SHLA - Key Persons
Andrew Atkinson has worked as a lawyer in local government for more than 30 years. Qualifying in-house, he has had a varied career working for London borough councils and, latterly, Home Counties' authorities in roles centred on litigation and and all aspects of social housing law. He is a founder member of SHLA and was a member of the Law Society's Housing Law Committee for ten years.
Job Titles:
- Midlands Vice Chair and Committee Member / Partner at Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
EXPERTISE
Baljit provides specialist advice and assistance for housing management issues, policies and procedures adopted by housing organisations.
Job Titles:
- Associate at Capsticks
- Midlands Committee Member / Associate at Capsticks Solicitors LLP
EXPERTISE
Bridget is an Associate at Capsticks specialising in housing and leasehold management and litigation for registered providers. She also assists social landlords with general property litigation matters in both residential and commercial contexts.
Job Titles:
- London Committee Member / Senior Associate Solicitor at Trowers & Hamlins LLP
- Midlands Committee Member / Senior Associate Solicitor at Trowers & Hamlins LLP
EXPERTISE
Dorota started her housing career at Birmingham City Council before moving into private practice. She is Senior Associate at Trowers and Hamlins LLP in Birmingham, where she advises on all aspects of housing management.
EXPERTISE
Elaine has been involved in social housing for over 30 years as a lawyer for tenants and social landlords and more recently as a board member of two housing associations.
Elaine worked for 10 years at East Thames Group, a Registered Provider of social housing and care and support throughout East London and Essex, where she was Head of Legal. Her previous in-house role was at Family Mosaic Housing Association. Before that she was head of the housing team in a law firm which acted predominantly for a wide range of social landlords. Prior to that she had mainly represented tenants whilst working for a South London Law Centre after training and practising in private practice in areas including housing, crime, family, and immigration.
Elizabeth is an established property practitioner, with particular expertise in the fields of residential landlord and tenant, and social housing law.
Gemma is an experienced Legal Assistant with a demonstrated history of working in the legal services industry. Also skilled in non-profit organisations, charity work, social housing, debt settlement.
James Byrne is a Barrister specialising in Family law, Housing law and Business & Property law. As a Family law specialist practitioner, James regularly appears in the family court dealing with all private children matters, including cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. He frequently deals with Non-Molestation Orders in the family court and has undertaken work on occupation orders.
Job Titles:
- Co Vice Chair of SHLA / London Committee Member
Job Titles:
- Co Chair of SHLA / London Committee Member / Partner at Capsticks Solicitors LLP
EXPERTISE
A Partner, Katrina specialises in advising on a range of housing management matters including tenancy fraud, anti-social behaviour, disrepair, and access. Highly respected within the industry, Katrina has held a number of influential roles, including founding and chairing the Tenancy Fraud Forum, founding the Disrepair Focus Group, and was the Chair of the Law Society's LGBT+ Division and the Independent Adjudicator for Grenfell. In 2016 she was honoured with the MBE to services to Social Housing.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Co Chair of SHLA / London Committee Member / Partner at Devonshires Solicitors LLP
EXPERTISE
Lee is a Solicitor in one of the largest housing management teams with Devonshires Solicitors LLP in London. Lee advises on all aspects of housing management with particular specialism in litigation involving mental health aspects.
Job Titles:
- Co Vice Chair of SHLA / London Committee Member / Assistant Head of Law, Communities & Environment at South London Legal Partnership
EXPERTISE
Mark is responsible for Litigation matters on behalf of the five south London Boroughs that SLLP serves, specialising in Housing & Anti-Social Behaviour. He started his career as an outdoor clerk and, with four authorities, worked in conveyancing and child protection before returning to litigation.
Job Titles:
- Midlands Committee Member / Principal Associate at Weightmans
EXPERTISE
Matthew has over 10 years' experience specialising in property litigation dealing with all aspects of contentious commercial property and residential property issues. Matthew has acted for a diverse range of clients including some well known retail and service industry businesses.
Nick is an experienced property and public law barrister. He is instructed by local authorities and housing providers to deal with complex property and social housing matter. He has particular interest in covenants and estoppel.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Chair of SHLA / Barrister at Cornerstone Barristers
EXPERTISE
Sarah practices in housing, property and local government. She is ranked in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. She regularly appears for, and advises, social landlords on all aspects of housing. She joined the SHLA committee in 2014.
Tom Lawal is an experienced Barrister focusing on Housing law and Private Children law. Tom accepts instructions in all areas of housing law and has a growing reputation amongst instructing Solicitors nationwide. Tom has extensive experience in a wide range of housing matters and is regularly instructed to attend multi-day trials, committal applications, injunction and possession proceedings, in addition to drafting pleadings and advice on complex legal and factual matters.