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Restrictive Covenants & Freehold Land: Understanding the risks without fear
Date: Thursday 28th January 2027
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Speaker: Andrew Francis, Serle Court Chambers
Venue: Health Innovation South West, Vantage Point, Pynes Hill Exeter. EX2 5FD
Course Programme:
Restrictive covenants continue to create uncertainty for property practitioners, purchasers, and lenders alike. From routine residential transactions to complex development matters, misunderstandings about their impact can lead to unnecessary concern, delays, and risk.
Join leading barrister Andrew Francis of Serle Court Chambers, recognised as one of the UK's foremost authorities on restrictive covenants and author of Restrictive Covenants and Freehold Land: A Practitioner's Guide.
In this practical and engaging session, Andrew will explain why restrictive covenants are so frequently misunderstood and provide clear guidance on how to approach them with confidence. Drawing on extensive experience and recent case law, he will cover:
Whether you advise on residential or commercial property matters, this session will provide practical insights that can be applied immediately in day-to-day practice.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading experts in this field and gain greater confidence when dealing with restrictive covenants.
Fees:
This FREE training has been arranged by Devon and Somerset Law Society and is sponsored by Lloyd & Whyte and Stewart Title and is open to all DASLS Members and Non Members and other Legal Professionals.
Andrew Francis' practice has a very strong emphasis on real property law. He is recognised as a leading authority on the law of restrictive covenants affecting freehold land, and on the law of rights of light. He has been instructed in many of the major cases in these areas of law in the last three decades. Andrew is the author of a textbook on restrictive covenants, and a co-author of textbooks on rights of light and private rights of way.
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05th October 2026 | Blogging
Take a look at our first Residential Property Bulletin. This compendium of information and views from some key stakeholders in residential property conveyancing work will appeal to conveyancers. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY...
28th September 2026 | blogging
DASLS Autumn Dinner Fundraiser for Presidents Charity is a Huge Success80 guests came together at The Castle Hotel in Taunton for the DASLS Autumn Dinner on Friday 25th September 2026.We were delighted to be joined by our guest speaker Samantha Marsh, Senior Coroner for Somerset, who gave an insightful talk about her fascinating role. DASLS President Ben Darby's chosen charity YOUNG DEVON also joined us. Andrew Moreman, CEO for Young Devon shared the worthwhile support and very much needed work they provide to young people in Devon.In addition to the £1,637 Ben raised by completing the 15km Run Devon event, Ben raised £845 the on the night for YOUNG SOMERSET raising a total of £2,482 across the two charities. Thank you to all our guests for supporting the dinner, 12 law firms were represented in total and we also welcomed a number of our sponsors Insight6, Lloyd & Whyte, Smokeball, Wessex Searches, Landmark & MJ Bowers. If you would like to support YOUNG SOMERSET - DONATE HERE If you would like to support YOUNG DEVON - DONATE HERE Photos from the night can be VIEWED HERE...
17th September 2026 | blogging
DASLS were delighted to join Michael Cosgrave, colleague's from Wollens Solicitors and his friends and family at the Hotel Indigo in Torquay on Tuesday 15th September.We came together to celebrate both Michael and his dedication to his career. Chris Hart gave a lovely summary of Michaels long and successful career of over 50 years here in the South West followed by a few words from the man himself. Michael has been involved with DASLS for more years than we probably care to remember! Michael has been a long standing member, firstly of DELS (Devon & Exeter) and later DASLS following our merge with Somerset. Michael has remained and active member of the Board of Directors following his Presidency in 1992.Michael was one of the founding members of the DASLS International Committee and has spent many years travelling Europe with his international friends and colleagues. ...
14th September 2026 | blogging
🏃🏃WELL DONE BEN 🏃🏃 DASLS President Ben Darby took part in Young Devon’s annual fundraiser Run Devon on the 13th September 2026 to raise awareness and funds for his chosen Presidential Charity. Ben completed the 15km course in good time, what a great achievement.Young Devon is such an important cause dedicated to changing the opportunities presented to young people in our community. 🏫 bringing opportunities to our share of the 1 million young people not in education, employment or training that live in our community🏠 reducing homelessness amongst young people through direct provision of accommodation🧑⚕️ mental health and mentoring services for young peoplePlease donate what 💰 you can - Ben has set a fundraising target of £100 per km so £1,500. DONATE HERE ...
26th December 2016 | Residential Conveyancing Training
Reporting to the Lender and other Hot Mortgage Issues Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026 Time: 9:45pm - 1:00pm Speaker: Richard Snape Venue: The Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Exeter Course Programme: The course aims to look at frequently met issues and problems when reporting to the mortgage company and suggests solutions.- Conflicts of interest and third party obligations- Leasehold issues: Building Safety Act, Ground Rent Issues, EWS 1 certificates and mortgagee requirements- Flying freeholds- Air BnB- Parental gifted deposits- Planning and building regulations issues Fees: DASLS Members/Affiliates: £145 plus VAT Non-members: £165 plus VAT 3 for 2 offer! Book 3 places on this seminar and get the cheapest FREE! Richard Snape has been the Head of Professional Support at Davitt Jones Bould since 2002. He speaks at numerous courses for law societies all over the country, various public courses, in-house seminars within solicitors’ firms and has also talked extensively to local authorities and central government bodies. His areas of specialism include both commercial and residential property, in particular in relation to local government law, conveyancing issues, development land, commercial property and incumbrances in relation to land. ...
26th December 2016 | Residential Conveyancing Training
Residential Conveyancing Update Date: Tuesday 20th October 2026 Time: 2:00pm - 5:15pm Speaker: Richard Snape Venue: The Courtyard Marriott Hotel, Exeter Course Programme: Conveyancing in England and Wales is undergoing major changes both in relation to statute and case law. In particular, the Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 is due to start coming into force in April 2027. The course aims to look at some of the changes and how to prepare for them. A contrast between the Renters’ Right Act 2025 and the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 Latest on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 Implementation of changes to commonhold The Building Safety Act 2022 and Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 The new TA6 6th Edition and responses to enquiries Recent case law on email signatures, boundary issues and agreements, adverse possession, leasehold and car parking rights Fees: DASLS Members/Affiliates: £145 plus VAT Non-members: £165 plus VAT 3 for 2 offer! Book 3 places on this seminar and get the cheapest FREE! Richard Snape has been the Head of Professional Support at Davitt Jones Bould since 2002. He speaks at numerous courses for law societies all over the country, various public courses, in-house seminars within solicitors’ firms and has also talked extensively to local authorities and central government bodies. His areas of specialism include both commercial and residential property, in particular in relation to local government law, conveyancing issues, development land, commercial property and incumbrances in relation to land. ...
23rd December 2016 | Management Training
DASLS Sustainability Conference Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026 Time: 9:45am - 3:00pm Venue: Michelmores, Pynes Hill, Exeter Supported by: Porsche Exeter. Porsche will be exhibiting two new models of electric cars. Programme: 9.45 am – 10.15 am Professor Bob Lee Was the Summer of 26 (when I look back now that summer seemed to last forever) 10.15 am – 10.45 am Sophie Hill, Ecologi Reduce, Report, Restore 10.45 am - 11.00 am COFFEE/TEA 11.00 am – 11.30 am Sally Redman, Landmark From Data Challenges to Employee Engagement: Building A Net Zero Journey 11.30 am – 12.30 pm Fraser Browning, Kurb Carbon Adding value through sustainability and ESG agendas 12.30 pm – 1.00 pm LUNCH 1.00 pm - 1.30 pm Dr Laurence Couldrick, Westcountry Rivers Trust Putting water in Net Zero 1.30 – 2.00 pm Chris Chandler, Lex Auto Lease Providing employees with sustainable vehicle solutions through Company Cars and Salary Sacrifice 2.00 pm – 2.30 pm Sarah Bailey, Nexus Open Systems Think Before You Prompt - The real cost of AI in your law firm 2.30 pm – 3.00 pm Rob Marsh - Client Success Director Team Jump Why nobody cares about Climate Change Prof Robert Lee, Was the Summer of 26 (when I look back now that summer seemed to last forever) The Summer of 2026 delivered a stark, recurrent lesson in what a warming climate now means for the UK with record heat and prolonged drought straining water supplies and power generation. These cascading failures exposed how much of our infrastructure was designed for a climate that no longer exists. Climate risk is now systemic and simultaneous, challenging major areas of policy and investment such as energy, water, transport, health and food. Adaptation is no longer a peripheral issue of "resilience" but a pressing agenda of infrastructure renewal . Lawyers will be central to this agenda — translating climate risk into enforceable duties, re-writing the contracts, standards and codes that govern infrastructure, securing the finance and consent pathways for renewal, and holding public and private bodies to account when adaptation commitments are made but not met. It presents an opportunity but also a significant responsibility. Sophie Hill, Climate Growth Manager, Ecologi - Introduction to Ecologi: Our 3R Framework for effective climate action (Reduce, Restore, and Report) - Reduce Overview: Brief overview of what carbon accounting is and why it is important for law firms to measure their annual emissions - Restore: Nature vs. Carbon: An in-depth dive into nature-based restoration vs. carbon credits - weighing the pros, cons, biodiversity co-benefits, and greenwashing risks - Law Firm Use Cases and Reporting: Aligning impact with firm operations and having verifiable data for ESG disclosures and clients From Data Challenges to Employee Engagement: Building A Net Zero Journey In this session, Sally Redman will share the challenges of starting Landmark’s net zero journey, from collecting emissions data and navigating carbon reporting requirements to working with sustainability platforms that did not always deliver as expected. She will discuss how engagement was built across the organisation, the initiatives successfully implemented, and Landmark’ FY27 plans, including how we're using our knowledge and experience to support DASLS and its Green Badge Initiative. Key topics include: Challenges of starting a net zero programme from scratch. Lessons learned from emissions data collection and reporting. Navigating sustainability platforms and technology setbacks. Building colleague engagement and securing organisational buy-in. Sustainability initiatives delivered and their impact. Future plans and priorities for FY27. Supporting DAS...
