Capsticks LLP

Social Housing.

Experience

Michael is head of the Housing Management Team at Capsticks. In addition to leading the team, Michael works with Registered Providers and Councils nationally on all aspects of Housing Management. He also previously advised private landlords and tenants.

Expertise

Michael advises social landlords on all aspects of housing management from drafting and interpreting tenancy agreements, policies and other documentation to advising on complex succession disputes, disrepair matters and high-profile anti-social behaviour cases. He represents clients on Public Law, Equality Act and Human Rights Act challenges and advises on complaints handling. He has also represented clients at coroner’s inquests and frequently oversees multi-agency approaches to resolve matters including through alternative dispute resolution.

Michael undertakes training nationally for clients and sector leaders such as the Chartered Institute of Housing, Resolve, National Housing Federation, Housemark, Lime Legal and Capita. He is also a regular contributor to housing media.

Notable projects

• Regularly speaks at and chairs national housing conferences
• Legal advisor to the CIH knowledge hub
• Asked by the Home Office to help stress test the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
• Represented Registered Providers on many leading cases

Qualified as a solicitor in 1995 with The Andrew Isaacs Practice, a legal aid firm acting mainly for tenants and homeless applicants. Became a partner 9 months after qualification. Then developed a private and social landlord client base on joining Dutton Gregory as a partner in 2003 before joining Coffin Mews’ long established social housing team in 2009. Joined Capsticks in 2014 as a partner to help develop a new social housing niche alongside the nationally renowned health brand. The housing team is proud of its previous number 1 rankings.

SHLA and CIH

Vaynor and Penderyn Comprehensive; Bournemouth University; BA (Hons) Law.