Bryan Johnston elected new Chair of the PLA. Press release.

PLA press release

19 November 2019

BRYAN JOHNSTON BECOMES NEW PLA CHAIR

Dentons partner Bryan Johnston is the new chair of the Property Litigation Association, having taken over from Shakespeare Martineau partner Martin Edwards.

Bryan is the PLA’s 24^th chairman since the organisation was established in 1995 to represent property litigators in the UK. He takes on the role at an especially busy time – the PLA’s law reform committee alone is actively engaged in over 30 initiatives – and it is Bryan’s intention to continue to notch up successes in this area during his year in office.

As a member of the PLA’s law reform committee for many years, Bryan has helped steer key changes in property law which, this year, has included revisions to the draft bill on the ‘staircase tax’, the disclosure pilot and the lease renewal pilot scheme.

“We must be relentless in our pursuit of law reform,” he said at the recent PLA dinner. “We need to agitate for change. If we do not, then this affects confidence in our law and the credibility of our legal system.”

Other significant personnel changes at the PLA include the appointment of Kerry Glanville, senior partner at Pemberton Greenish, as deputy chair. She will continue her role as the PLA’s treasurer. Forsters partner Ben Barrison steps down as chair of the education and training committee, to be replaced by Rebecca Campbell, senior associate at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Looking ahead, Bryan plans to further promote property litigation and grow the membership – currently around 1,400-strong – through a continued focus on education, training, lobbying and networking. This will include a deepening collaboration with the Property Bar Association, the Chancery Bar Association and CRELA (Commercial Real Estate Legal Association) and a new initiative to foster stronger links with academics.

He also expects to see further development of the PLA’s regional network which he regards as ‘vital’ to the work of the association, especially given north-shoring pressures. Led by Paul Barker, as chair of the regions, the PLA extends to the North, South Coast, Midlands, East Anglia, the South West and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Equally important to the lifeblood of the PLA is the work of the JPLA committee, representing the interests of newly qualified and junior property lawyers. The PLA aims to be Reithian in educating, informing and entertaining junior members.

“It is imperative to members that we offer benefits of membership to all levels of experience,” Bryan points out. He is adopting an open-door approach to his new role, inviting members to share ideas with him of how the PLA can better represent them. 

For further information, please contact:

Dee Cornes

PR consultant

Tel: 07760 415527

Email: dee.cornes@ntlworld.com

The Property Litigation Association is a members’ organisation for professionals specialising in property litigation, including commercial, residential and agricultural property law.  Established in 1995, the Association has around 1,400 members and plays an important role in lobbying for improvements in property law, the court service and a wide range of judicial matters. It also organises regular courses, training seminars and conferences alongside a calendar of social events.