Janet Bignell KC

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Janet Bignell KC advises and acts in matters spanning the range of real property and landlord and tenant law.  During her career she has acted in numerous arbitrations as arbitrator, independent expert, legal assessor and advocate (oral and written).  She also lectures and writes on the subject.  Janet is an Appointed Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators’ Presidential Property Dispute Service and has been appointed by the President of the Law Society to act as an expert.  She is an invited member of ARBRIX.

Janet is authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Chancery and Queen’s Bench Divisions and has been a Recorder since 2009.  She is also a qualified ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator. 

• Education

  • Downing College, Cambridge University: MA (1st Class Hons)
  • Elected Scholar, Harris Scholar and Senior Harris Scholar
  • Hertford College, Oxford University: BCL (1st Class Hons)
  • British Academy State Scholarship.

• Professional

  • Authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Chancery and Queen’s Bench Divisions
  • Appointed to sit as a Recorder - Crown Court (2009), Chancery (2013), Civil (2015)
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) 
  • Appointed member of the CIArb President’s Property Dispute Resolution Panel 
  • ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator 
  • Chair of the Blundell Lecture Committee 2019-2023 Series
  • Chair of the Chancery Bar Association Annual Conference, 2018
  • Elected Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn (2015)
  • Invited member of Arbrix 
  • Included in Chambers & Partners Top 100 Juniors at the Bar (2014)
  • Winner of the Chambers Bar Awards Real Estate Junior of the Year (2013), and nominated (2008), (2011)
  • Inns of Court Studentship, Denning Major Scholarship, Wolfson Scholarship, Hardwicke Scholarship
  • Called 1992

• Awards

  • Chambers Bar Awards 2013 - Winner, Real Estate Junior of the Year
  • The Chambers Bar Awards 2011 - Nominated (1 of 3), Real Estate Junior of the Year
  • The Chambers Bar Awards 2008 - Nominated (1 of 3), Real Estate Junior of the Year.

• Publications

  • Megarry & Wade Law of Real Property, co-author (10th ed, 2024), with Professor Martin Dixon and Professor Nick Hopkins.
  • Lewison's Drafting Business Leases, author. (7th ed, 2007), (8th ed, 2013).
  • Registered Land: Law and Practice under the Land Registration Act 2002, Charles Harpum and Janet Bignell, (2004), (Jordans).
  • Registered Land The New Law: A Guide to the Land Registration Act 2002, Charles Harpum and Janet Bignell, (2002), (Jordans).
  • Fisher & Lightwood's Law of Mortgage, 11th edition (2001), Contributor of 7 chapters, (Butterworths).
  • The Lawyers Factbook, Executive Editor, Landlord and Tenant 2001-2004, (Sweet & Maxwell).
  • Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents, vol 3(1) Auctioneers, Estate Agents and Valuers, Advisory Editor and Contributor, 1995 and 1999, (Butterworths).
  • Landlord and Tenant Review, Editorial Board Member and Contributor, 1999 to date, (Sweet & Maxwell).
  • Numerous published articles on topical issues including articles in New Law Journal, Estates Gazette, Landlord & Tenant Review and The Conveyancer & Property Lawyer.
  • Janet also frequently lectures and runs workshops at professional and in-house conferences.