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Shabnam Shekarian

Posted on: July 1st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am a property litigation solicitor with over a decade of experience in housing and property law, including more than six years of post-qualification expertise. I specialise in complex residential property disputes and represent a diverse client base including landlords, tenants, developers, managing agents, and management companies.

My practice is defined by a strategic, results-driven approach and a commitment to delivering cost-effective solutions. I am known for my strong negotiation skills and practical mindset, always focused on resolving disputes efficiently while aligning with my clients’ commercial and personal objectives.

I have a strong academic foundation, having graduated with a First Class LLB Law degree, followed by a Distinction in both the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and an LLM Master of Laws from the University of Law.

Key areas of expertise include:

  • Section 21 / Section 8 possession claims and tenancy enforcement
  • Forfeiture claims
  • Orders for Sale
  • Service charge recovery and disputes
  • Breach of covenant and lease breaches
  • Residential lease extensions
  • Business lease renewals
  • Co-ownership disputes (TOLATA)

Outside of work I’m a fitness enthusiast with a passion for weightlifting, long walks, and nutrition. I also enjoy travelling and discovering new places. Committed to giving back, I volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau, participate in the London Legal Walk, and mentor aspiring law students through tuition and career guidance schemes.

Experience highlights

  • Rent arrears & possession: Successfully recovered possession for landlords with large property portfolios through Section 8 proceedings, including substantial rent arrears recovery.
  • Order for Sale – debt recovery: Successfully obtained an interim charging order, followed by a final charging order and an Order for Sale to recover a debt of £80,000 on behalf of my client.
  • Service Charge Recovery: Brought and won numerous claims for service charge debt recovery on behalf of managing agents and landlords, often involving complex lease interpretation and statutory compliance.
  • Relief from forfeiture: Successfully acted in proceedings seeking relief from forfeiture, preserving clients’ leasehold interests and negotiating favourable terms for reinstatement.
  • Disrepair Defence & Counterclaims: Defended private landlords against substantial disrepair counterclaims, achieving negotiated settlements that avoided trial and protected clients’ financial and reputational interests.
  • Boundary and Right of Way disputes: Obtained an injunction in a contentious right of way and boundary dispute and represented clients at mediation to reach a practical and enforceable resolution.

 

 

Leigh Sayliss

Posted on: March 14th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I head up the Lawrence Stephens Tax team. A versatile Chartered Tax Advisor, I pride myself on providing astute, clear-cut advice on property, corporate and employment taxes in particular.

Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, I spent 20 years as a professional engineer. My background in industry helps me bring a commercial understanding to the transactions with which I am involved. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and a Chartered Engineer.

I am editor of the land-related sections of ‘Monroe and Nock on the law of Stamp Duties‘. I am Chair of the CIOT Property Taxes Committee and a member of HMRC working groups in relation to Stamp Duty Land Tax and construction matters.

Experience

  • Advising on tax aspects of a wide range of corporate sales and acquisitions
  • Advising on, and structuring, incentive arrangements for key employees
  • Advising on structuring for commercial and residential property acquisitions and property development
  • Advising on, and negotiating settlements of, disputes with HMRC

Abtin Yeganeh

Posted on: February 28th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens in March 2023 as a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution department. I was promoted to my current role as a Director and Head of Real Estate Disputes in August 2024.

I deal with a wide range of matters including but not limited to, secured recoveries, party wall and developer claims, trespass, rights to light claims, professional negligence, and all landlord tenant matters relating to breaches of covenant, possession, forfeiture, insolvency, debt recovery, contested lease renewals and dilapidation claims.

I have experience of taking matters to trial in the High Court and have also been involved in a number of successful appeals before the Court of Appeal.

My clients include lenders, investors, commercial landlords, local authorities, and insolvency practitioners.

I am married with three boys and live in South West London. Outside of work my interests include football, golf and going out with family and friends.

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for a developer and London Local Authority in a High Court Rights to Light Claim
  • Advising and acting for various lenders in connection with enforceability of security documents, out of court administration appointments, receivership, obtaining vacant possession and enforcing personal guarantees.
  • Obtaining an order from the Upper Tribunal (Land Chamber) discharging a restrictive covenant under s.84 of the Law of Property Act 1925
  • Advising a bank in respect of its occupation of premises at Tower 42 on Old Broad Street and dealing with a claim by the landlord for dilapidations
  • Legget & Ors -v-Giambrone Law LLP (In Liquidation) – €3.5m group litigation claim by 43 claimants against their former solicitors, Giambrone Law (“the Firm”) over its advice the clients in a failed property development that had alleged had links to the Mafia.  It had been alleged that the Firm was under a duty to warn investors of the risks involved in investing in a part of Italy associated with organised crime
  • Acting for a BVI entity (the Applicant) for an order by the Court approving the terms of a contested lease and for it to be executed by a Judge pursuant to section 39 of the Senior Courts Act 1981
  • Successfully obtaining a vesting order against the Crown estate
  • Acting for the successful claimants in various libel claims which have included, Al-Haddad -v- BBC, Sultan Choudhury -v- The Times Newspaper Limited, Huda Television Limited -v- The Henry Jackson Society.