LKP rejects threat of defamation proceedings from Canonbury Management

The Leasehold Knowledge Partnership has been threatened with defamation proceedings by Canonbury Management for two articles published in 2012 and 2016.

Both concerned right to manage applications, a service provided by Canonbury Management, that were contested in the property tribunal. For both articles, LKP was in dialogue with Canonbury Management (Investment Technology Limited) and received responses.

For the 2012 article, this was a written statement provided by Canonbury Management’s own solicitors. In the 2016 article there is written reference with both LKP and the leaseholders of dialogue with Canonbury executive David Breare.

The matter has now been the subject of discussion between Sir Peter Bottomley and Roger McElroy, the chief executive of Canonbury Management.

Sir Peter has asked Canonbury Management for details of examples of defamation threats to residential leaseholders who may have made representations about their situation. Sir Peter said:

“Those who appear to be leaning too hard on ordinary people should be prepared to be named in public. The strong should help those weaker than they are.”

Having first claimed that the “material is inaccurate, untrue, defamatory and gives rise to an actionable claim in defamation”, and that these articles of several years ago were so damaging that they had to be removed within 48 hours or it would begin proceedings, Canonbury Management subsequently stated that “with some amendments, to ensure that it is honest and accurate, we would be pleased for the article to remain in place”.

Canonbury Management also claims that “our company’s name is a registered trade mark and may not be legally reproduced without our express consent”.

LKP has asked Canonbury Management for a full statement for publication addressing its concerns and this has not yet been received.

The first article concerned Marathon House, in Baker Street, central London and is dated 20 November 2012 and is here:

Marathon House celebrates its ‘first’ LVT victory – £425 of legal costs

The second article concerned Terrys Mews in York and is dated 28 October 2016:

Terrys Mews right to manage fails for not knowing Peverel OM is now FirstPort

Canonbury Management is invited to make its views on these articles clear.

Letters from Canonbury Management are here:

CanonburyManagement- 1439129

CanonburyManagement – 1439130