Jason is a disputes lawyer specialising in property litigation, construction litigation, insurance, and professional negligence (construction and property professionals).
He acts for blue chip construction and property companies, insurers, high-net-worth individuals, retailers, landowners, landlords, tenants and estate managers.
Jason advises on and deals with any type of property and construction dispute.
Having spent 6 years acting for insurance companies in relation to the above sectors he has a keen interest in any insurance related dispute, acting for policy holders and insurance companies alike.
Expertise
- Project disputes in the construction sector (adjudication, arbitration, and Technology and Construction Court disputes)
- Property litigation and dispute resolution
- All landlord and tenant issues
- Professional negligence (construction and property professionals)
Experience
Construction Litigation
- Claim by large construction company against an architect for failing to incorporate movement joints into the design of an office block in Manchester (headquarters for national law firm) (value of claim £2 million).
- Negotiated extension of time and settlement without payment of LADs re a claim against a piling contractor with design responsibility relating to the installation of foundations at a wind farm development as a result of poorly designed crane pads which failed load tests (value of claim £800,000).
- Settled at mediation a claim against a geotechnical engineer relating to a poorly designed flood defence where it was alleged that the defence could not withstand a full head of water, and leaked (value of claim £2 million).
- Developer’s claim issued in the Technology and Construction Court against a structural engineer for alleged poor design of steel frame leading to demolition of a large commercial building prior to practical completion (value of claim £2 million).
- Multiparty claim against a design and build contractor relating to cracks in the floor of a large distribution warehouse and the failure of the contractor’s stabilizing works, causing subsidence (value of claim unknown).
- Developer’s claim against an architect for poor design of wood furnishings and panelling in an Abbey, alleging that the design concept was unbuildable leading to extensive cracking (value of claim £1.5 million).
- Adjudication against a quantity surveyor following an allegation by a council of negligent project management which caused delay to the completion of a new school (value of claim £200,000).
- Defending a specialist plumbing subcontractor whose poor workmanship was alleged to have caused leaks throughout a large block of flats (value of claim £1 million).
- Provided advice on insurance and product liability aspects to L’Occitane Limited, after one of client’s contractors entered liquidation and a dispute then arose with the liquidators regarding what mutual credits and debits were owed by the parties
Property Litigation
- Edlington Properties Limited v J H Fenner & Co (2006). Had conduct of the case at first instance (Chancery Division) as well in the Court of Appeal. The underlying claim was worth £52 million.
- Fairgate International Limited v Citibank International PLC (2005) on a dilapidations claim issued in the Technology and Construction Court. Valued at £19 million. The reported element of the case concerned the disputed interpretation of a number of lease covenants, decided as a preliminary issue. The subsequent claim required analysis of complex expert evidence from building and valuation surveyors.
- Serving break notices, and notices under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
- Seeking possession under the 1954 Act.
- Recovering rent and possession on various grounds.
- Dilapidations claims.
- Any type of claim concerning the Building Safety Act 2022 (acting for both tenants, and landlords, in respect of High Risk Buildings, as well as defending professionals or developers facing claims made under that act or the Defective Premises Act).
- Disputes concerning service charges on commercial and residential property.
- Reclaiming possession from commercial and residential tenants.
- Any insurance related disputes concerning the insurance of Construction projects and the insurance of residential and commercial property.
- Responding to opposed commercial lease renewals, or opposing renewals.
- Rent review disputes.
Contentious Experience
- Represented a foreign royal family member in respect of a serious personal injury allegation made by an ex-employee at their UK residence.
- Acting for Samsung in relation to a stolen shipment of batteries, intercepted on its way to a major car manufacturer supplied by Samsung.
- Advised on a subrogated claim against a sub-contractor for negligence in the supply and installation of bespoke decorative wooden panels for a display at a nature centre in Norway
- Acted for the insurers to a large and multi-centre private specialist vein centre who are an interested party to the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of a patient after vein surgery
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Product Liability: Defendant 2020-2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation 2020-2026
“Jason Kallis and Antony Colman are technically great, they fully understand the economics of a claim and both provide excellent levels of service. Both treat claims as a fully collaborative effort.” The Legal 500 2022
“Jason Kallis – attention to detail and ability to convey complex issues to lay clients is exceptional.” The Legal 500 2022
“Jason Kallis – Appreciates claims are a collaborative effort between stakeholders. Good communicator. Willing to advance a strong defence, although always conscious of the economics of a claim.” The Legal 500 2021
“Jason Kallis is attentive to the real life mechanics of the case and handles things in a dynamic fashion. Communication with the client is always at the right balance. Strategy and application of the law cannot be faulted.” Legal 500 2020
Recognised by the Legal 500 2018 for Insurance and Reinsurance Litigation
“Intelligent yet down to earth and gives concise and accurate advise which helps insurers get to the crux of the matter” Legal 500 2018
Jason Kallis is recognised by the Legal 500 2017.
Career
Jason qualified as a solicitor in 2000. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2014, he worked at the following firms:
- Plexus Law
- DAC Beachcroft
- Mishcon de Reya
- Sherrards