Direct Access Barrister
Jake Acock
Direct Access Barrister
Jake Acock
Jake has developed a busy practice in both the High Court and County Court in a variety of trials and hearings. Jake is often instructed to act in multi-day trials and in high-value matters. He also undertakes appellate work, including drafting grounds of appeal and representing clients at both permission to appeal and appeal hearings. Jake has a busy practice drafting pleadings and providing written advice, often in complex cases. He also has experience preparing for and advising in mediations as Counsel. Jake also accepts instructions in urgent injunctions, often being briefed at short notice.
Jake studied History at university before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Bar Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. Jake received scholarships for both the GDL and Bar Course from Gray’s Inn. Jake also earned one of the highest grades for civil advocacy in his year at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy.
Before coming to the Bar, Jake taught law at both University College London and the London School of Economics. At LSE, Jake was recognised for his outstanding teaching by the Dean of the Law School.
Area of Law
Chancery
Jake’s recent work includes:
Representing a beneficiary in a 4-day trial in a 1975 Act claim.
Drafting grounds of appeal for the Court of Appeal in a case involving equitable accounting and occupation rent, challenging the case law of Ali v Khatib [2022] EWCA Civ 481.
Successfully securing a settlement agreement for a protected party in an estate valued at over £5 million in a mediation.
Successfully securing a charging order over a property by defeating the Defendant’s claim that there was a valid trust in place.
Representing the executors of an estate for a determination on how the properties in the estate were held on trust.
Advising and drafting statements of case in a claim as to who the correct beneficiaries were under the terms of a will.
Representing both personal representatives and beneficiaries in claims to substitute or remove personal representatives.
Advising in and drafting statements of case in a case to challenge a will on the basis of undue influence and lack of capacity
Representing parties who lack capacity in settlement agreements and advising on the same.
Drafting statements of case and advising in TOLATA proceedings and claims arising in propriety estoppel.
Property
Jake has developed a strong practice in real estate litigation and is frequently instructed on property matters in both the High Court and County Court.
Recent instructions include:
A multi-track trial involving claims in trespass, proprietary estoppel and constructive trusts.
Representing an applicant for an urgent, ex-parte proprietary injunction.
Drafting a defence and counterclaim for removal of restrictive covenants and breaches of rights of way.
Successfully recovering a property by establishing deceit, undue influence and TOLATA matters in a multi-track trial.
An appeal to the High Court involving service charges and contractual interpretation of a lease.
Advising on a parking easement, applying the law of Moncrieff v Jamieson [2007] UKHL 42.
Drafting pleadings in a boundary dispute and adverse possession.
Drafting pleadings and providing written advices in TOLATA matters. Jake is often instructed in complex TOLATA matters involving claims in fraud and dishonest behaviour. Jake is currently instructed on several substantial TOLATA matters which are heading for multi-day trials in the coming months.
Wills and Probate
Jake has strong expertise in both contentious and non-contentious trusts work. Jake is frequently instructed to provide advice for both claimants and defendants in 1975 Act claims at all stages of the litigation, including representation at final hearings. Jake regularly appears in the High Court and Count Court in probate and trust matters including claims under TOLATA 1996, proprietary estoppel and contentious probate matters (including claims to substitute or remove personal representatives and trustees). Jake frequently advises and represents parties at mediations.
What sort of work do I do?
Jake has strong expertise in both contentious and non-contentious trusts work. Jake is frequently instructed to provide advice for both claimants and defendants in 1975 Act claims at all stages of the litigation, including representation at final hearings. Jake regularly appears in the High Court and Count Court in probate and trust matters including claims under TOLATA 1996, proprietary estoppel and contentious probate matters (including claims to substitute or remove personal representatives and trustees). Jake frequently advises and represents parties at mediations.
Jake has developed a strong practice in real estate litigation and is frequently instructed on property matters in both the High Court and County Court.
Jake practises in all areas of property law and is often instructed to represent both claimants and defendants in multi-day trials involving complex areas of trusts and property law. Jake has experience representing parties in easement, boundary disputes and claims to remove restrictive covenants. Jake is regularly instructed to appear in the First Tier Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber). Jake has experience in commercial landlord and tenant matters (including claims under the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954), dilapidation matters, breach of covenant, contractual interpretation of leases and boundary disputes.
Who do I work for?
My clients are normally lay individuals who need help with a will, feel they have bene disinherited from a an Estate or are finding themselves going through property issues.