Paul Ridge

Practice Areas

Consultant in the Public Law team and Head of Housing and Property.

Paul's aim is often to deal with issues swiftly, economically and without litigation. He has experience of mediation and ADR, but where needed Paul litigates. He has a string of cases through the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Described in the legal directories as “second-to-none when acting for defendants in possession proceedings”, “exceptionally clever” and as “really making a difference”.

Paul regularly acts for family members and the Official Solicitor in the County Court, High Court and Court of Protection.

Paul is acting for a large number of residents and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Career

Paul joined Bindmans in 2001 and became a Partner in 2010.

Paul’s significant work includes:

Property and housing

Santos v Compatriot Holdings – Court of Appeal – Successful defence of a tenant Rent Act 1977

Secretarial Nominee v Thomas – Court of Appeal decision relating to security under the Rent Act 1977

MM & Savant v Brown & Raja & Pauley (Lands Tribunal)

Successful challenge to service charge liability and defence of s20 LTA

Wynbay Ltd v (1) London RAP (2) Osman EWHC 172 (Admin) – fair rents; adequacy of reasons

Eelapatheeswarar Aalayam (Shiva Temple) v Seevaratnam & others – 050265 High Court – successful claim for the return and control of a Hindu Temple

Nicholas Patrick Smith v UBS A3/2011/3166. High Court victory in overturning a possession order relating to Occupy

Charity and Regulatory

Shergill & Others v Kharia & others – Supreme Court, test case on religious jurisdiction and the court

LSC v Henthorn – CA test case on solicitors liability under Legal Aid regulations

Successful appeal against the imposition of sanctions against a solicitor imposed almost 2 years earlier by the SRA

Acted for various dental practices facing regulatory investigations including representations to the PCT and dental investigation unit

Successful challenge to refusal of admission by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (‘PMETB’)

Independent Schools Council v Charity Commission, NCVO & Education Review Group – Upper Tribunal regarding provision of education and charitable status of private schools

Advising faith based charities on regulatory investigation and trustee disputes

Advising schools and education charities on OFSTED and Charity Commission regulation

Judicial Review, Health Care and Court of Protection

R(G) v Barnet – Supreme Court leading case on s17 Children Act duty

R(J) v Enfield All ER (D) 209 (Mar) Successful challenge to the failure to assist a woman with HIV. Confirmed power to provide community care services under s2 Local Government Act consultation requirements

LB Redbridge v G (No 6) EWCA Civ 446, Court of Appeal acted for Official Solicitor in protection proceedings and defending the intervention of the press and payment of costs

R (on the application of Sawyer) v Bishop of Chelmsford] Administrative Court – successful judicial review of the Church of England

Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire

Paul represents a significant number of residents and families that have been granted core participant status in the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire

Freedom of speech and Protest

Hall and Others v Mayor of London – Court of Appeal acted for Democracy Village in occupation of Parliament Square

Advice to Occupy, rent strike and student occupation protests throughout UK

R(Gallestegui) v Westminster CC & others EWCA Civ 28 – Court of Appeal challenge to the Police Reform and Social responsibility Act 2011 and control of Parliament Square

Nicholas Patrick Smith v UBS A3/2011/3166. Acted for the “Bank of Ideas” in the High Court victory in overturning a possession order relating to Occupy

National Farmers Union v Persons Unknown & Badger Trust HQ13X0416 – acted for the Badger Trust in relation to the limits of protest against the Badger cull

Professional Memberships

On the editorial board of Community Care Law Reports.