Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Social Housing - London (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Garden Court Chambers is very well known for its representation of tenants in highly complex social housing cases. Members of the set frequently represent vulnerable clients in disrepair claims, homelessness appeals and possession proceedings. Barristers at the set are regularly called on to assist with challenges to local authority housing, welfare and benefit decisions. One source comments: "Garden Court Chambers' broad variety of expertise is a real standout." Another states: "Garden Court is my go-to chambers for complex and sophisticated matters in a homelessness context." A work highlight for the set this year is Ghaoui v Waltham Forest LBS, a homelessness appeal.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Edward Fitzpatrick
1
Band 1

Edward Fitzpatrick handles a wide range of housing and property matters for tenants and applicants. He earns consistent praise for his measured and meticulous approach to complex homelessness and antisocial behaviour litigation. He also garners accolades for his work in possession proceedings, particularly where Equality Act or human rights issues are raised. He also has expert knowledge of leasehold disputes.

He is always available despite being very busy and has a very reassuring manner. His pleadings are very good.

Ed is great - such broad knowledge. He's pragmatic and commercial.

1
Liz Davies
1
Band 1

Liz Davies KC has vast experience in the social housing sector and is recognised for her outstanding knowledge of homelessness law, which she demonstrates in court and in her authoritative writing on the subject. She continues to act in an impressive amount of homelessness appeals, frequently developing the law. She also advises local authorities on allocation schemes, and draws on her broader expertise in the fields of community care and administrative law to buttress her highly esteemed housing practice. She was instructed as counsel in Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Her drafting is insightful, clear and so persuasive.

Liz is probably the leading housing legal aid practitioner working today. Hugely impressive but also so generous with her time.

2
Bethan Harris
2
Band 2

Bethan Harris specialises in cases with combined housing, capacity and community care aspects, often acting for disabled or otherwise vulnerable clients. She sits on the Panel of Counsel for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and regularly speaks on developments in social housing law. She is also frequently sought after for her expertise in housing benefits. She often acts for vulnerable tenants in possession proceedings.

She provided exactly the backbone we needed in sorting out the various threads.

2
Connor Johnston
2
Band 2

Connor Johnston is a recognised housing and homelessness specialist with a growing reputation for technically complex possession cases and judicial review. He continues to be committed to publicly funded social housing work and is known for producing an impressive amount of written work on the subject. He is co-author of 'Housing Allocation and Homelessness'. He attracts praise for his skills in representing vulnerable tenants and applicants, many of whom lack capacity.

He has excellent legal knowledge and works collaboratively with instructing solicitors. His advice and pleadings are of a high quality and he has very good attention to detail.

2
Marina Sergides
2
Band 2

Marina Sergides has a broad social housing practice encompassing areas such as homelessness, unlawful eviction and disrepair. She offers enviable experience in possession claims, particularly as they relate to Article 8 and public law, and is adept at handling cases at the intersection of community care and housing law. She is also well versed in handling antisocial behaviour claims and attracts praise for her ability to work with vulnerable clients.

Marina is excellent with clients, able to communicate and speak to them in their own language not just legal language.

She is really good at weaving magic in a case that looks like it is going to fall flat on its face; her advocacy is very powerful, punchy and she builds good rapport with judges.

Marina is an experienced practitioner. She is quite brilliant with clients and is adept at managing expectations at an early stage, highlighting the challenges ahead and the strengths of each matter.

2
Nick Bano
2
Band 2

Nick Bano is a notable junior in the field of social housing who enjoys a strong reputation for his skills in representing tenants and applicants in a range of housing matters. His thriving practice takes in homelessness appeals, disrepair claims and possession proceedings, among others.

His advice is always thoughtful, clear and detailed and he is a brilliant lawyer.

Nick is skilled in arguing complex legal argument, in difficult situations, in relation to all areas of housing law.

A tenacious barrister with great communication skills.

Nick is very knowledgeable, is willing to pursue novel legal arguments and fights tirelessly for his clients.

2
Timothy Baldwin
2
Band 2

Timothy Baldwin is a dedicated junior with a reputation for taking on challenging and legally complex social housing work. His practice typically concerns homelessness and allocation cases for tenants with mental health issues or specialist community care needs. He also impresses with his representation of tenants in unlawful eviction and disrepair claims, as well as service charge disputes.

A giant of legal aid housing and public law.

Tim Baldwin is a well-known leading expert in his areas of practice. You know you will get top quality and well-informed advice when instructing him.

3
Adrian Marshall Williams
3
Band 3

Adrian Marshall Williams is noted for his broad social housing practice, which includes possession claims and homelessness appeals. He has significant expertise in cases concerning mental health and capacity issues.

He is effective, thorough and responsive when advising on highly complex matters.

He is very skilled with particularly vulnerable homeless clients and ensures good client care and advice during the case.

Adrian is attentive to detail and very responsive.

A very safe pair of hands and good with technical legal issues.

3
Catherine O'Donnell
3
Band 3

Catherine O'Donnell is an experienced junior with a wide-ranging practice that encompasses disrepair and housing condition claims alongside possession orders. She also frequently acts for the official solicitor.

Catherine is extremely approachable and lovely to work with. She is a strong advocate. She is extremely detailed and thorough in her approach to cases.

A go-to for housing condition cases - she literally wrote the book!

3
Kevin Gannon
3
Band 3

Kevin Gannon has a notable presence in the social housing sphere, having appeared in cases regarding disrepair and homelessness. He also has substantial experience of possession proceedings. His practice is fortified by his public law expertise, which takes in immigration and human rights matters. He also sits part-time as a social security tribunal judge.

Kevin has been brilliant. He is very calm and practical and cuts through to what will work for the client and what is achievable.

3
Stephen Cottle
3
Band 3

Stephen Cottle is an established junior with extensive experience of the full range of social housing issues. He is known for his specialism in Gypsy and Traveller law, and also frequently acts for tenants and applicants in possession proceedings, homelessness appeals and disrepair claims. His housing practice is strengthened by his wide-ranging knowledge of equality issues and human rights law.

Stephen Cottle is one of the experts in this area and has encyclopaedic knowledge of Housing Law. An excellent and experienced advocate, industrious, judicious and tenacious.

A first choice and first-rate lawyer.

U
Angharad Monk
U
Up and Coming

Angharad Monk is an up-and-coming barrister in the social housing space with extensive experience in judicial review matters in particular. Monk has knowledge of a wide range of knowledge of homelessness and tenancy dispute issues, among many other areas.

Angharad is very responsive and helpful with smaller issues that pop up in the course of litigation. Her drafting and advocacy is excellent.

Angharad is a brilliant advocate, highly knowledgeable with great attention to detail.

Angharad is great to work with; she is helpful and available to help resolve issues that may arise during conduct of the case.

Excellent across the full range of housing law, Angharad produces high-quality pleadings and advice, and is brilliant on her feet.

Ranked Barristers at
Garden Court Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Social Housing

1
Liz Davies KC
1
Band 1

Juniors

London (Bar)

Social Housing

1
Edward Fitzpatrick
1
Band 1
2
Bethan Harris
2
Band 2
2
Connor Johnston
2
Band 2
2
Marina Sergides
2
Band 2
2
Nick Bano
2
Band 2
2
Timothy Baldwin
2
Band 2
3
Adrian Marshall Williams
3
Band 3
3
Catherine O'Donnell
3
Band 3
3
Kevin Gannon
3
Band 3
3
Stephen Cottle
3
Band 3
U
Angharad Monk
U
Up and Coming