Can Tree-Related Subsidence Be Resolved Without Removing the Tree?
When homeowners discover that tree roots may be linked to subsidence damage, the conversation often moves very quickly towards one proposed solution: remove the tree. But is tree removal always necessary? Not necessarily. At Tree Law, we regularly advise on disputes involving trees, buildings and insurers, and one of the most important points we try […]
Is Avoiding Tree Surveys a False Economy for Housing Associations?
In summary: Housing associations sometimes avoid undertaking tree surveys out of concern that they will uncover unaffordable works. While understandable, this approach increases rather than reduces risk. Trees exist across the estate whether they are formally recognised or not, and the legal expectation is not perfection but a reasonable system for understanding and managing that […]
Tree Root Subsidence: Are Insurers Quietly Changing Their Approach?
Recent media coverage suggests something is shifting in how subsidence claims, particularly those involving trees, are being handled. In 2025 alone: • According to ABI data, UK insurers paid out £153m in subsidence claims in the first half of the year, driven by extreme weather • Media reports highlight a trend of insurers pushing for […]
From Karate Mats to Courtrooms: Phillip’s Solicitor Story
We’re pleased to welcome Phillip Nicholl to the Tree Law team. His route to qualifying as a solicitor hasn’t followed the traditional path, and he shares a behind-the-scenes look at his journey below. From Karate Mats to Courtrooms: My Decade‑Long Journey to Becoming a Solicitor When people talk about becoming a solicitor, they often […]
Planning Appeals Have Changed. Developers Now Only Get One Shot
From 1 April 2026, a fundamental change to the planning appeals process has reshaped how development risk should be managed. This is not a minor procedural update. It represents a structural shift that places far greater weight on the quality of the planning application itself. For developers, the implications are immediate and material. The appeal […]
Helen Wilson on Her Career in the Judiciary
At Tree Law, we are proud to work alongside professionals who bring both legal expertise and real-world perspective to their roles. Helen Wilson, Managing Partner at Tree Law Ltd and Deputy District Judge (Wales Circuit), shares her journey into the judiciary, the realities of the role, and her advice for those considering a similar path. […]
Cost Risk in Environmental Claims is Not What You Think
The Aarhus Convention and what it really means for environmental challenges in the UK Where people, trees and property meet, the law is rarely just about black letter rules. It is about access, balance and fairness. The Aarhus Convention sits right in that space, and yet it is often misunderstood in practice. At its […]
Three Years of Climate Action with Ecologi
At Tree Law, trees sit at the heart of everything we do. Every day we work on cases involving tree protection, subsidence, development pressures and environmental responsibility. It therefore felt important that, as a business, we also take practical steps to reduce and offset our own environmental impact. Three years ago we began using Ecologi […]
Why Subsidence Jobs Keep Ending Up The Same Way
In a recent feature with Construction News, Sarah Dodd, founder of Tree Law, shares her perspective on the realities of subsidence cases, exploring the legal context that sits alongside structural solutions once liability has been accepted and remediation is underway. Sarah Dodd is the founder and chief executive of legal firm Tree Law Subsidence […]
Can I Prune My Neighbour’s Trees? Only if you check these 4 things first, warn legal experts
What rights do you really have when a neighbour’s tree starts encroaching on your space? It’s a question many homeowners find themselves looking into. Particularly when overhanging branches begin to cross boundaries both physical and legal. In a recent feature with Ideal Home, Sarah Dodd, founder of Tree Law, shares expert insight on the rules […]
