Property law barrister honoured for his work across enfranchisement and leasehold disputes
Hugh Rowan has been named Barrister of the Year – Junior Counsel (Up to 10 Years’ Call) at the Apartment Adviser Awards 2026. The award recognises excellence across enfranchisement, right to manage, and the wider apartment and leasehold sector.
The announcement was made by his chambers, which also congratulated all those shortlisted for this year’s awards. Rowan is a junior barrister specialising in property law and is regularly instructed in property-related disputes arising within a commercial chancery context.
His practice focuses on real property, enfranchisement, residential and commercial landlord and tenant matters, as well as commercial and company disputes. He appears both as sole counsel and as part of legal teams before the High Court, County Court and the First-tier Tribunal.
According to his chambers, Rowan has appeared in several high-profile cases. During 2025 and 2026, he appeared on five occasions before the Court of Appeal in cases involving damages recoverable for disrepair, the scope of the Building Safety Act 2022, the interpretation of a shareholders’ agreement and the court’s jurisdiction in bankruptcy proceedings.
The chambers said clients value Rowan’s collaborative approach and his ability to deal with complex legal and factual issues. He is also Direct Access qualified and accepts instructions directly from clients where appropriate.
Alongside his advocacy practice, Rowan is a co-author of five specialist property law books covering service charges, the right to manage, enfranchisement and the Building Safety Act 2022. He edits one of the publications relating to the Building Safety Act.
He is also a regular contributor to Landlord & Tenant Review, writing case digests, topical articles and legal commentaries. Before joining chambers, Rowan studied Philosophy and Theology at Oriel College, Oxford, and completed his law conversion at City University.
During his legal training, he volunteered as a caseworker with the Free Representation Unit, where he conducted employment cases in the First-tier Tribunal, and also volunteered with the Blackfriars Settlement Advice Clinic. The Apartment Adviser Awards recognise individuals and organisations demonstrating excellence within enfranchisement, right to manage and the wider apartment and leasehold community.