Jonathan currently stands top of the pile in terms of KCs for heavy and important property litigation and property-related professional negligence work. In 2023, Legal 500 says that Jonathan’s “advocacy skills and powers of persuasion are second to none … controlling the courtroom” and that he is “very user-friendly, a creative strategist and a superb advocate. Always impresses clients”. Another edition said that “his analysis is razor sharp” and “he is very bright and highly commercial”.
In 2022, Jonathan was awarded Chambers & Partners’ Real Estate Silk of the Year, for the fourth time (a record), along with The Legal 500’s Award for Real Estate, Environment and Planning Silk of the Year. In 2023, Jonathan won Chambers & Partners’ Professional Negligence Silk of the Year. Jonathan has accomplished these plaudits with a simple approach: his enormous success and enduring popularity has been achieved by immensely hard work, deep attention to detail, speed and decisiveness.
Jonathan is presently involved in many of the leading cases in property litigation and property-related professional negligence and is widely respected and admired for bringing to every matter, irrespective of how complex, clarity, commitment and care. Jonathan is strongly of the view that technical excellence in legal matters can be found quite easily: what makes the difference in terms of a successful lawyer are abilities on top of those – the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with clients and in particular to reflect their commercial objectives; the ability to think strategically about how to counter the move that the enemy is going to make next (even if it hasn’t yet thought of it itself); and ultimately, the ability to persuade the court to do something that it wouldn’t otherwise do.
Jonathan has been Deputy Head of Chambers at Wilberforce since 2016.
Property
Jonathan was named Chambers & Partners’ Real Estate Silk of the Year in 2022, 2015, 2010 and 2007.
Jonathan is also the author of several books: ‘Claims against solicitors and valuers’, ‘Commercial Dispute Resolution’ and the bestselling ‘Leases: Covenants and consents’.
Jonathan has been involved in over 100 reported cases and many hundreds more either unreported or confidential. In essence, anything with even a tangential property angle, is ‘meat and drink’ for Jonathan.
Here’s a sample of Jonathan’s reported cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and above over the past few years:
The Picasso of property litigation.
Jonathan is the go-to for complex real estate litigation matters. He is innovative and if anyone can get you out of a tricky situation, he can.
He has many strengths, but his ability to instantly develop rapport with clients and establish confidence and trust stands out.
A legend in the area of property disputes, the way Jonathan’s mind works in order to find angles supporting a legal argument is truly fantastic.
Jonathan is a god amongst counsel. A brilliant mind, fabulous with clients and a real pleasure to work with.
Recent Cases
Property
Jonathan Seitler KC | Benjamin Faulkner
Tuesday 10 September 2024
News
Wilberforce Chambers is pleased to share that we have been nominated in multiple categories at Legal 500’s 2024 Bar Awards. Wilberforce Chambers has been nominated for ‘Set of the Year’ for the third year in a row as well as ‘Chancery... Read more
Wednesday 10 July 2024
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External Conferences
Friday 22nd March 2024
Keble College, Oxford
Speakers:
Jonathan Seitler KC
Events / Webinars
Thursday 7th March 2024 | 3pm - 5.55pm, followed by drinks
The Grand Hotel, Birmingham
Free to attend | 2.0 CPD
View moreProfessional liability
Jonathan’s particular specialty is property-related professional negligence.
His practice therefore largely involves claims against solicitors and valuers. He has acted consistently both for Claimants and for Defendants and has enjoyed success in relation to both. In 2023, he was awarded Chambers & Partners’ Professional Negligence Silk of the Year.
Many professional negligence cases in which Jonathan has been involved have been high-profile and for that and other reasons, most have settled without the necessity for trial.
Invariably, these settlements have involved highly satisfactory outcomes for Jonathan’s clients. His reported cases are, therefore, merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of the work he has been carrying out in this field.
Reported cases include:
Jonathan is a leading barrister in the area of professional negligence and has a razor-sharp focus on the issues that matter in a case.
Jonathan continues to provide excellent and innovative advice.
Jonathan is a brilliant advocate with a real creative flair. He finds a way out of even the trickiest of corners and frequently breaks new ground with his arguments.
Jonathan is a client-friendly leader in his field. He is entirely reliable in the advice that he gives.
He is a very strong advocate and has a real ability to put the client at ease in complicated matters.
News
Wilberforce Chambers is pleased to share that we have been nominated in multiple categories at Legal 500’s 2024 Bar Awards. Wilberforce Chambers has been nominated for ‘Set of the Year’ for the third year in a row as well as ‘Chancery... Read more
Wednesday 10 July 2024
View moreExternal Conferences
Friday 22nd March 2024
Keble College, Oxford
Speakers:
Jonathan Seitler KC
News
We are absolutely delighted to have picked up four awards at last night’s Chambers UK Bar Awards! We are proud to announce that Wilberforce Chambers won the highly coveted ‘Set of the Year‘ award, as well as ‘Chancery Set of... Read more
Friday 1 December 2023
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News
We are delighted to announce that Wilberforce has been shortlisted in five different categories at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2023. Chancery Set Real Estate Set Chancery Silk – Tim Penny KC Professional Negligence Silk – Jonathan Seitler KC Real... Read more
Monday 11 September 2023
View moreDomestic arbitration
Jonathan has over 20 years’ experience in acting as an arbitrator or as expert in an expert determination, having started this aspect of his practice in the mid-1990’s. His Awards and Determinations have covered all areas connected with property litigation and related professional negligence, including:
Jonathan’s manner is perfectly suited to winning the confidence of clients on both sides of a dispute and then resolving it in a way which is not just in accordance with the law and procedure and not just swift and economical, but is also in a manner which allows even the unsuccessful party to be assured that it has had a fair hearing and a proper disposal of its argument. This ensures that whilst the party in the right prevails, commercial relationships are not ruined going forward.
Jonathan’s track record as an arbitrator and Expert is such that the market continues to provide him with a steady flow of this type of work. This is the strongest testament to his success in the field.
Jonathan continues to provide excellent and innovative advice.
Jonathan is a brilliant advocate with a real creative flair. He finds a way out of even the trickiest of corners and frequently breaks new ground with his arguments.
Jonathan is a client-friendly leader in his field. He is entirely reliable in the advice that he gives.
He is a very strong advocate and has a real ability to put the client at ease in complicated matters.
Jonathan is very calm and intelligent. He makes sure clients are happy and is quick to clarify why there is a strategy; he doesn't leave them in the dark.
News
We are absolutely delighted to have picked up four awards at last night’s Chambers UK Bar Awards! We are proud to announce that Wilberforce Chambers won the highly coveted ‘Set of the Year‘ award, as well as ‘Chancery Set of... Read more
Friday 1 December 2023
View moreMediation
Jonathan has been a qualified mediator for 15 years over which time he has carried out hundreds of mediations. His style is firm but friendly and his skill is in not having the wool pulled over his eyes yet using the clear vision this provides to maximum effect (which usually means not making a big deal about it). His success rate in mediations is very high and he is particularly chuffed that such success is often achieved without having to continue the mediation beyond normal office hours. Jonathan also appeared for the successful party in the Court of Appeal in PGF v OMFS [2013] EWCA Civ 1288, the case which laid down the principles for the punishment of parties who ignore invitations to mediate.
Jonathan carries out mediations across all aspects of civil litigation and particularly enjoys cases with a property or related professional negligence angle.
Jonathan is also available to offer early neutral evaluations.
Jonathan is a brilliant advocate with a real creative flair. He finds a way out of even the trickiest of corners and frequently breaks new ground with his arguments.
Jonathan is an incredibly creative barrister who is user-friendly.
Jonathan continues to provide excellent and innovative advice.
He has many strengths, but his ability to instantly develop rapport with clients and establish confidence and trust stands out.
Jonathan is able to look at matters from a new perspective and different angles.
News
We are absolutely delighted to have picked up four awards at last night’s Chambers UK Bar Awards! We are proud to announce that Wilberforce Chambers won the highly coveted ‘Set of the Year‘ award, as well as ‘Chancery Set of... Read more
Friday 1 December 2023
View moreRegistered name: Mr Jonathan Simon Seitler KC
VAT number: 466298406
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