Mark Treneer

Civil and Family Barrister

Year of Call
1987

Family Law

Ancillary Relief

Overview

The main focus is in ancillary relief (financial remedies) for husbands, wives and children, especially where there are trust and/or business assets and farms. Mark cuts through volume of paper to the core and critical issues and is focussed and blunt with his clients and the Court alike. He is overwhelmingly commercial in approach: final hearings are a last resort, but if necessary they are contested with vigour.

W v W
Financial remedies on divorce with trust assets, necessitating applications in Chancery Division for removal and replacement of trustees and then the consequent financial provision between husband and wife impacted by discretionary trust provision for children.

M v M
Financial remedies involving re-possession and bi-partite allegations of financial conduct being a long-standing and bitter dispute and resulting in a hotly contested final hearing.

C v D
Short childless marriage with significant inherited, trust and business assets overlaid with important health issues affecting the parties.

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Inheritance Act or TOLATA

Overview

These Areas neatly dovetail with Mark’s financial remedies, land and trust interests. He acts almost equally for Applicants and Respondents, but is equally comfortable with acting for intervenors and third parties in these applications.

R v D
Inheritance Act and TOLATA proceedings heard together acting for Respondents (minor and adult) children to a second wife’s application for financial provision from the deceased’s estate and resisting sale of former matrimonial home where divorce proceedings were on the point of being issued prior to the deceased’s death but had not actually commenced.

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Civil Law

Land and Property

Overview

Mark works for a wide variety of local authorities and private individuals in a wide range of land and property disputes including public and private rights of way, restrictive covenants (including modification and discharge and consequent compensation assessments) and interim and final relief including injunctions

C v M
Modification and discharge of restrictive covenants and compensation arising (including significant costs arguments) in relation to restrictive covenants holding up the re-development of significant industrial sites

Re V
For landowner successfully resisting modification of definitive map to add a public footpath

J v S
Interim and final injunctions and damages for breach of restrictive covenants and trespass

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Biographical and Other Information

Dartmoor
Mark farms on Dartmoor with cattle and sheep and breeds thoroughbred horses. He is Chairman of two commoners associations and is involved in the management of the environmental schemes relevant to these commons.
Academic
Mark read history at Southampton University (BA) and then law at City University (Dip.Law and MA in law with his thesis on damages for mental distress for breach of contract). He received both an entrance award and major award from Inner Temple.

Civil Law team members

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Mark Treneer

Year Of Call : 1987

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Lara Spencer

Year Of Call : 2000; Head of Civil

Lara has represented both Claimants and Defendants in a variety of matters for over 20 years and has appeared before most Courts and many different Tribunals. She has also given numerous talks and seminars in civil litigation to CPD providers and assisted in writing civil litigation material for online CPD providers. Lara is authorised to conduct all areas of litigation. She is a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association and the Personal Injury Bar Association. Many of Lara’s cases are high value. As such, she often appears against KCs. Although based in Exeter, Lara undertakes court work throughout England and Wales. Lara’s wide common law practice affords her with a thorough understanding of the processes and tactics of civil law and litigation, and enables her to provide specialist, pragmatic and practical advice. Similarly, her early experience at the criminal bar, during which time she prosecuted and defended in the Magistrates Court and Crown Courts, and her continued work there in planning and environmental matters, provides her with a continued specialist knowledge and experience of criminal law and practice.

lara.spencer@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Emma Smith

Year Of Call : 2005

Emma is a practitioner who accepts instructions in both civil and family law. Personable and approachable to clients, Emma has a practical and down-to-earth style both in conference and in court.

emma.smith@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Felicity Payne

Year Of Call : 2010

Felicity is a common law barrister with an established and varied practice in all aspects of criminal and civil law. Felicity is thorough, practical and robust in her approach, whilst remaining personable.

felicity.payne@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Laura Searle

Year Of Call : 2011; Head of Family / Deputy HoC

Laura is a family barrister with a busy and varied practice acting and advising in public and private law proceedings, applications for injunctive relief and financial remedy proceedings. She is a personable and approachable advocate who prides herself on going the extra mile for her clients. She has studied and worked internationally in France, Brussels, Luxembourg and New Zealand and is a Denning and Eastham Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn

laura.searle@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Evie Dean

Year Of Call : 2019

Evie accepts instructions in both criminal and family law. She regularly appears in the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts where she prosecutes and defends in all stages of proceedings. She also acts for parents in both private and care proceedings from application stage through to contested interim and final hearings.

Since joining Walnut House after successfully completing a twelve-month pupillage in chambers, Evie has continued to enjoy a busy and varied practice. She has been complimented on her pragmatic and personable manner with her clients.

evie.dean@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Sam Wysocki

Year Of Call : 2020

Sam has developed a diverse practice across Chambers’ family and civil teams, representing clients throughout the South West. He prides himself on his attention to detail, being approachable and offering pragmatic advice.
Sam completed his pupillage and accepted tenancy from Walnut House in October 2021. Furthermore, Sam successfully obtained his public access qualification in October 2022.

sam.wysocki@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Zoe Kuyken

Year Of Call : 2021

Zoe joined chambers after successfully completing a 12 month pupillage in 2022.

Zoe accepts instructions in criminal and family law.

zoe.kuyken@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Azzam Bhatti

Year Of Call : 2017

Azzam has a mixed Civil, Criminal and Family practice at Walnut House.

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Mark Treneer (1987)
Lara Spencer (2000; Head of Civil)
Emma Smith (2005)
Felicity Payne (2010)
Laura Searle (2011; Head of Family / Deputy HoC)
Evie Dean (2019)
Sam Wysocki (2020)
Zoe Kuyken (2021)
Azzam Bhatti (2017)