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Doughty Street Chambers

Community Care

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

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Doughty Street Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

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Community Care - London (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Doughty Street Chambers is a market-leading set for community care matters and houses a strong bench of experienced barristers at both senior and junior levels. The set's community care practice is bolstered by its expertise in complementary areas such as social housing and human rights law, and the barristers are highly regarded for their handling of matters involving both children's services and adult social care. The team is noted for its expert representation of vulnerable individuals, and is regularly instructed in disputes involving asylum seekers and trafficked individuals, homeless children and disabled people. This expertise is reflected in Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Arrbab in a judicial review on behalf of child tax credit recipients who lost right to appeal government decisions.

Sian Wilkins is the senior clerk.

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Strengths

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  • Doughty Street clerks are excellent.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

  • Doughty Street Chambers is excellent, really hands-on and very responsive. They are super friendly and offer great service.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

  • Doughty Street clerks are very good and proficient.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

  • The clerks at Doughty Street are really friendly and welcoming, particularly Rachel, Emily, Grace and Ben.

    Community Care respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

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  • Shu Shin Luh
    Shu Shin Luh

    Shu Shin Luh

    Shu Shin Luh is an impressive barrister who frequently acts for vulnerable persons in individual claims and litigation challenging public policy. She draws praise from the market for the determination she brings to her brief. She is noted for her work on access to support for vulnerable young people who exhibit characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010.

    • Shu Shin Luh is great. She is phenomenally hard-working, very tenacious and a real fighter in cases.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • Shu Shin is brilliant. She works exceptionally hard and is very strategic and tactical, and cares a lot about her clients.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Jamie Burton
    Jamie Burton

    Jamie Burton

    Jamie Burton KC is a leading public law barrister who is involved in an array of community care issues, and is particularly active in cases that involve elements of housing, social security and clinical care. His cases frequently address the impact of human rights on community care law, and he receives special praise for his work concerning children's care and asylum support.

    • Jamie Burton KC is absolutely excellent, and his advocacy skills are a real strength.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • He is someone who takes on cases and gets results for the most vulnerable people.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Martin Westgate
    Martin Westgate

    Martin Westgate

    Martin Westgate KC is a widely renowned silk with a depth of experience in housing and social welfare work and its relation to community care. He is also well regarded for his handling of immigration and trafficking cases.

    • Martin is wise and compassionate.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Stephen Cragg
    Stephen Cragg

    Stephen Cragg

    Stephen Cragg KC is an expert in social welfare and criminal justice public law who also has a strong community care practice. He has significant experience in cases related to the provision of asylum support and local authority policy disputes.

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  • Antonia Benfield
    Antonia Benfield

    Antonia Benfield

    Antonia Benfield is an impressive junior whose practice covers public law, immigration and community care. She frequently acts for claimants in age assessment matters.

    • Antonia is second to none.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • She is amazing to work with and has been really useful in advising on complex issues.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Alice Irving
    Alice Irving

    Alice Irving

    Alice Irving is an up-and-coming junior who is noted for her expertise in community care matters, particularly those involving disabled clients and their families.

    • Alice Irving is able to cut through the issues and provide clear and practical legal advice with the client's aims at the forefront. She is a delight to work with.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar

    • Alice is creative and practical, and her drafting is very good.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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  • Donnchadh Greene
    Donnchadh Greene

    Donnchadh Greene

    Donnchadh Greene is a well-recognised junior and often acts for claimants in community care matters. He frequently handles cases related to age assessments and the provision of asylum support.

    • Donnchadh Greene is a strong advocate.

      Community Care respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at Doughty Street Chambers (7)

London (Bar)

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