Reflections on a year in the hot seat

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and my year as chair of the Property Litigation Association has certainly flown by in the blink of an eye. Previous chairs told me this would happen and counselled me to enjoy every moment; how wise their words would turn out to be. In taking on the role, I wanted to try and bring a fresh perspective to the PLA – to shake things up a little and interrogate what we are doing and why. I have talked previously about coming from a non-traditional background – being an openly gay man and the first person in my family to go to university – and I have worked towards the goal of helping the PLA become more representative of our members, reflecting the diversity of the wider industry and society we serve. Collaborative change To help achieve this, my vice-chair Rebecca Campbell and I have this year been meeting with other key industry bodies in the property sphere, including the British Property Federation, the British Council for Offices and the RICS, to help understand their approach and share learning. When meeting with Justin Young, chief executive of the RICS, we explored ways in which our two organisations could collaborate and work together more effectively. Along with Chhavie Kapoor, head of our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, we will be taking forward some exciting new work together to support younger members of the profession and promote EDI. Having reflected in recent years on our purpose and raison d’être, the PLA has now reached a really inspiring and pivotal phase where we are able to be much more externally facing and can offer real, tangible value to the real estate ecosystem that surrounds us, in addition to our members. One initiative we are engaging with is UKREiiF, which I attended back in May. Following my attendance, I am delighted to announce that the PLA will be officially partnering with UKREiiF in 2025. A further announcement with full details about this partnership will be made in due course. Rebecca and I are very much aligned on values and, as the association’s 30th anniversary approaches in 2025, I am reassured to be leaving the PLA in the safe hands of someone who cares as passionately as I do. We are both keen to ensure that it delivers quality and value for our members year on year, as well as developing its role on EDI issues. Like me, Rebecca has been with the PLA for nearly a decade, and I very much look forward to seeing how she progresses these industry relationships and wider association initiatives over the coming year. Making a difference The work of the PLA would not be possible without the incredible efforts of all those involved in our various committees and sub-committees, such as our EDI Committee, which is now in full swing. Its inaugural event took place at the end of October and was a rip-roaring success, with positive feedback across the board. You can expect to see further events over the coming 12 months, and I am excited about what the committee will achieve under Chhavie’s excellent stewardship. I would also like to recognise the steadfast commitment of our Junior PLA chair Rachael Studman, who has worked tirelessly this year to deliver a varied programme of both professional and social events for JPLA members. There will be even more for our junior members to engage with in the coming year as we link up with the junior arms of a number of industry bodies. On to our Law Reform Committee and the incredibly important work they do. Going into my term as chair, I expected that the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 would be the major area in which we would be supporting members. The reality has been quite different, and instead we have all been navigating the significant change within the residential property sphere, particularly around leasehold reform and the upcoming Renters’ Rights Bill. There will be much to be done in the coming months in that space, in addition to the kick-off of the Law Commission’s consultation on the 1954 Act, and those on the PLA’s Law Reform Committee very much look forward to being at the forefront of discussions on that topic. Not done yet I’d like to finish with a sincere thank you to the whole PLA executive. Being a PLA volunteer requires significant time and effort, and at the end of every executive meeting I am always inspired to see the commitment of all members to making our industry work more effectively, and ensuring that those who operate in it feel supported and respected. I am pleased to say that, having completed my year as chair, I might not be disappearing from the PLA executive entirely. Rebecca and I are currently exploring the possibility that, going forwards, previous chairs transition into a consultancy role for a further year. In this new role, I will be looking to act as a conduit between other former PLA chairs and the current executive, helping to harness the huge pool of knowledge that they collectively hold for the benefit of the current membership and the wider industry. As my final call to action as chair, I would like to invite anyone considering getting involved in the PLA to take the next step and get in touch: we really value the creativity and innovation that a new generation of volunteers bring and would be delighted to have you join. Contact the PLA at: admin@pla.org.uk Mark Reading is a partner at Mishcon de Reya LLP Photo © Alistair Veryard Photography, courtesy of Meaningful