Devonshires Solicitors LLP

Housing Management

Donna is the Head of Devonshires’ Housing Management and Property Litigation department. She heads up a team advising on all aspects of housing management law and practice, acting for Local Authorities, Registered Providers and private landlords in complex litigation, including possession proceedings; actions to restrain Anti-Social Behaviour; injunctions and disrepair actions. She also advises social landlords on matters of housing policy and procedure. She has particular specialism in matters relating to mental health, capacity and safeguarding and is part of the Devonshires Care Group. Donna heads up LandlordPLUS, a service dedicated to social and private landlords offering properties for market rent.

Donna is Devonshires Solicitors most prolific trainer, regularly presenting seminars to clients and is responsible for co-ordinating the Housing Management training programme. She is a regular speaker at internal and external events and has spoken at conferences held by the NHF, Capita, Resolve ASB and the Law Society. She also speaks in schools as part of the Inspiring the Future programme.

Donna is actively involved in Devonshires Corporate Social Responsibility Programme and is a trustee of the Devonshires Charitable Foundation.

Donna started her legal career in the in house legal team at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, combining part time studies with a mixed litigation practice including housing law. She qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 1994 and has specialised in housing law ever since. Between 1994 and 1999 she worked for TV Edwards and HCL Hanne and Co, predominantly advising and representing tenants with particular specialism in representing those with mental health problems and capacity issues, regularly taking instructions from the Official Solicitor before joining Devonshires in 1999.

Donna is an active member of Resolve ASB (formerly the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group) and has presented a number of seminars for them at both regional and national level. She is also a member of the National Landlord’s Association.

Chelmsford College FE (FILEX).

Donna is an enthusiastic if unskilled cook who enjoys reading, kick boxing and tap dancing.