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Social Housing

1
4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
Cornerstone Barristers
Doughty Street Chambers
Five Paper
Garden Court Chambers
2
42BR Barristers
3
Field Court Chambers
Gatehouse Chambers
Landmark Chambers

Leading Silks

1
Ranjit Bhose KC –Cornerstone Barristers
Liz Davies KC –Garden Court Chambers ‘The leading barrister on homelessness matters and superb with clients.’
Nicholas Grundy KC –Five Paper
Kelvin Rutledge KC –Cornerstone Barristers ‘Kelvin’s knowledge of housing and homelessness is unparalleled. His knowledge of the law as it stands, and its development and evolution over time is exceptional, and he is widely regarded as a leading expert in this field, for good reason. He understands clients, the risks and challenges they face, and provides practical advice that meets their needs. His analysis of the law, and his written submissions are exceptional.’
Martin Westgate KC –Doughty Street Chambers ‘He is the best housing law barrister. He is very good both as an advocate and in writing.’
2
Jamie Burton KC –Doughty Street Chambers ‘Excellent attention to detail and analysis. In advocacy, Jamie is very strong on cross-examination and anticipating developments at trial and in hearings, thinking on his feet and adapting strategies during trials and hearings if needed to achieve successful outcomes.’
Ian Wise KC –Monckton Chambers

2023 Silks

Kuljit Bhogal KC – Cornerstone Barristers 'Kuljit is impressive in all aspects of her work - she researches her area of work in depth and has excellent advocacy skills, retaining a calm and measured demeanour in the face of any opposition.' 
Iris Ferber KC – 42BR Barristers ‘Iris is an excellent advocate who is extremely knowledgeable, well-prepared and manages to combine being confident when making submissions with having a pin-sharp ability to see which way the wind is blowing in court to the advantage of the client. Clients and solicitors alike love Iris because she wears her vast knowledge about housing law lightly and is able to give practical and understandable client advice with an eye on what really matters to the client. Iris is very easy to work with.’

2024 Silks

Justin Bates KC – Landmark Chambers

Leading Juniors

1
Christopher Baker – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
Tim Baldwin – Garden Court Chambers ‘Tim is very knowledgeable in his field.’
Clare Cullen – Field Court Chambers ‘An exceptional legal talent whose ability to analyse complex housing issues is only matched by the brilliance of her advocacy. Clare’s impeccable case preparation, research and creativity sets her apart from her peers. Clare exudes calm in court, and she advocates with the clarity and authority of a barrister who is at the top of her game. At present Clare is one of the best housing barristers practising at the Bar and it is a pleasure to instruct her.’
Edward Fitzpatrick – Garden Court Chambers
Andrew Lane – Cornerstone Barristers ‘All round excellent barrister, always a few steps ahead, prepared for all eventualities, his high level of experience and knowledge.’
Jonathan Manning – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Very experienced and skillful advocate, able to set out the law clearly and concisely for the judge in skeleton arguments. Never flustered.’
Zia Nabi – Doughty Street Chambers ‘He is a silk in all but name. He sees arguments others do not, his advocacy is first class, he is considered and persuasive at all times. Zia will always consider the case from the client’s perspective and he will not shy away from forming an argument about an issue that hasn’t been raised elsewhere.’
Dominic Preston – Doughty Street Chambers ‘A formidable advocate who is a joy to watch on the stand with his devastatingly forceful advocacy. Behind this lies a highly committed barrister with a long track record of delivering excellent results for vulnerable clients.’
Dean Underwood – Cornerstone Barristers
Toby Vanhegan – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Toby’s expertise in housing law is truly exceptional. His in-depth knowledge of the law, combined with his keen analytical mind, enable him to provide invaluable insights and strategic guidance throughout cases.’
2
Justine Compton – Garden Court Chambers ‘Justine is thorough and approaches cases practically. She is very good with clients.’
Stephen Cottle – Garden Court Chambers ‘An excellent advocate, a huge wealth of experience, personable, honest, professional, empathetic, and a genuine person. He always has the ear of the court.’
Andrew Dymond – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Andrew is assured and clear in his manner and advice. He is delightful to work with and can work with large cases very well. He spots key information and can explain key and complex issues clearly to clients.'
Stephen Evans –Five Paper
Terence Gallivan – Five Paper
David Lintott –Cornerstone Barristers
Stephanie Lovegrove – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Stephanie’s meticulous attention to detail, combined with her deep understanding of housing law, ensures that every aspect of a case is thoroughly examined and expertly argued.’
Alison Meacher – Gatehouse Chambers 'Alison is very knowledgeable in this area of law. She’s incredibly intelligent and this is reflected in the quality of her advice and her drafting. She is a strong advocate and presents her client’s case clearly and firmly. Her advice is always thorough and well reasoned.'
Catherine O’Donnell –Garden Court Chambers 'Catherine is a very knowledgeable counsel. She is always thorough and detailed in her advice. She is very approachable and lovely to work with.'
Victoria Osler - Cornerstone Barristers
Ian Peacock – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Thorough, rigorous and fair.‘
Catherine Rowlands – Cornerstone Barristers
Sarah Salmon – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Sarah’s written advocacy is superb. Her writing is clear and precise, and thoroughly well-researched. Her oral advocacy is equally persuasive, and she is a fierce but sensible opponent.’
Marina Sergides – Garden Court Chambers ‘Marina is a wonderful mix of being personable and approachable whilst being extremely professional, committed and diligent in her practice. She calmly and deftly navigates any problem and it is always reassuring to know she’s on your team. She is an outstanding advocate.’
Sarah Steinhardt – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Sarah is a first-rate advocate, ardent yet acutely plausible, and utterly compelling. Outside the courtroom, her advice and drafting are scrupulous and intelligent. She is courageous in the face of difficult cases and possessed of a very patient, reassuring manner with clients.’
3
Nick Bano – Garden Court Chambers
Wayne Beglan – Cornerstone Barristers
Tessa Buchanan – Garden Court Chambers
Annette Cafferkey – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Annette knows her law and is an excellent advocate.’
Riccardo Calzavara – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Riccardo’s knowledge on social housing law is exemplary, he can cite legislation and quote sections from the Housing Act with ease. He is a wonderful methodical advocate, and judges welcome his clear understanding of the law, which results in successful wins. It is a joy to work with Riccardo as he provides clear action points.‘
Alexander Campbell – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Excellent client care, pragmatic and practical- really goes the extra mile generally. His advocacy and preparation is faultless – a really impressive barrister. The complexity of matters in the area with over the years has increased, and Alexander has always been years beyond his year of call in capability.’
David Carter – Doughty Street Chambers ‘David is very good at analysing and identifying the issues within a case. He is also very good in advocacy. He gets on well with every client and is extremely knowledgeable.' 
Iain Colville – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square
Tina Conlan – Five Paper
Sian Davies –39 Essex Chambers 'Sian is an extremely capable and dependable advocate, who will always go the extra mile for her clients. She is very approachable and always considers all facets and nuances of an individual case. She is also extremely thorough with her written advice which fosters confidence amongst her very loyal client base.'
Elizabeth England – Five Paper
Kevin Gannon – Garden Court Chambers
Emma Godfrey – Field Court Chambers
Angela Hall – Five Paper
Bethan Harris – Garden Court Chambers
Martin Hodgson – One Pump Court ‘Martin is a highly experienced and knowledgeable barrister. He is caring, compassionate and the advice given is always clear, concise and holistic. Martin is a strategic litigator and highly skilled advocate. He can work at speed, turns work around in good time and is able to spot complex legal issues quickly. He is a pleasure to work with and is highly recommended.’
Lindsay Johnson – Cornerstone Barristers
Connor Johnston – Garden Court Chambers ‘Aside from being a leading light in the area of housing and community care law, Connor is very compassionate and has a down to earth approach which puts lay clients at ease. He leaves no stone unturned to achieve the best outcome for those he assists.’
Desmond Kilcoyne – 42BR Barristers ‘Desmond quickly understands the issues in dispute and proactively attempts to solve them. He is the go-to for complex matters. Desmond is very skilled in advocacy getting the desired results. If you have a complex matter which requires a great deal of advocacy, then he should be your first point of contact.’
Ryan Kohli – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Ryan is methodical, careful and reliable. He is the classic safe pair of hands but goes beyond that by way of a great intellect, grasp of complicated legal processes and imaginative flair as and when required. His advocacy style is measured, on point and persuasive. He is not fazed by judicial intervention, and unfailingly polite to opponents and others.’
Matthew Lee – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Matthew’s proficiency in housing law is truly remarkable. His comprehensive understanding of the law, coupled with his strategic insight, proved invaluable in navigating the complexities of cases.’
Stefan Liberadzki  - 42BR Barristers 'Stefan is hard working, reliable and understands the clients needs. He makes complex possession cases look easy.'
Ben Maltz – Five Paper
Mathew McDermott – 42BR Barristers
Jennifer Moate – Five Paper
Michael Mullin – Five Paper
Rea Murray – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Rea is very knowledgeable, tactical and confident. She is also good at thinking on her feet, and with clients.’
Sam Phillips – Five Paper
Millie Polimac –Five Paper
Tristan Salter – Five Paper
Genevieve Screeche-Powell – Field Court Chambers ‘She is an excellent advocate; she is succinct and on point in her delivery. She has a wealth of experience. Genevieve has a very personable nature and puts vulnerable clients at ease. ‘
Laura Tweedy – Gatehouse Chambers ‘A tremendous intellect matched with calm, effective and brilliant advocacy. Laura knows how to approach judges. She can go on the attack but is also succinct and tactful when needed.'
Adrian Marshall Williams – Garden Court Chambers ‘Adrian is an intelligent, meticulous, brave and brilliant advocate. He produces excellent written work. He is very committed to cases and goes the extra mile. He is extremely helpful when assisting with questions and is very tactical. Adrian has obtained some extraordinary results for clients over the years.’
4
Peter Jolley – 42BR Barristers ‘Peter is a go-to barrister for housing disrepair claims. He is very approachable and is always willing to provide advice on matters to assist his instructing solicitor. Peter is also a detailed and robust advocate.’
Matthew Ahluwalia  – Garden Court Chambers
Amritpal Bachu - 42BR Barristers ‘Amritpal is an excellent and compelling advocate. He is careful to chose the strongest arguments to make the strongest case before the court. His drafting is meticulous and argumentatively clear. He is friendly and approachable for clients and a pleasure to work with.’
Sally Blackmore – Enterprise Chambers ‘Very thorough advice given and extremely well prepared for hearings, including trials.’
Rebecca Cattermole – 39 Essex Chambers
Daniel Clarke – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Daniel is a leading light in the area of capacity to litigate and has lead the way on trying to clarify procedure in this field. He is also an incredibly thoughtful and knowledgeable barrister with a very calm yet incisive demeanor when on the stand. Clients always feel reassured by his calmness and compassion.’
Matthew Feldman – Cornerstone Barristers
Naomi Hawkes – 42BR Barristers
Michael Marsh-Hyde – One Pump Court ‘Michael is a formidable advocate in court. He has very impressive attention to detail and has an infectious energy in never giving up for his clients even when the odds are stacked against them.’
Sarah McKeown – Field Court Chambers ‘Sarah has a very good all round knowledge of social housing law and its practical procedure, is very clear in her written and oral advice, provides lengthy and comprehensive written advices following her considering all facets of a case in great detail. She is a strong advocate – her arguments are made in a clear, persuasive and structured way. She is also very pleasant to work with.'
Niamh O’Brien – 42BR  ‘She is calm and consistent in her approach. Her written advocacy is clear and concise. She can consider and synthesise the broad range of legal and practical issues in the case, as well as the relevant evidence.’
Tara O’Leary – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Tara is extremely thorough and knowledgeable – she doesn’t miss a beat. She takes a very pragmatic approach and her experience in this area is clear as it comes across in they way she assists on each case. She is able to look into complex issues quickly and provide detailed, clear advice. Tara is an excellent advocate as well.’
Angela Piears  - 42BR Barristers 'Angela is very calm under pressure and delivers reasoned and pragmatic advice. She is very easy to work with and delivers consistent results.'
Sonia Rai – Five Paper
David Renton – Garden Court Chambers ‘David has a detailed knowledge of housing law, in particular disrepair and public law matters. His pleadings are very concise. David is a strong and robust advocate on behalf of clients. His pleadings help with settling cases and help achieve good settlements in disrepair cases. David is very good with vulnerable clients and is willing to meet clients in conference and advise them.’
Desmond Rutledge   – Garden Court Chambers ‘Desmond has a detailed knowledge of housing and benefits in particular the interplay between the two, including possession claims where there are complex outstanding Universal Credit or Housing Benefit issues.’
Michael Sprack – 1 MCB Chambers

Rising Stars

Max Gordon – 42BR Barristers
Alice Irving – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Alice is one of the go-to barristers. She is excellent in every conceivable way - technically brilliant, conscientious and strategic. She is also incredibly compassionate, sensitive and empathetic with clients. You can trust Alice with the most complex points of law and the most difficult cases.’
Angharad Monk – Garden Court Chambers ‘Excellent attention to detail, precise written submissions and a very determined advocate.‘
Marie Paris – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Marie knows how to win and her advocacy always hits the target. She marries tenacity with a passionate belief in social justice. Marie is a pleasure to instruct and her positive results, particularly with homelessness judicial reviews, speak for themselves. A sharp legal mind with a genuine empathy for her clients, Marie is a classy barrister whose star is clearly on the rise.’
Georgina Rea – Garden Court Chambers ‘Georgina is very good when working with vulnerable clients.’
Philippa Seal – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square ‘Philippa is an articulate and bright advocate and a very safe pair of hands.‘
Katherine Traynor - Landmark Chambers  'Kate is very pragmatic, knowledgeable and thorough in her work.'

Social housing in London Bar

4-5 Gray's Inn Square


The team at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square is ‘exceptional’ in social housing law. Jonathan Manning represented a local authority in the Court of Appeal in Birmingham CC v Bravington concerning if a notice of seeking possession could be served by handing it to another resident of the property. Another recent instruction reaching the Court of Appeal includes Iain Colville settling technical questions surrounding the suitability of local authority accommodation in Hodge v Folkestone and Hythe DC. Andrew Holland, led by Andrew Dymond has worked on sensitive cases involving local authority provision of housing for asylum seekers. Toby Vanhegan acted in Moge v Ealing LBC, an important homelessness accommodation case concerning out-of-borough placements.

Les références

‘The clerks are very helpful, even with urgent instructions. I have had excellent service from Emily Martin and Josh Mann in particular, but all the clerks at chambers are very helpful.’

‘The clerks are knowledgeable and efficient.’

‘The clerks are always helpful and ready to go the extra mile.’

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Cornerstone Barristers


Cornerstone Barristers has earned client trust as advocates in ‘the most complex and high-profile cases’ on a wide variety of issues ranging from anti-social behaviour to statutory nuisance; allocations to repossessions; homelessness and cases involving human rights arguments. Kelvin Rutledge KC led Riccardo Calzavara in the Supreme Court in R (Imam) v LB Croydon – a judicial review concerning a local authority failing to secure suitable accommodation for a homeless claimant, nearly six years after the duty had been accepted, while Catherine Rowlands represented the local authorities in Fertre v South Oxfordshire DC and Vale of White Horse DC, in which a homelessness appellant, after bringing the appeal against the wrong local authority, sought to simply amend her appeal to add the correct defendant. Lindsay Johnson has engaged in a large number of cases involving vulnerable people in challenging situations.

Les références

‘The clerking team at Cornerstone are fantastic. They are incredibly understanding of the pressures that clients are under, and they do all they can to make the process of instructing counsel as smooth as possible.’

‘The clerks at Cornerstone are extremely courteous and efficient when on the telephone or when meeting face to face.’

‘The clerks are all easy to contact and pleasant to deal with.’

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Doughty Street Chambers


Doughty Street Chambers is a ‘brilliant all-round set’. The team maintains an ‘excellent reputation’ for tenant-side representation, ‘particularly when elements of public law are involved’. Martin Westgate KC has ‘excellent legal knowledge’, having appeared alongside Sarah Steinhardt before the Supreme Court in R (Imam) v Croydon LBC – a judicial review concerning a local authority not securing suitable accommodation for a homeless claimant for nearly six years after the duty had been accepted. Jamie Burton KC has ‘excellent attention to detail’ shown in his representation in R (Zaman) v Waltham Forest LBC – a high-profile case concerning a proposed out of borough placement in Stoke-on-Trent. David Carter has advised and acted on a number of homelessness cases and Rea Murray has acted on a number of cases involving vulnerable individuals requiring representation at judicial reviews.

Les références

‘The clerks are all superb, led by Sian Wilkins and Rachel Finch who are exceptionally efficient, pragmatic and a joy to work with.’

‘Clerks are responsive, reliable, and professional at all times.’

‘The clerks are excellent; friendly, efficient and willing to help even at very short notice.’

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Five Paper


Five Paper maintains social housing as one of its core practice areas. Nicholas Grundy KC led Michael Mullin in Zaman v LB Waltham Forest, a case concerning out-of-borough placements issued to homeless applicants. Elizabeth England appeared unled before the Court of Appeal, a case providing guidance on whether ADR can be made compulsory. Angela Hall has handled a plethora of cases concerning disrepair and possession that concern vulnerable individuals. Jennifer Moate regularly represents local authorities in cases involving disrepair and possession claims as well as anti-social injunctions.

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Garden Court Chambers


An ’excellent’ set, Garden Court Chambers’ team of silks and juniors continue to make ‘a significant contribution’ to the practice area. Stephen Cottle  is branded an ‘excellent advocate’, recently representing vulnerable individuals against eviction proceedings. Adrian Marshall Williams  is ‘very committed to cases’ having worked on a number of possession claims with public law elements. Georgina Rea appears largely unled on a variety of complex cases in the area.

Les références

‘Competent, efficient and helpful clerking service with particular mention for Tim Hempsted and Joe Fraser.’

‘Excellent set, clerks and counsel very approachable. They continue to make a significant contribution to the area of social welfare law sector.’

‘Garden Court’s clerking team is excellent.’

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42BR Barristers


With ‘comprehensive experience in all landlord and tenant issues’, the team at 42BR Barristers is ‘always willing to go that extra mile’ in advising and representing individuals, public authorities and government entities on various social housing issues. Iris Ferber KC is ‘a joy to work with’ with recent stand-out work including high-value housing disrepair cases but she is also well regarded for her work in unlawful eviction and homelessness matters. ‘Demonstrating diligence and focus’, Desmond Kilcoyne frequently represents local authorities in complex cases involving possession and homelessness appeals. Niamh O’Brien’s ‘calm and consistent’ approach also lends its hand in assisting local authorities in various claims. Peter Jolley is a ‘robust advocate’ particularly in relation to tenant disputes involving sensitive circumstances – as is Stefan Liberadzki. Angela Piears ‘has a wealth of housing law knowledge’ and is well regarded for her work on disrepair and statutory nuisance claims. Max Gordon is also knowledgeable in this area.

Les références

‘The clerks are a pleasure to deal with, and will go the extra mile to ensure that you get what you are looking for.’

‘The clerks are not only approachable but also highly proficient in their duties.’

‘This set has always had a very good clerking team, who have a helpful, practical approach and can-do attitude. The clerking approach is solutions-driven.’

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Field Court Chambers


The team at Field Court Chambers has ‘lots of experience and a breadth of knowledge’, and is known for its strong position on local authority panels. Genevieve Screeche-Powell is a ‘go to’ for cases concerning capacity and disability discrimination. Her recent highlights include Moge v LB Ealing – a case on the duty placed upon local authorities to accommodate applicants within the borough so far as reasonably practicable, in which she led Clare Cullen. Meanwhile, Sarah McKeown is lauded for her ‘comprehensive advice and strong advocacy’. Mark Baumohl has had success in assisting local authorities with cases that concerned issues with anti-social behaviour.

Les références

‘All clerks are very pleasant and helpful to deal with.’

‘The clerking team are professional and quick to reply to any queries.’

‘The set is talented, available and helpful.’

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Gatehouse Chambers


Gatehouse Chambers has ‘great strength in residential property issues’ with their close-knit team covering a wide range of issues, including right to buy, disrepair and anti-social injunctions. Alison Meacher is ‘a strong advocate’, with recent highlights include representing a local authority in resisting an application to stay an order for possession; she is also well regarded in complex right to buy cases. Laura Tweedy has ‘a tremendous intellect matched with brilliant advocacy’, her recent work has included Mears Housing Management v Luton, a case that involved the eviction of homeless individuals. She also has experience in anti-social behaviour cases and possession proceedings.

Les références

‘Sam Read is particularly impressive as he makes special effort to assist and always comes back in good time.’

‘I rate James Duncan-Hartill very highly. Having worked with him for over 10 years, he is exceptional in terms of engagement, response time and conduct.’

‘Gatehouse provides an excellent service. The clerks are friendly.’

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Landmark Chambers


Landmark Chambers are a ‘top set’ on matters relating to social housing. The set represents homelessness charities, government entities and both social housing landlords and tenants. The recently appointed silk Justin Bates KC, has appeared before the Supreme Court, representing the homelessness charity Crisis, in R (Imam) v Croydon LBC – a judicial review concerning a local authority not securing suitable accommodation for a homeless claimant for nearly six years after the duty had been accepted.

Les références

‘They are a top set of chambers with specialists on disputes relating to property.’

‘The clerks at Landmark are helpful.’

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