Robert Abbey

Professor Abbey is now a Judge of the First-tier Tribunal in the Property Chamber, formed this month. His position succeeds his previous role as a Deputy Adjudicator to HM Land Registry following changes in the court structure.

The Professor teaches Land Law on the LLB Exempting degree at Westminster University and on the Graduate Diploma in Law, as well as various subjects on the Westminster Post-Graduate Legal Practice Course.

In his new role at the Tribunal, Professor Abbey will adjudicate on a range of disputes that arise from land law and land ownership, such as boundary disputes, mortgage fraud, adverse possessions (squatters) and easements - areas he feels will be of practical benefit to students, especially those working within the University Law School’s pro bono clinic.

“One of the sources of that pro bono work is land registration disputes that go to court. Now they can learn more about the property chamber cases and be able to assist people with property related disputes free of charge at our pro bono clinic.”

The new position, he says, “is a very exciting appointment for me because it means there are other potential areas in the property chamber that might also be available to me for hearings, such as the residential property tribunal service and the agriculture tribunal service.

“Expanding my involvement as a Judge means that I can bring that additional experience to the students. It informs my teaching of land law to the undergraduates and the graduate diploma in law because I can cite cases where I have heard matters and where cases have gone on appeal to the higher courts.”

Professor Abbey is a co-author of several highly regarded property law texts that are used by legal practitioners and higher education institutions around the country that offer the legal practice course.