Top Six Property Lawyers

David Cooper’s reputation as the ‘king of planning’ was cemented in December 2018 in a landmark Supreme Court case (Franses v The Cavendish Hotel), which reduced landlords’ ability to use redevelopment proposals to oppose lease renewals. ‘The distinctive “old-fashioned” character of St James’s looks to be assured,’ mused Spear’s editor-at-large William Cash of the decision.

Landmark rulings aside, it’s been ‘much the same’ for Cooper, who established his firm in 1993 and counts several billionaires as clients. He has links with major London estates such as the Crown and Grosvenor and is passionate about saving the ‘artistic soul’ of St James’s.