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
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
Publications
Books
Megarry & Wade The Law of Real Property (with Janel Bignell KC and Nicholas Hopkins) (Sweet & Maxwell, 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) (Sweet & Maxwell, 2019)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
9780421440609
Published Nov 2019
Textbook on International Law (2013) (OUP, 2013) 7th Edition
Q&A Land Law 2013-14 (with Gerwyn Griffiths, Emma Lees) (Routledge, 2012) 8th Edition
Publisher:
Published Dec 2012
Cases and Materials on International Law (with Robert McCorquodale, Sarah Williams) (OUP, 2011) 5th Edition
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
978-0-19-925999-1
Published Aug 2011
Modern Studies in Property Law (ed) (Hart Publishing, 2009)
Contemporary Perspectives on Property, Equity and Trusts (with G Griffiths) (OUP, 2007)
Publisher:
ISBN 13:
978-0-19-921984-1
Published Nov 2007
Articles
"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
"Real property, licences and the slippery idea of possession" (2023) 139 LQR 552
Citation:
(2023) 139 LQR 552
Published: Oct 2023
"Landlord and Tenant Law in Context" [2023] Conv 307
Citation:
[2023] Conv 307
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
"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 (Edward Elgar, 2024), pp. Chapter 3
Pages:
Chapter 3
ISBN 13:
9781802202052
Published Aug 2024
"The Law of Co-ownership: Pretence, Prevarication and Pusillanimity " in Sarah Worthington, Janet O'Sullivan, Jodi Gardner, Amy Goymour (ed(s)), Politics and the Private Law Vol. 1 (Bloomsbury, 2023), pp. Chapter 8
Pages:
Chapter 8
ISBN 13:
9781509960965
Published Dec 2023
"Title Guarantee or Title Indefeasibility?", New Horizons for Torrens: Land Registration and Title Security in the Digital Age (Routledge, 2020)
Publisher:
Published Feb 2020
"Painting Proprietary Estoppel", Essays in Honour of Mark Thompson), forthcoming
Published Forthcoming
"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 (Bloomsbury, 2019)
"Stitching Together Modern Estoppel" (with Nigel Gravells), Landmark Cases in Land Law (Hart, 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 (OUP, 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 (Hart Publishing, 2003)
Publisher:
Published Oct 2003
"Consenting away proprietary rights" (with E Cooke), Modern Studies in Property Law Vol. 2 (Hart, 2003)
Publisher:
Published Mar 2003
"Proprietary and Non-Proprietary Rights in Modern Land Law" (with Louise Tee), Land Law: Issues, Debates, Policy (Willan, 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
Leasehold covenants and equitable set-off [2006] 70 Conv 460
Published: Oct 2006
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
Proprietary rights and rectifying the effect of non-registration [2005] 69 Conv. 447
Published: Oct 2005
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
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
Facebook 
X/Twitter 
Instagram 
YouTube 
Flickr 
LinkedIn