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Chris Bryden#617

Chris Bryden

Barrister, 4 King’s Bench Walk
Chris was called to the Bar in 2003 and since that time has built a busy practice across a range of areas, with an emphasis on Chancery practice. He enjoys a well-deserved reputation for his knowledge and expertise in each area. He appears regularly in the County Court, Family Court and the High Court as well as various specialist Tribunals, and has been involved in cases up to and including the Supreme Court. He regularly is instructed at Appellate level. He has extensive and wide-ranging experience particularly in the areas of wills, probate and inheritance disputes; property including adverse possession, boundary disputes and issues arising out of trusts of land; company and commercial work and financial remedies. Chris is head of the Family Group and head of the Property Team at 4KBW.

Chris is the author of numerous articles in publications such as the New Law Journal, Counsel and Family Law, amongst many other titles, and is the co-author of Social Media in the Workplace: A Handbook (2015, Jordan Publishing).
Contributed to

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Witness evidence in family proceedings
Witness evidence in family proceedings
Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out the general approach to witness evidence in family proceedings as provided for in the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (FPR 2010), Pts 22 and 24, and the format such evidence should take, including where a witness is unable to read or sign their statement and in relation to a non-English speaking witness. It also provides guidance on filing and service, witness summonses, requirements for both interim and final hearings, deposition evidence and the memorandum issued by the President of the Family Division on witness evidence in November 2021.

With an assured shorthold tenancy governed by the rent standard, and which defines ‘Rent’ to include service charges, are changes to the service charge implictly governed by the law relating to rent increases? Are service charges also constrained by the rent standard annual increase for rent cap of 0% if rent and service charges are integrated? Can an increase to the service charge be applied?
With an assured shorthold tenancy governed by the rent standard, and which defines ‘Rent’ to include service charges, are changes to the service charge implictly governed by the law relating to rent increases? Are service charges also constrained by the rent standard annual increase for rent cap of 0% if rent and service charges are integrated? Can an increase to the service charge be applied?
Q&As
With reference to the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and linked criminal and care directions hearings, what case law deals with similar linking, but in relation to all children proceedings, not just care proceedings? What case law deals with concurrent criminal and private law proceedings?
With reference to the 2013 Protocol and Good Practice Model: Disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and linked criminal and care directions hearings, what case law deals with similar linking, but in relation to all children proceedings, not just care proceedings? What case law deals with concurrent criminal and private law proceedings?
Q&As
With regards to housing disrepair matters, is the letter of authority/signed authority from the solicitor required together with the letter of claim before the pre-action protocol is engaged?
With regards to housing disrepair matters, is the letter of authority/signed authority from the solicitor required together with the letter of claim before the pre-action protocol is engaged?
Q&As
Within divorce proceedings, a financial consent order was made including provision for child maintenance. Decree absolute has been pronounced and the maintenance order is now more than 12 months old. The payer’s earnings are now at a level that the court could make a top-up maintenance order. Should the payee apply to vary the original order, or apply for a maintenance calculation via the Child Maintenance Service and thereafter make an application under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 or Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989?
Within divorce proceedings, a financial consent order was made including provision for child maintenance. Decree absolute has been pronounced and the maintenance order is now more than 12 months old. The payer’s earnings are now at a level that the court could make a top-up maintenance order. Should the payee apply to vary the original order, or apply for a maintenance calculation via the Child Maintenance Service and thereafter make an application under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 or Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989?
Q&As
Within financial proceedings on divorce, an order made provision for a charge on the family home to be enforceable on the later of the child attaining the age of 18 or completing their secondary education. The child is now 18 and enrolled on a Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) course at college. Does a BTEC equate to secondary education for the purposes of the order?
Within financial proceedings on divorce, an order made provision for a charge on the family home to be enforceable on the later of the child attaining the age of 18 or completing their secondary education. The child is now 18 and enrolled on a Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) course at college. Does a BTEC equate to secondary education for the purposes of the order?
Q&As
Would a (prospective) claimant Part 36 offer made in pre-action correspondence be invalidated if the proposed defendant were then to issue a claim over the same subject matter and therefore the offeror became the defendant?
Would a (prospective) claimant Part 36 offer made in pre-action correspondence be invalidated if the proposed defendant were then to issue a claim over the same subject matter and therefore the offeror became the defendant?
Q&As
Would a chlorine allergy be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010? Would a landlord’s duty to make reasonable adjustments apply to a request relating to an allergy?
Would a chlorine allergy be classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010? Would a landlord’s duty to make reasonable adjustments apply to a request relating to an allergy?
Q&As
Would a grave deed be considered an asset for the purposes of financial remedy proceedings. If a spouse is named on grave deeds, would the family court have jurisdiction to have that spouse’s name removed under the inherent jurisdiction?
Would a grave deed be considered an asset for the purposes of financial remedy proceedings. If a spouse is named on grave deeds, would the family court have jurisdiction to have that spouse’s name removed under the inherent jurisdiction?
Q&As
Would a restrictive covenant requiring property to be used for 'private residential purposes' restrict it being used as an HMO?
Would a restrictive covenant requiring property to be used for 'private residential purposes' restrict it being used as an HMO?
Q&As
Would adding a subcontractor as a party/signatory to an agreement create privity of contract between the subcontractor and the other parties (A and B), even if the contract in question states that party B is responsible for the actions of the subcontractor?
Would adding a subcontractor as a party/signatory to an agreement create privity of contract between the subcontractor and the other parties (A and B), even if the contract in question states that party B is responsible for the actions of the subcontractor?
Q&As
Would it be potentially fair for an employer to dismiss a care home employee if the reason for the dismissal was because the employee refused to be vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Would it be potentially fair for an employer to dismiss a care home employee if the reason for the dismissal was because the employee refused to be vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Q&As
Would section 57(3) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 apply when there is a licence for a storage area between the lessee at that time and the intermediate landlord, but the competent landlord is a superior landlord?
Would section 57(3) of the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 apply when there is a licence for a storage area between the lessee at that time and the intermediate landlord, but the competent landlord is a superior landlord?
Q&As
Would service charge not reserved as rent count as rent for enlargement purposes? And does a premium constitute rent and prevent a term from being enlarged?
Would service charge not reserved as rent count as rent for enlargement purposes? And does a premium constitute rent and prevent a term from being enlarged?
Q&As
Would the execution of mirror Wills by a married couple, which each contain a nil rate band discretionary trust on first death, be sufficient to show a common intention to sever a joint tenancy of land?
Would the execution of mirror Wills by a married couple, which each contain a nil rate band discretionary trust on first death, be sufficient to show a common intention to sever a joint tenancy of land?
Q&As
Would the granting of three separate licences to occupy to three individuals (unrelated) breach a covenant requiring a property to be ‘a private dwelling house’?
Would the granting of three separate licences to occupy to three individuals (unrelated) breach a covenant requiring a property to be ‘a private dwelling house’?
Q&As
Would the purchaser of a freehold interest subject to a residential student tenancy be able to enforce a parental guarantee, where the definition of the term landlord in that guarantee does not refer to the landlord’s successor-in-title?
Would the purchaser of a freehold interest subject to a residential student tenancy be able to enforce a parental guarantee, where the definition of the term landlord in that guarantee does not refer to the landlord’s successor-in-title?
Q&As
Would the RNRB be available where a deceased individual died in 2020 leaving their estate to their children but where they had sold their only residential property in 2018?
Would the RNRB be available where a deceased individual died in 2020 leaving their estate to their children but where they had sold their only residential property in 2018?
Q&As
Would the service of a notice under section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 by a freeholder in respect of proposed qualifying works to a residential block waive a right to forfeit which exists in respect of service charge arrears?
Would the service of a notice under section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 by a freeholder in respect of proposed qualifying works to a residential block waive a right to forfeit which exists in respect of service charge arrears?
Q&As
Would the tenant of a farm have an IHT liability on their death? Would it depend on the type of agricultural tenancy they have? Would the answer differ for a tenant of other commercial property?
Would the tenant of a farm have an IHT liability on their death? Would it depend on the type of agricultural tenancy they have? Would the answer differ for a tenant of other commercial property?
Q&As
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Practice Areas

Panels

  • Contributing Author
  • Q&A Panel

Qualified Year

  • 2003

Experience

  • 2 Gray’s Inn Square (2005 - 2009)

Membership

  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Property Bar Association
  • Society of Construction Lawyers
  • Public Access Bar Association (Vice-Chairman and Treasurer)
  • Visiting Fellow, University of Bedfordshire (2011 - )
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

Qualifications

  • MA (Oxon) (2002)
  • LLM (2004)

Education

  • Magdalen College, University of Oxford (1999-2002)
  • BPP Law School (2002-2003)
  • University College London (2003-2004)
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