTC students).

GDL at City, University of London (2013-14)

Awarded Lord Brougham Scholarship by Lincoln’s Inn.

Chartered Management Accountant (studied while working 2010-12)

Placed in top ten candidates globally in final examinations.

PhD at Department of Materials Science, University of Cambridge (2004-08)

Overturned established consensus on the luminescence of gallium nitride LEDs.
Publications cited over 850 times in peer-reviewed journals.

BA and MSci (First class), Natural Sciences, University of Cambridge (2000-04)

BA ranked first in year, Armourers and Brasiers Prize.
MSci ranked second in year, Armourers and Brasiers Prize and Medal.

Previous employment

Civil Service, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (2008-13)

Personally selected by Permanent Secretary to be his Private Secretary: wrote speeches; prepared officials for four Public Accounts Committee hearings; planned for and oversaw the practical implications of transition to coalition government.
Range of finance roles: acted as Finance Director for public body with 3600 staff and £1Bn annual budget; worked on complex valuation of the £36Bn student loan portfolio.

Clerk details