Rhodri has over 25 years of experience as a solicitor and is the head of our highly regarded dispute resolution team. A lawyer with a wealth of knowledge across a broad range of commercial, property and probate cases, Rhodri has acted on disputes in specialist Tribunals, County and High Courts all the way up to successful claims in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Rhodri’s particular specialism is advising on commercial and business issues, ranging from claims for breach of contract to business ownership and shareholder disputes.
He has experience of emergency injunctions as well as resolving disputes through the courts, arbitration, mediation and negotiation.
Rhodri also has extensive experience in dealing with property related disputes ranging from rights over land to landlord and tenant and lease disputes. Previous clients include some of the UK’s largest housebuilders and property management companies as well as public and private companies, developers and individuals. He has also acted for landlords and tenants in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal and Residential Property Tribunal (Wales) in collective freehold purchase and service charge cases.
Alongside his commercial and property work, Rhodri has developed a strong reputation as a contentious probate lawyer. He is an associate member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists and having completed the ACTAPS diploma in 2018 – the leading qualification in the field – he is regularly instructed by beneficiaries and executors to advise on disputes relating to contested wills, trusts and estates.
Rhodri has been praised by the Legal 500 – the industry’s guide to the best firms and lawyers – for his ‘excellent advice’ and ‘additional expertise in contentious probate proceedings’, and clients have commended his “commercial common sense” and ability to cut through the key issues.
Acting for a shareholder in a recruitment company in a claim for unfair prejudice of (section 996 Companies Act 2006), settled at £600,000
Advising on exit of shareholder from a legal practice, avoiding any litigation for the company
Enforcing a legal charge over a property to secure historic business debts
Negotiating significant settlement for widow who was disinherited by husband suffering with dementia when he made his last will.
Professional negligence claim against solicitor for failing to include necessary rights when purchasing development land
Resolving a joint ownership dispute over a farm following death of the life tenant
Successful recovery of high-value deferred consideration under two separate share purchase agreements following the sales of care homes
Successful recovery of significant damages for breach of contract after a manufacturer wrongly terminated a multi-million-pound contract with its haulier
Successful resolution at mediation of an equitable claim over beneficial ownership of a property based on proprietary estoppel
Successfully defending allegations of misrepresentation after sale of a valuable residential property
Contract, business ownership and shareholder disputes
Professional Negligence Claims against Solicitors, Architects and Accountants
Land, boundary and property Disputes, including disputes relating to joint ownership of property
Probate Disputes and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975
Right to Manage and Collective Enfranchisement claims
Service charge disputes
Disputes relating to commercial leases, including dilapidations and lease renewal.
Experience
Partner, Darwin Gray – 2003 – present
In-house solicitor, the Peacock Group – 2002 – 2003
Solicitor, Morgan Cole – 2001 – 2002
Solicitor, Palser Grossman – 1997 – 2001
Trainee solicitor, Eversheds – 1995 – 1997
Education
Liverpool College
University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, Cardiff. BSc (Hons) in Economics
Glamorgan University Common Professional Examination in Law
Cardiff University Legal Practice Course
Associate Member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists