Chris Bryden#617

Chris Bryden

Chris was called to the Bar in 2003 and since that time has built a busy practice across a range of areas, with an emphasis on Chancery practice. He enjoys a well-deserved reputation for his knowledge and expertise in each area. He appears regularly in the County Court, Family Court and the High Court as well as various specialist Tribunals, and has been involved in cases up to and including the Supreme Court. He regularly is instructed at Appellate level. He has extensive and wide-ranging experience particularly in the areas of wills, probate and inheritance disputes; property including adverse possession, boundary disputes and issues arising out of trusts of land; company and commercial work and financial remedies. Chris is head of the Family Group and head of the Property Team at 4KBW.

Chris is the author of numerous articles in publications such as the New Law Journal, Counsel and Family Law, amongst many other titles, and is the co-author of Social Media in the Workplace: A Handbook (2015, Jordan Publishing).
Contributed to

1206

Will an easement constitute an overriding interest where there have been subsequent transfers of title?
Will an easement constitute an overriding interest where there have been subsequent transfers of title?
Q&A

This Q&A considers the status of an easement as an overriding interest when there has been succeeding transfers of title.

Will the RNRB be available where the occupier of the property had a lease for life?
Will the RNRB be available where the occupier of the property had a lease for life?
Q&A

This Q&A considers when the Residential Nil Rate Band (RNRB) be available where the occupier of the property had a lease for life.

Will using a landlord break clause in the last year of a commercial lease, have the same effect as
Will using a landlord break clause in the last year of a commercial lease, have the same effect as
Q&A

This Q&A considers the effect of a landlord break clause in the last year of a commercial lease.

With an assured shorthold tenancy governed by the rent standard, and which defines ‘Rent’ to include
With an assured shorthold tenancy governed by the rent standard, and which defines ‘Rent’ to include
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether service charge increases fall within the rent standard policy guidance for rent increases.

With reference to the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of information in cases of
With reference to the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of information in cases of
Q&A

This Q&A discusses the purpose of the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and linked criminal and care direction hearings.

With regards to housing disrepair matters, is the letter of authority/signed authority from the solicitor
With regards to housing disrepair matters, is the letter of authority/signed authority from the solicitor
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether a letter of authority/signed authority from a solicitor is required together with the letter of claim before the pre-action protocol is engaged in a housing disrepair matter.

Within divorce proceedings, a financial consent order was made including provision for child maintenance.
Within divorce proceedings, a financial consent order was made including provision for child maintenance.
Q&A

This Q&A considers the procedure for making a top-up maintenance order following a decree absolute.

Within financial proceedings on divorce, an order made provision for a charge on the family home to be
Within financial proceedings on divorce, an order made provision for a charge on the family home to be
Q&A

This Q&A considers the definition of secondary education in the context of the trigger events for a charge on a former matrimonial home.

Would a (prospective) claimant Part 36 offer made in pre-action correspondence be invalidated if the
Would a (prospective) claimant Part 36 offer made in pre-action correspondence be invalidated if the
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether what happens where a prospective claimant makes a Part 36 offer pre-action but then the prospective defendant issues the claim, such that the Part 36 offeror becomes the defendant in the issued proceedings.

Would a chlorine allergy be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010? Would a landlord’s duty
Would a chlorine allergy be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010? Would a landlord’s duty
Q&A

This Q&A considers reasonable adjustment duties of the landlord under EqA 2010 in relation to an allergy.

Would a grave deed be considered an asset for the purposes of financial remedy proceedings. If a spouse
Would a grave deed be considered an asset for the purposes of financial remedy proceedings. If a spouse
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether a grave deed would be considered an asset for the purposes of financial remedy proceedings and whether the family court would have jurisdiction to have that spouse’s name removed under the inherent jurisdiction, if the spouse is named on grave deed.

Would a registerable lease granted in 2021 to a charity registered as a Charitable Incorporate
Would a registerable lease granted in 2021 to a charity registered as a Charitable Incorporate
Q&A

This Q&A considers statements required in the grant of a lease to a charitable incorporated organisation.

Would a restrictive covenant requiring property to be used for 'private residential purposes' restrict it
Would a restrictive covenant requiring property to be used for 'private residential purposes' restrict it
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether a restrictive covenant requiring the property to be used for 'private residential purposes' would restrict it being used as a House in Multiple Occupation.

Would adding a subcontractor as a party/signatory to an agreement create privity of contract between the
Would adding a subcontractor as a party/signatory to an agreement create privity of contract between the
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether adding a subcontractor as a party to an agreement would create privity of contract between the subcontractor and the other parties to the agreement.

Would fixed recoverable costs (FRC) apply in a matter where an application is made for possession of a
Would fixed recoverable costs (FRC) apply in a matter where an application is made for possession of a
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether FRC would apply in a matter where an application is made for possession of a property for enforcement purposes, specifically an application for an order for sale pursuant to a Final Charging Order.

Would it be potentially fair for an employer to dismiss a care home employee if the reason for the
Would it be potentially fair for an employer to dismiss a care home employee if the reason for the
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether it would be potentially fair (eg as a dismissal for some other substantial reason) for an employer to dismiss a care home employee if the reason for the dismissal was because the employee refused to be vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19).

Would section 57(3) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 apply when there is a
Would section 57(3) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 apply when there is a
Q&A

This Q&A considers the application of section 57 of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

Would service charge not reserved as rent count as rent for enlargement purposes? And does a premium
Would service charge not reserved as rent count as rent for enlargement purposes? And does a premium
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether a service charge that is not reserved as rent would count as rent for enlargement purposes and whether a premium constitutes rent and prevents a term from being enlarged.

Would the execution of mirror Wills by a married couple, which each contain a nil rate band discretionary
Would the execution of mirror Wills by a married couple, which each contain a nil rate band discretionary
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether mirror Wills could constitute a common intention to sever a joint tenancy of land.

Would the granting of three separate licences to occupy to three individuals (unrelated) breach a
Would the granting of three separate licences to occupy to three individuals (unrelated) breach a
Q&A

This Q&A considers whether the granting of three separate licences to occupy to three individuals (unrelated) would breach a covenant requiring a property to be ‘a private dwelling house’.

Practice Areas

Panels

  • Contributing Author
  • Q&A Panel

Qualified Year

  • 2003

Experience

  • 2 Gray’s Inn Square (2005 - 2009)

Membership

  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Property Bar Association
  • Society of Construction Lawyers
  • Public Access Bar Association (Vice-Chairman and Treasurer)
  • Visiting Fellow, University of Bedfordshire (2011 - )
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

Qualifications

  • MA (Oxon) (2002)
  • LLM (2004)

Education

  • Magdalen College, University of Oxford (1999-2002)
  • BPP Law School (2002-2003)
  • University College London (2003-2004)

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