Shams Rahman

Practice Areas

Property & Trusts Litigation

Career

Shams joined Edwin Coe in September 2014, having previously worked at other leading London firms following qualification as a solicitor in 2000.

Shams is recognised for his expertise in litigation tactics and strategy, his pro-active approach and using excellent communication skills to resolve tricky cases. He always focuses on the wider picture and the long term goals of clients. He is particularly valued for his nerve in difficult negotiations and for understanding the commercial and business needs and objectives of his clients.

Shams is an accomplished team leader and has successfully led major cases through to mediation, trial and appeal. He is experienced in using alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation where appropriate to achieve the best results for his clients.

Shams has expertise in all aspects of property litigation, including both commercial and residential and landlord and tenant. He is also a specialist in trusts litigation and dispute resolution, working as the trusted advisor to both private clients and trust companies on complex matters.

Given his international background (he is dual qualified in Pakistan and member of the UK Pakistan Chamber of Commerce to whom he has presented webinars), Shams is well placed in acting for commercial and high-net-worth private clients worldwide.

Work Highlights

Acting for the trustees of a mosque who own a 23-acre site (with significant planning potential) adjoining the Olympic Stadium in a dispute with a rival group who claim it is held on trust for them;

Successfully acting for a joint venture party in an arbitration which held both that land could not be sold without our client’s permission and that, were the land to be sold, £5m rather than £23m should be deducted from the sale price before division amongst the JV parties;

Acting for the defendants in Morina & Ors v Scherbakova & Ors, being English High Court proceedings concerning a substantial probate claim and a claim as to the ownership of the shares in a BVI company, parallel international succession dispute litigating in Belgium;

Successfully represented the vendors of a large country estate in retrieving their sentimental family owned items and other family belongings from the property post completion, issues of alleged abandonment and title to goods;

Representing a well known London club on the lease renewal of its premises, including issues of alleged forfeiture, disrepair, occupation and Covid related rent arrears under arbitration.

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)

Represented the Government of France in opposing the neighbour’s proposed basement excavation at the ambassador’s residence in Kensington, both in court action and planning applications

Acted for Connie Investments Limited in its successful defence of claims brought by Avni Kensington Hotel whereby Connie was able to implement historic rent reviews of its hotel premises and recover possession as Avni’s claim for security of tenure failed

Represented developers in successfully implementing joint venture agreements with partner businesses

Acted for a developer client in successfully resisting claims of adverse possession over valuable development land brought by multiple parties and subsequently obtaining possession at court and unlocking a substantial sale

Dealing with multi-million pound dilapidations claims brought in respect of industrial warehousing sites

Represented a developer in its dispute with a client contractor on its 5 star hotel project

Acting for family members in a substantial international probate claim concerning domicile and involving multiple jurisdictions

Invoking prescriptive rights over valuable investment premises

Possession proceedings in relation to high-value properties including esoteric tenant’s rights;

The successful defence to a claim brought against developers by contractors in respect of a development project

Advising lessees in a high-value residential long lease dispute with related company law advice on directors and shareholders’ rights and matters of corporate governance

Trust related litigation including alleged breaches of statutory duties

Private client based litigation including acting for estates to resolve property disputes and substantial Inheritance Act claims involving international assets

Represented a private landlord in substantial disputes with local authorities concerning alleged prohibition/improvement in breach of statutory notices

Complex international arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules

An unfair prejudice petition leading to trial on issues surrounding settlement offers and related procedural rules

Advising in relation to complex tax litigation and applications for disclosure under the Finance Act

Money laundering related and general property claims involving commercial and residential landlord and tenant disputes

Successfully defending a health and safety prosecution concerning retail premises