mjd1001@cam.ac.uk
Faculty Contact Details
Tel: 01223 3 35542
College Contact Details
Room: Walnut Court, H4
Tel: 01223 3 35542
Profile Links
Professor of the Law of Real Property
KC (Hon), M.A. (Oxon), Ph.D. (Cantab), FAcSS,
Honorary Bencher of Lincoln's Inn
Interests
Land Law and Land Registration; Law of Mortgages; Law of Co-ownership; Proprietary Estoppel; International Law: Relations with National Law and Role and Functions of the United Nations
Research centres and interest groups
Selected publications
Books
Cases and Materials on International Law (with Robert McCorquodale, Sarah Williams), 2024) 7th Edition
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9780198846895
Published Nov 2024
Megarry & Wade The Law of Real Property (with Janel Bignell KC and Nicholas Hopkins), 2024) 10th Edition
ISBN:
0414117077
ISBN 13:
978-0414117075
Published Mar 2024
Modern Land Law, 2023) 13th Edition
Publisher:
ISBN:
1032395753
ISBN 13:
978-1032395753
Published Aug 2023
Ruoff & Roper: The Law of Registered Conveyancing (with Sarah Wheeler, Stephen R Coveney and Patrick Timothy), 2019)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9780421440609
Published Nov 2019
Textbook on International Law (2013), 2013) 7th Edition
Q&A Land Law 2013-14 (with Gerwyn Griffiths, Emma Lees), 2012) 8th Edition
Publisher:
Published Dec 2012
Modern Studies in Property Law (ed), 2009)
Contemporary Perspectives on Property, Equity and Trusts (with G Griffiths), 2007)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
978-0-19-921984-1
Published Nov 2007
Articles
"Here we go again manipulating constructive trusts" [2024] Conv 329
Citation:
[2024] Conv 329
Published: Mar 2025
"Residential Leasehold Wash Up" [2024] Conv 219
Citation:
[2024] Conv 219
Published: Sep 2024
"Plus ca change: co-ownership and constructive trusts" [2024] Conv 95
Citation:
[2024] Conv 95
Published: Jul 2024
"A dispensation gap" [2024] Conv 1
Citation:
[2024] Conv 1
Published: Jan 2024
"HM Land Registry: How did it come to this?" [2023] Con 213
Citation:
[2023] Con 213
Published: Dec 2023
"Landlord and Tenant Law in Context" [2023] Conv 307
Citation:
[2023] Conv 307
Published: Oct 2023
"Real property, licences and the slippery idea of possession" (2023) 139 LQR 552
Citation:
(2023) 139 LQR 552
Published: Oct 2023
"Mistakes about Mistakes" [2023] Conv 125
Citation:
[2023] Conv 125
Published: Apr 2023
"Are we there yet: Leasehold reform" [2023] Conv 1
Citation:
[2023] Conv 1
Published: Jan 2023
"Reading Guest and the Law of Proprietary Estoppel " [2022] Conv 337
Citation:
[2022] Conv 337
Published: Dec 2022
"Restrictions and Registered Title: When, Why and What?" [2022] Conv 253
Citation:
[2022] Conv 253
Published: Sep 2022
"Non-problems, Future Problems and Fairy Dust" [2022] Conv 119
Citation:
[2022] Conv 119
Published: May 2022
"Painting Proprietary Estoppel: Howard Hodgkin, Titian or Jackson Pollock?" [2022] Conv. 30
Citation:
[2022] Conv. 30
Published: Mar 2022
"Mistakes, mispleading and overreaching: understanding title registration and correcting the register" Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental Law Volume 14 Issue 1
Citation:
Journal of Property, Planning and Environmental Law Volume 14 Issue 1
Published: Mar 2022
"Dishonest Strangers" [2019] Conv 195
Citation:
[2019] Conv 195
Published: Sep 2019
"Proprietary Estoppel: The Law of Farms and Families" [2019] Conv 89
Citation:
[2019] Conv 89
Published: Jul 2019
"Rectifying the register under the LRA 2002: the Malory 2 non-problem" [2016] Conv. 382
Citation:
[2016] Conv. 382
Published: Oct 2016
"The Law Commission and law reform (editorial)" [2016] Conv. 255-256
Citation:
[2016] Conv. 255-256
Published: Jul 2016
"Developments in estoppel and trusts of land (Editorial)" [2015] Conv. 469-473
Citation:
[2015] Conv. 469-473
Published: Dec 2015
"Legal education: where next? (Editorial)" [2015] Conv. 2015 369-372
Citation:
[2015] Conv. 2015 369-372
Published: Oct 2015
"The Boland requiem (Editorial)" [2015] Conv. 285-90
Citation:
[2015] Conv. 285-90
Published: Jul 2015
"A reformist menu (Editorial)" [2015] Conv. 187
Citation:
[2015] Conv. 187
Published: May 2015
"Rectification and priority: further skirmishes in the land registration war " [2015] L.Q.R. 207
Citation:
[2015] L.Q.R. 207
Published: Apr 2015
"A tangled web of priority" [2015] Conv. 97
Citation:
[2015] Conv. 97
Published: Mar 2015
"Green light for development? (Editorial)" [2015] Conv 1
Citation:
[2015] Conv 1
Published: Jan 2015
"Why? (Editorial) (Scott v Southern Pacific Mortgages)" [2014] Conv 461
Citation:
[2014] Conv 461
Published: Dec 2014
"Criminal squatting and adverse possession: the best solution?" [2014] J.H.L. 2014, 17(5), 94
Citation:
[2014] J.H.L. 2014, 17(5), 94
Published: Oct 2014
"Cemeteries and coffee shops: common intention, land registration and priority (Editorial)" [2014] Conv. 279-284
Citation:
[2014] Conv. 279-284
Published: Jul 2014
"Land Registration and Time Travel: reforming the land registry" [2014] 78 Conv. 189
Citation:
[2014] 78 Conv. 189
Published: Jun 2014
"The Sound of Silence: Easements to make a noise" [2014] 78 Conv. 79
Citation:
[2014] 78 Conv. 79
Published: Apr 2014
"A Doctrinal Approach to Property Law: Who Cares and Why?" (2014) 3 Property Law Review 160
Citation:
(2014) 3 Property Law Review 160
Published: Mar 2014
"Something for the New Year: land law reform" [2014] 78 Conv. 1
Citation:
[2014] 78 Conv. 1
Published: Feb 2014
"The past, the present and the future of land registration" [2013] 77 Conv. 463
Citation:
[2013] 77 Conv. 463
Published: Dec 2013
"Title by registration or conquest: interpreting the Land Registration Act 2002 in England and Wales" I.J.L.B.E. 2013, 5(3), 194-206
Citation:
I.J.L.B.E. 2013, 5(3), 194-206
Published: Nov 2013
"And Here is the News: Legal Training" [2013] 77 Conv. 255
Citation:
[2013] 77 Conv. 255
Published: Aug 2013
"A Not So Conclusive Title Register?" [2013] 129 LQR 320
Citation:
[2013] 129 LQR 320
Published: Jul 2013
"Reaching up for the box in the attic: mortgages and overreaching" [2013] 77 Conv. 165
Citation:
[2013] 77 Conv. 165
Published: Jul 2013
"Shining a Light on Easements" [2013] 77 Conv. 85
Citation:
[2013] 77 Conv. 85
Published: Mar 2013
"To Write or Not to Write: Formalities and Land Law" [2013] 77 Conv. 1
Citation:
[2013] 77 Conv. 1
Published: Jan 2013
"Knowing receipt, constructive trusts and registered title" [2012] 76 Conv. 439
Citation:
[2012] 76 Conv. 439
Published: Dec 2012
"Adverse possession and criminal liability" [2012] 76 Conv. 185
Citation:
[2012] 76 Conv. 185
Published: Jun 2012
"Jones v Kernott: The still not ended, never-ending story" [2012] 76 Conv. 83
Citation:
[2012] 76 Conv. 83
Published: Apr 2012
"Easements and the Law Commission" [2012] 76 Conv. 1
Citation:
[2012] 76 Conv. 1
Published: Feb 2012
"To sell or not to sell: that is the question: the irony of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996" (2011) 70 CLJ 579.
Citation:
(2011) 70 CLJ 579.
Published: Dec 2011
"Village Greens and Squatting: A summer of Consultation" [2011] 75 Conv. 347
Citation:
[2011] 75 Conv. 347
Published: Sep 2011
"Easements and contradictions" [2011] 75 Conv. 167.
Citation:
[2011] 75 Conv. 167.
Published: Jun 2011
"Beneficial Interests After Stack v Dowden & Jones v Kernott" [2011] 75 Conv. 87
Citation:
[2011] 75 Conv. 87
Published: Mar 2011
"The Future of the Land Registry" [2011] 75 Conv. 1.
Citation:
[2011] 75 Conv. 1.
Published: Jan 2011
"Confining and defining proprietary estoppel: the role of unconscionability" (2010) 30 Legal Studies 408
Citation:
(2010) 30 Legal Studies 408
Published: Dec 2010
"Possession: A concept for all seasons" [2010] 74 Conv 423
Citation:
[2010] 74 Conv 423
Published: Nov 2010
"Taking Stock" [2010] 74 Conv. 343
Citation:
[2010] 74 Conv. 343
Published: Oct 2010
"Tolerated Trespassers and Secure Tenancies" [2010] 74 Conv. 273
Citation:
[2010] 74 Conv. 273
Published: Jul 2010
"HM Adjudicator to the Land Registry and Questions of Rectification" [2010] 74 Conv. 207
Citation:
[2010] 74 Conv. 207
Published: May 2010
"Reforming Mortgages" [2010] 74 Conv. 111
Citation:
[2010] 74 Conv. 111
Published: Feb 2010
"HSBC v Dyche" [2010] 74 Conv. 1
Citation:
[2010] 74 Conv. 1
Published: Jan 2010
"Priorities under the Land Registration Act 2002" (2009) 125 L.Q.R. 401
Citation:
(2009) 125 L.Q.R. 401
Published: Dec 2009
"Easements: where next and why?" [2009] 73 Conv. 437
Citation:
[2009] 73 Conv. 437
Published: Nov 2009
"The House of Lords-A Retrospective" [2009] 73 Conv. 365
Citation:
[2009] 73 Conv. 365
Published: Sep 2009
"Mortgagees' powers and duties: Horsham Properties & Thompson v Foy" [2009] Conv. 283
Citation:
[2009] Conv. 283
Published: Jun 2009
"Adverse possession and Registered land" [2009] Conv. 169
Citation:
[2009] Conv. 169
Published: May 2009
"The reach of estoppel: a matter of debate" [2009] 73 Conv. 85
Citation:
[2009] 73 Conv. 85
Published: Apr 2009
"A Matter of Clarity: Tolerated Trespassers" [2009] 73 Conv. 1
Citation:
[2009] 73 Conv. 1
Published: Jan 2009
"The Mortgage Arrears Protocol" [2008] 72 Conv. 473
Citation:
[2008] 72 Conv. 473
Published: Dec 2008
"New rules at the Land registry" [2008] 72 Conv. 355
Citation:
[2008] 72 Conv. 355
Published: Oct 2008
"The Law Commission's Working Paper on Easements" [2008] 72 Conv. 269
Citation:
[2008] 72 Conv. 269
Published: Aug 2008
"Resulting and Constructive Trusts of Land" [2005] Conv. 79.
Citation:
[2005] Conv. 79.
Published: May 2005
"The Land Registration Act 2002: A Risk Assessment" [2003] Conv. 136
Citation:
[2003] Conv. 136
Published: May 2003
"Has Flegg been overruled? Overreaching and the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996" [2000] Conv. 267.
Citation:
[2000] Conv. 267.
Published: Oct 2000
"Combating the mortgagee's right to possession: new hope for the mortgagor in chains" (1998) 18 Legal Studies 279.
Citation:
(1998) 18 Legal Studies 279.
Published: Oct 1998
"Co-ownership trusts in the UK: the Denning legacy" [1988] 3 Denning Law Journal 27
Citation:
[1988] 3 Denning Law Journal 27
Published: Apr 1988
Book Chapters
"Painting Proprietary Estoppel", Essays in Honour of Mark Thompson), forthcoming
Published Forthcoming
"Real Property Rights in England and Wales: No Need for Law and Equity " in C Bevan (ed(s)), Research Handbook on Property. Law and Theory, 2024), pp. Chapter 3
Pages:
Chapter 3
ISBN 13:
9781802202052
Published Aug 2024
"The Law of Co-ownership: Pretence, Prevarication and Pusillanimity" in Jodi Gardner (Anthology Editor) , Amy Goymour (Anthology Editor) , Janet O'Sullivan (Anthology Editor) , Sarah Worthington (Anthology Editor) (ed(s)), Politics, Policy and Private Law, 2023)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9781509960965
Published Dec 2023
"Title Guarantee or Title Indefeasibility?", New Horizons for Torrens: Land Registration and Title Security in the Digital Age, 2020)
Publisher:
Published Feb 2020
"Land Registration in England & Wales: problems, solutions and missed opportunities" (with Emma Lees), New Horizons for Torrens: Land Registration and Title Security in the Digital Age, 2019)
Published Nov 2019
"Williams v Hensman (1861) and the Law of Severance: Janus Personified", Landmark Cases in Succession Law, 2019)
"Stitching Together Modern Estoppel" (with Nigel Gravells), Landmark Cases in Land Law, 2013)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9781849462570
Published Jun 2013
"English Land Law" (with Anthony Speaight QC), Architect's Legal Handbook, 2009)
Published Aug 2009
"Protecting Third Party Interests Under The Land Registration Act 2002 - To Worry Or Not To Worry: That Is The Question" (with Martin Dixon, Gerwyn Griffiths), Contemporary Perspectives on Property, Equity and Trusts Law, 2007)
Publisher:
Published Oct 2007
"Equitable Co-ownership: Proprietary Rights in Name Only?" (with E Cooke), Modern Studies in Property Law Vol. 4, 2007)
ISBN 13:
978-1841136288
Published Oct 2007
"Proprietary Estoppel and Formalities in Land Law and the Land Registration Act 2002" (with E Cooke), Modern Studies in Property Law Vol. 3, 2003)
Publisher:
Published Oct 2003
"Consenting away proprietary rights" (with E Cooke), Modern Studies in Property Law Vol. 2, 2003)
Publisher:
Published Mar 2003
"Proprietary and Non-Proprietary Rights in Modern Land Law" (with Louise Tee), Land Law: Issues, Debates, Policy, 2002)
Publisher:
Published Oct 2002
Case Notes
Dispositions, Constructive Trusts and Co-ownership (2023) 82 CLJ 212
Published: Mar 2023
Mortgages, co-owners and priority: some basics [2016] Conv. 81-83
Published: Mar 2016
At the sharper end - Adjudicator to the Registry [2011] 75 Conv. 335
Published: Jul 2011
Proprietary estoppel: a return to principle? [2009] Conv 260
Published: Oct 2009
Mortgage duties and commercial property transactions [2006] 70 Conv 278
Published: Oct 2008
Derbyshire CC v Fallon [2008] 72 Conv. 238
Published: Jun 2008
Human Rights and Adverse Possession: The final nail [2008] 72 Conv. 160
Published: Apr 2008
Estoppel and Testamentary Freedom [2008] 72 Conv. 65.
Published: Feb 2008
A failure of statutory purpose or a failure of professional advice? [2006] 70 Conv 79
Published: Oct 2006
Adverse possession in three jurisdictions [2006] 70 Conv 179
Published: Oct 2006
Leasehold covenants and equitable set-off [2006] 70 Conv 460
Published: Oct 2006
Adverse possession and human rights [2005] 69 Conv. 345
Published: Oct 2005
Trusts of land, bankruptcy and human rights [2005] 69 Conv. 161
Published: Oct 2005
Proprietary rights and rectifying the effect of non-registration [2005] 69 Conv. 447
Published: Oct 2005
Invalid contracts, estoppel and constructive trusts [2005] 69 Conv 247
Published: May 2005
Estoppel Unconscionability and Formalities in Land Law: Gillett v Holt [2000] 59 CLJ 453
Published: Nov 2000
The non-proprietary lease: the rise of the feudal phoenix [2000] 59 CLJ 25
Published: Oct 2000
The Gabcikovo Case [1998] 57 CLJ 1
Published: Oct 1998
Thatcher v Douglas [1995] 6 RWLR
Published: Oct 1995
The Special Tenderness of Equity (1994) 53 CLJ 21
Published: Oct 1994
The Case Concerning Elettronica Sicula 41 ICLQ 701 (1992).
Published: Oct 1992
Adverse Possession—Compromises and Estoppel (1992) 51 CLJ 420
Published: Jul 1992
Reports
Acquisition and Affordability of Land for Housing in Urban Ghana: A Study in the Formal Land Market Dynamics
Body / Institution:
RICS Research paper series, Volume 6, No.10
Published: Oct 2006
Compatibility of certain property laws of the Republic of Moldova with the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950 and Protocols thereto.
Body / Institution:
Council of Europe (Human Rights Co-operation and Awareness Division of the Directorate General of Human Rights
Published: Oct 2003
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