About
Chris primarily accepts instructions in Chambers’ core areas of property and private client work. He has a busy drafting and advisory practice and appears regularly in the County Court, as well as increasingly in the High Court and First Tier Tribunal. A consummate team player, Chris has appellate and first instance experience as junior counsel. He is currently instructed on a long-running public inquiry.
Before coming to the Bar, Chris spent 12 years as an officer in the British Army. He is focused, responsive and has an eye for commercial and pragmatic solutions.
Chris speaks Russian, Farsi and German and particularly welcomes instructions with an international flavour. Chris is also qualified to accept instructions under the Direct Public Access Scheme.
ADR
Chris’ broader experience has taught him the benefit of ADR. His recent experience includes successful mediations of probate and ToLATA disputes.
Commercial
Chris accepts instructions in general commercial litigation.
Landlord & Tenant
Chris is frequently instructed in landlord & tenant matters at the advisory and litigation stages, in residential, commercial and agricultural contexts. He regularly appears in the County Court in possession proceedings, as well as in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber).
Recent highlights include (as junior to Clifford Darton QC) achieving a settlement in a disrepair matter where there were issues of apportionment between successive landlords.
Real Property
Chris’ practice regularly involves acting and advising on a variety of property litigation matters including claims concerning trusts of land, riparian rights, and easement and boundary disputes. He is starting to develop a specialist property damage practice with an emphasis on flood damage.
He also accepts instructions in property-related matters, such as alleged negligence by surveyors.
Trusts, Probate & Estates
Chris welcomes instructions relating to all aspects of trust and estate disputes. He recently successfully defended an application to remove a trustee. He also has experience advising on the validity of wills and acting in claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975, particularly where these involve claims by adult children.
Education
MA, Modern Languages, University of Oxford
BPTC, Outstanding, University of Law
Cholmeley Pupillage Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
Lord Denning BPTC Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
Hardwicke Award, Lincoln’s Inn
President’s BPTC Scholarship, University of Law
Professional Memberships
- Property Bar Association
- Chancery Bar Association
- The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
BSB & VAT Information
Registered Name: Mr Christopher Edward David Burrows
VAT Number: 306 307 631
